First tat...any advice?

[Inknsteel]

Your tattoos never scabbed just bc u washed it? I washed both mine well when i first got home and they still scabbed up...

Good hygiene (keeping the area clean, washing 3-4 times per day) and keeping the tattoo moistened during healing are what prevents scabbing. IMO, it's a matter of knowing just the right amount of ointment or lotion to use and how frequently to reapply that are key in the healing process of any tattoo...

[Mike41793]

Good hygiene (keeping the area clean, washing 3-4 times per day) and keeping the tattoo moistened during healing are what prevents scabbing. IMO, it's a matter of knowing just the right amount of ointment or lotion to use and how frequently to reapply that are key in the healing process of any tattoo...

Oh good to know. I washed mine once a day, when i took a shower. And then applied ointment or lotion twice a day. I'll try being more diligent with it next time.

[kevinb]

Ill try to get a picture up of what I'm getting, its a mixture of two designs I found.

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[kylerimb]

what i do (notice, this is what works for me. it is not recommended by my artist, but she says if it works for me to rock it out.) is 2-3 hours after my session is completed i take a shower and wash the freshly tattooed area twice. not using a rag, cloth, fluffy whatever they're called...just my hands. the first time i wills 'scrub' until i am fairly certain all of the ointment that my artist applied is gone. then i rinse and repeat to make sure i got all of it off. it's somewhat painful, but it seems to be effective for me. i also try to not let the water directly hit the tattoo. but hit a different part, and roll down (i hope you get what i'm saying, i'm tired and having trouble saying what i mean).

then i gently, very gently, pat the area dry with a clean bath towel. air dry for another 20-30 minutes.

VERY sparingly use A+D. a layer so thin it's almost not there. a thin layer like this allows the tattoo to stay moist, yet still breathe.

the next morning i take a shower, again washing twice. gently pat dry. air dry for 10 - 20 minutes or however long until it's sufficiently dry. put a VERY thin layer of lotion on (Jergens Sensitive Skin is what i use).

from there, i shower once a day if i can. and use lotion once every day or two. i believe it's called dry healing.

the ONLY time i've ever scabbed with this process (again, i don't recommend this to anyone, but it works for me) is when i didn't wash well enough that first time after getting home from the shop. a few weeks ago i scabbed, but because i got to drinking after my session, and was not quite able to think clearly while in the shower. i do remember thinking that i didn't wash well enough and should probably do it again, but it was 3am and i was drunk and tired.

[moonlightgdess]

Ooh I used aquaphor and its fantastic for the healing process. It's light enough to use for the first week or so, I don't remember how long I used it lol.

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