Designing a Tattoo and Looking After It

Tattoos have had a rise in popularity over the past few years, and designing your own can be fun. It also stands out as, most people who are too eager to get inked simply rush out and settle on the first design they see, which a thousand or so others have got too. Remember, this is something that will stay with you for a very long time. So, do you want a tattoo that that everyone else has, or do you want to let your creative juices flow and design your own?

There are many sources that can help you with your design, you just need to do some research. The internet is a great source where you can get plenty of ideas. Alternatively, go to a tattoo artist studio and page through their catalogues of past work that they have there. Two ways to do this could also be by taking two designs and combining them, or by taking one and tweaking it a little bit until you have something unique. Make sure that the tattoo artist that you are going to use is reputable and has a lot of experience in this field.

Once you have decided to go through with it and can't wait to show it off to your friends, there are a few things you need to do in order to keep your tattoo in good condition. After all, you have designed it, spent the cash and gone through the pain. The last thing you want is a tattoo that looks like a rather large mole.

Follow these basic guidelines and your tattoo will look the way it was intended:

Avoid water - on your tattoo that is. Hold back on taking that plunge in the pool and use a slightly damp cloth or sponge around the area when bathing.

Once that time has passed, you'll be able to take the cover off your tat and start cleaning it. Follow the instructions given to you by the tattoo artist, taking care when cleaning as the area is still sensitive.

Now you can start keeping the skin moist. A word of caution though, don't try and hurry up the process by picking at the skin. If a scab forms, leave it alone as it will cause some damage.

Don't use any harsh soaps or creams to clean for the first week or so. Rather use an antiseptic cream.

Last, but certainly not least. Do your best to stay out of the sunshine. Your skin is still sensitive and by adding the sun's rays, your tattoo will end up looking a little faded and distorted.

Hopefully these few points help with your design and care of your new tattoo. When in doubt, always check with your tattoo artist and make sure you have all your questions answered. For most, this is a life long alteration and by keeping it in good condition from the beginning will definitely pay off later.

Keywords: