How to Keep New Tattoos for Longer
Tattoos last forever – at least that’s what people think when they’re done – but they tend to fade. Colors disappear, and thin lines and letters become washed out and less bright. How fast a tattoo will fade depends on several factors, including the quality of the ink, your skin condition, friction and sun exposure, but luckily, you can slow down the fading process and keep your tattoos fresher for longer. Here’s how to care for your tattoo to help you survive in the long term.
Minimize sun exposure
Sun protection reduces the risk of skin cancer and prevents tattoos from fading quickly. The Oxbow Tattoo artists in Easthampton, Massachusetts explain that the sun is a major contributor to the decay of all tattoo styles. “All pigment slowly spreads over time, and exposure to the sun can actually accelerate the degradation of a tattoo, whether it’s black or black and gray.”
To keep your tattoo looking newer, use a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 . If you can cover up your tattoos in sunny weather, that will help too. Otherwise, moisturize your skin and apply sunscreen often.
Moisturize frequently
The more hydrated your skin is, the brighter and healthier your tattoos will look. Tattoo Moisturizer mentions cocoa butter as being very effective in preventing aging tattoos, saying, “Cocoa butter is rich in healthy fatty acids, as well as vitamins E and K. These are ingredients that help fight – or at least slow down – the appearance of aging skin, ”but you can choose any moisturizer you like for your skin type.
In addition, there are special tattoo care products such as Mad Rabbit tattoo cream made with vitamin C and E, rosehip oil, cocoa butter, argan oil and aloe. Whether or not you are involved in the marketing of tattoo lotion is up to you, but the principle remains the same: moisture is important.
Be especially careful with longer exposure tattoos
Certain areas of the body are subject to more wear and tear than others, and since excessive exposure can affect the longevity of a tattoo, special attention should be paid to these areas. Oxbow Tattoo mentions the shoulders as an example and recommends the use of additional sunscreen. Finger tattoos are another area where tattoos often fade faster than usual: “We use our hands all the time, so in some cases flexing and rubbing can make it necessary to touch up,” they explain. In this case, a special tattoo cream can be a good investment.
Stay connected with your tattoo artist
If you minimize sun exposure and keep your skin hydrated, your tattoo will stand the test of time (or at least fade more slowly than usual), but tattoo longevity starts with the design. “Tattoo ink has come a long way and tattooing skills really help tattoos stay vibrant and beautiful for many, many years,” says Oxbow Tattoo. If the longevity of your tattoo is important to you, talk to your artist about the longevity of your drawing and the location where you want to paint it before you start inking.
And be realistic about retouching, as your tattoo is likely to be needed over time as the only “real” way to keep your tattoo new, so be aware of the signs that your tattoo is ready for retouching. “If your tattoo has lost its vibrancy in color and appears dull or lacking in color that was originally tattooed, it’s time to touch up,” says Oxbow Tattoo. “If the black lines have widened significantly and become blurry, losing their clear appearance, you can change the tattoo to make it clear again.” So stay in touch with your artist – your tattoo is a walking advertisement for their work and they will want it to remain as vibrant and beautiful as you do.