How to care for your tattoo
aftercare is the most crucial part of making sure your fine line tatoo heals as best as possible. Known for their delicate and intricate designs, following the steps below will help them heal well and maintain their crispness.
Keep it clean! when your tattoo is finished, i always recommend covering the tattoo in either a second skin, or cling film. if covered with cling film, i recommend removing after a few hours or if using second skin, keep it on for no longer than 5x days. This will help prevent bacteria from entering the tattoo.
Wash it! after you have removed either one of the coverings, gently wash your tatoo with luke warm water and a sensitive, fragrance free soap. this will help to remove any built up dried blood/plasma/ink. Continue washing the tattoo twice per day during the healing process. always pat dry with a clean towel, do not rub!
Use moisturizer! Make sure you are applying your aftercare cream regularly to avoid the tattoo drying out too much. fine line tattoos are prone to becoming dry, so this step is crucial. I recommend either coconut oil, cocoa butter or you can purchase skin jungle tattoo balm at the studio. avoid over moisturizing though, as this can clog your pores and slow down the heal. you should be aiming for the tattoo to have a sheen finish, rather than shiny. if it looks shiny, you have applied too much and will need to pat some off using a paper towel.
NO SCRATCHING OR PICKING! It’s common for your tattoo to become itchy during the healing process, but it is crucial that you resist the urge to scratch or pick! if you do, you risk damaging the fine lines, causing skin trauma and possibly leading to uneven healing results. you can always apply a cold compress to the area to help ease the itch!
stay out of the sun! sun exposure leads to fading of tattoos. it’s crucial to keep your tattoo protected from the sun during the healing process. this means no sunbathing, no sunbeds, and no direct sunlight. keep it covered when your out and about and its sunny! once the tatoo is healed, make sure you apply a high spf to the area to avoid fading and to help keep the lines crisp and sharp.
Avoid water! no i don’t mean completely, but you definitely need to avoid submerging your tattoo in water during the healing process. stay away from things such as pools, hot tubs, lakes, the sea etc as these carry the risk of infections during the healing stage. stick to showers whilst it’s healing, and avoid prolonged submerging in water.
Have patience! with everything, patience is key here. follow the above steps properly, and your tatoo should heal perfectly and maintain it’s crispness and vibrancy. it can be a lengthy process, but it’s important to not skip any steps.
book a touch up! some fine line tattoos will require a touch up once fully healed. this is normal and not something you should worry about. fine line needles don’t implant as much ink into the skin as traditional thicker needles, meaning it might lose some pigment during the healing process and require a small touch up. the first touch up is included in the price of your original quote. touch ups will differ from person to person as we all heal differently. if you’re unsure whether you need a touch up, feel free to send over an email with a picture and i will be able to advise accordingly.