Okay, here's the deal. I am planning on getting a half sleeve tattoo on my left arm within the next 2-3 months.

I have read about how to take care of it on the internet, but I still have some unanswered questions that I figured you guys (and maybe the other girls) may be able to help me with. I just want to make sure I understand everything properly before I get myself into this.

I work in an office, up front, and I deal with clients everyday (hence my hatred for stupid people). Since I am getting a half sleeve, I will never be able to wear shirts that have anything less than a half sleeve again. My question is, for the first few days or week, can I wear a shirt over the tattoo on my arm, or do I have to let it breathe?

What have some of you that have tattoos used for your antibacterial ointment and soap?

How long into the process do I stop using lotion, and what kind has worked for you?

 

i dont know how to take care of it but what kind of disign are you planning?

 

You definitely want to keep it moisturized really well.. It will peel a little bit after a week or two with the dead skin coming off, but that's pretty normal.

I've always used Aquaphor. http://www.walgreens.com/store/produ...id=prod3945801

Make sure you keep using the aquaphor for a few weeks, the tattoo ink + the dry/dead skin just kills all of the moisture around those pores for a while.

As far as not wearing sleeve over it, I never had any problems wearing clothes over any of mine.. It will probably get a little itchy, depending on what kind of a shirt you wear.

 

I'm not doing a design. It will be custom work.

It will be the face of the Virgin Mary from Michelangelo's Pieta sculpture.

I want it to be that color, too.



With red roses kind of like the following picture going around her face and my arm, and up to the part where my shoulder meets my neck.





I've had my mind set on that exact tattoo for two years, since my mom died. It will be a memorial/tribute to her. She loved roses and I love the peaceful look on the Virgin Mary's face, so it is perfect.

I can't wait to get it. I want to have it before my wedding.

 

And thanks, Evan. I thought it would be okay as long as I wore a loose shirt over it.

 

i used the same stuff. It works really well. you can wear a shirt over it but just so you know...depending on if you bleed or not....the first day with mine my shirt was bloody and soggy.....esp if your getting the whole thing done at once.

the peeling is normal and is annoying and looks disgusting. it will itch like crazy at first but keep using the Aquaphor and you'll be straight. only keep it wrapped for a few hours though. it's not good to leave that wrap on there all day.

p.s....the first shower is no fun either. hahahaha but it's worth it. i'm addicted.....

 

you can keep it wrapped but use saran wrap and a wide stretchy soft tape, DO NOT use any kind of guaze or regular bandage

luckily with my shoulder tat i was able to wear sleeveless and just use the aquaphor

you might want to consider taking a few days off or scheduling it around a long weekend so you'll be done oozing before you go back to work

and buy some cheap sheets you don't mind getting tat crap all over

+1 on that first shower

 

i just used goo on my tats and they still look brand new

 

Nothing fancy really. Just use some neosporin and dont let it dry out.

And no Neosporin does NOT pull out the ink.


Funny story here.

A co-worker/friend of my wife died.

that is not the funny part

he was gay

that is not the funny part either

anyways a year after his death my wife and a co-worker decided to go get a tattoo in memorial of his passing. They got a heart, with a rainbow trail coming out the back with his initials in the star, they both got them on thier foot.

My wife used neosporin on it to prevent infection. he coworker told her she was stupid cause neosporin is gonna "suck out the ink" lol. So this chick used vasoline and lotion.

2 weeks later, my wifes tattoo is perfectly healed and rip with color, her co worker had to go to the hospital because infection set into her foot, when everything was said and done the tattoo was completly ruined and there is almost no color left in it.

In other words, if some dumbass tells you not to use NeoSporin because it will syuck out the ink, the reason they believe this is cause they are a dumbass and some other dumbass told them. Just use neosporin, i used it on all my tattoos, ive never had an issue, neither has my wife.

lol

or any other anti-biotic cream should work just fine.

 

the use of vasoline was her first mistake, it holds bacteria and provides a great breeding environment

keeping it clean, washing your hands before you touch it and keeping it moist with any water based lube will work

i've used different stuff on each of my tats and the only time i got an infection was when i was working in the OR and had to debride an infected wound and i hadn't covered the tat on my leg, after a quick round of antibiotics the my tat suffered no damage





if you want to use antibiotic ointment it won't damage it as long as it's water based

OH yeah...and sunscreen is your friend!!!! After it heals always put sunscreen on and if it's going to be exposed to direct sunlight use a good zinc oxide sunscreen.

 

I have always had good results with Palmers Coco Butter.