what do you do before / after / during when getting a tattoo?

Answer 1

Hey Snakeeyes,

I thought the answer was drink to oblivion.

Answer 2

The most important thing you can do before getting a tattoo is taking the time to find the right studio and/or artist. Many people just decide on a whim that they want to get a tattoo, and enter the nearest studio without much thought about what they are doing.

Ask to see the autoclave and sterilization certification.
Make sure the artist is wearing gloves.
Ask about what training your artist has taken and completed. Are certificates available?
Is the artist vaccinated for Hepatitis B?
Ointment, ink, water and other items should not be returned to a universal container after it has been removed for use on a client.
New sterile needles must always be removed from an autoclave bag in front of you.
A professional will destroy and dispose of needles in a sharps container.
Always ask to see examples of the artist's finished work. Photos should be openly available.

Now, you have your fresh new tattoo, and you want to take good care of it! From this point on, your artist is not responsible for any infection or problems you may have with your tattoo if you don't take proper care of it. It is very important that you follow these guidelines. A really beautiful tattoo can turn into a disaster if the proper aftercare is not taken.

Leave That Bandage Alone! Your artist took the care to cover up your new tattoo for a very good reason - to keep air-born bacteria from invading your wound. Leave the bandage on for a minimum of three hours. It is even better if you can just keep the bandage on overnight.

Wash and Treat After you remove the bandage, you will want to wash your tattoo. Use lukewarm water and antibacterial soap to gently wash away any ointment and to completely clean the area. Do not use a washcloth or anything abrasive. Your hand is your best tool in this case. Then pat (do not rub) the area firmly with a CLEAN towel or paper towel to get it completely dry. Follow with a very light application of ointment. Bacitracin would be the first choice in ointments, but if you don't have any, A&D vitamin enriched ointment (medical grade - not the kind used for diaper rash) is also acceptable. **Do not use Neosporin. This is a wonderful product for cuts and scrapes, but not for tattoos. Some can have an allergic reaction to the Neosporin, which causes little red bumps. When the bumps go away, so does the ink, and you end up with a polka-dotted tattoo.** Continue this procedure at least twice a day for two or three days. After that, continue to keep it clean, but you can use lotion when needed instead of ointment, to keep the skin soft.

Scabbing and Peeling After a few days, you will notice some peeling and possibly a little scabbing. Excessive scabbing indicates a poorly-done tattoo, but a little is sometimes normal and no need to panic. You will also start to itch, just like a sunburn when it begins to heal. The advice here is, don't pick, and don't scratch! If the skin itches, slap it. If it is peeling, put lotion on it. And if it is scabbing, just leave it alone. Your tattoo is almost healed, and now is not the time to ruin it!

Protection from the sun After your tattoo is healed, from now on, you will always want to protect it from the sun's ultraviolet rays. These can fade and damage a brilliant tattoo very fast. Before spending a lot of time in excessive heat, protect your tattoo with a minimum 30SPF sunblock. This will keep your tattoo vibrant for many years, and it will continue to be a source of great pride.