How To Keep Your Tattoos Looking New (2024)

tattoo aftercare

How To Keep Your Tattoos Looking New

by Macrew Technologies

Birds fly south for the winter, your taxes are due in April, and tattoos fade over time.


It’s a hard pill to swallow for something we all love so dearly, but fortunately, there are multiple steps that you can take to preserve your tattoos from day one, and some of them might surprise you.

Use A Skin Care Routine

Tattoos fade a day at a time, so it makes sense that tattoo preservation also takes place a day at a time. You must be consistent to see actual results, which means using a daily skin routine.

How To Keep Your Tattoos Looking New (1)

If someone is trying to lose weight, the biggest reason people usually fail is inconsistency. You can’t starve one day, then stuff your face the next and expect to see any real results.


You have to be diligent, have a plan, and use high-quality skincare products.

Sunscreen

The number one enemy of tattoos is the sun. The sun’s harmful UVA rays break down the pigmentation of the ink, and our white blood cells, not knowing any better, take the damaged ink away.


Over time, your tattoo will begin to look splotched and patchy. The well-defined outline will lose its keen edge and blend into an unreadable mess. Colors fade, and the tattoo slowly dies.


Sunscreen is the best guard against sun damage aside from staying out of the sun altogether, but that’s not living life. We all want to go out and have fun while looking our best.


We suggest using TLC’s SPF 30 Sunscreen to protect your tattoo from fading. It’s designed specifically for tattoos and will keep your tattoo looking new for years.

Moisturize

Your skin staying hydrated is paramount to keeping your tattoos looking new.


Stay out of the sun all you like to protect your tattoo, but if your skin is always flakey and dehydrated, you’ll look like a mummy. Dry skin makes your tattoos look dull and faded.


Outside of drinking lots of water (we’ll get to that in a minute), you’ll need to use a high-quality lotion, cream, or serum to keep your skin moisturized.

How To Keep Your Tattoos Looking New (2)

TLC’s Cream uses only premium all-natural ingredients so your tattoos stay fresh, vibrant, and hydrated.


Besides sunscreen and creams, a serum is the best long-term product for tattoos.


Serums nourish your skin by providing vitamins and nutrients to plump up your skin cells and dramatically reduce the signs of aging. As we age, our skin sags, and our tattoos sag with our skin. TLC’s Serum prolongs the youth and glow of skin, so tattoos look newer, longer.


Using all of these products together is essential as each has a role.


  • Sunscreen— protects from the sun.
  • Cream— moisturizes and hydrates the skin.
  • Serum— nourishes the skin to keep it looking young.

Live A Healthy Lifestyle

The most important and least talked about aspect of long-term tattoo care is your overall health.

All the skin products in the world won’t help your skin if you live an unhealthy lifestyle.

How To Keep Your Tattoos Looking New (3)

What does it mean to live a healthy lifestyle that will keep your tattoos vibrant, bold, and long-lasting?


  • Drink lots of water.
  • Limit sun exposure and use sunscreen.
  • Eat healthy foods.
  • Avoid excessive weight gain/loss.
  • Get lots of sleep.
  • Establish a skincare routine.

Staying healthy helps to lock in your skin quality, and your tattoos will age dramatically slower when you follow these steps. People who smoke and drink all the time look like they smoke and drink all the time. It’s fun, but it comes at a cost.

Touch Ups

The last step, and one that people rarely take is to schedule a touch-up with your tattoo artist. A touch-up means your artist goes back over some of the more critical aspects of your tattoo, like the outline, to bring it back to its formal glory.


A touch-up will help, but it’s costly, and, honestly, it won’t look as good as the day you first got it. You’re better off starting a skincare routine on day one. That being said, you can start taking care of your skin at any time, and you’ll see results.

Conclusion

Tattoos fade over time, there’s no way around it, but with proper care, you can prolong the life of your tattoo by decades.


If you want to keep your tattoos looking new, there’s no better way than to sign up for our ForeverCare program.


With ForeverCare, premium long-term tattoo care products will be delivered right to your door. You can have a recurring delivery scheduled whenever you like, and delivery dates are easy to change or put on hold.


Sign up for ForeverCare and automatically save 20% on every delivery.

How To Keep Your Tattoos Looking New (4)

How To Keep Your Tattoos Looking New (2024)

FAQs

How To Keep Your Tattoos Looking New? ›

Buff out the damage once or twice a week on fully healed tattoos. Apply BUFF to a washcloth or shower scrubber and use a circular motion to gently polish off dead skin and grunge residue. If your skin gets red, sore, or inflamed, lay off the buffing and stick to moisturizing until your skin is healed.

How can I make my tattoo look new? ›

Buff out the damage once or twice a week on fully healed tattoos. Apply BUFF to a washcloth or shower scrubber and use a circular motion to gently polish off dead skin and grunge residue. If your skin gets red, sore, or inflamed, lay off the buffing and stick to moisturizing until your skin is healed.

How do I keep my tattoo new? ›

Important Dos and Don'ts
  1. Clean towels, bedding and clothes are highly recommended during the healing process.
  2. Showering is fine, however, please DO NOT soak your tattoo for at least 2 weeks. ...
  3. Avoid direct sunlight on your tattoo for at least 2 weeks and your tattoo is completely healed.

Does lotion keep tattoos from fading? ›

The AAD also advises that using the wrong type of moisturizer can actually harm your tattoo. Avoid using petroleum jelly and other petroleum-based products to hydrate your tattoo, as these can cause ink fading. Instead, opt for a water-based moisturizing cream or lotion to keep your tattoo hydrated.

How do you keep tattoo ink from falling out? ›

Here are a few steps that everyone with a new tattoo should follow.
  1. Keep the area clean. ...
  2. Use a moisturizing cream or lotion. ...
  3. Beware of marketed “tattoo aftercare” products. ...
  4. Wear loose-fitting clothing. ...
  5. Sun protection. ...
  6. Give it time. ...
  7. Don't pick or scratch. ...
  8. Don't scrub.

Should you moisturize a tattoo every day? ›

After getting a tattoo, you should moisturize it daily for at least 10 to 14 days. Respecting these timeframes is absolutely crucial because, if your skin dries out, you are likely to get very disappointing results.

How do you refresh an old tattoo? ›

One of the most effective ways to make your older tattoo look new is by investing in a professional touch-u. This process involves an experienced tattoo artist going back over your existing body art with fresh ink. They can also add more intricacies to the existing tattoo, which can make it more appealing.

How to maintain a tattoo black? ›

There are definitely a handful of fairly simple, basic care tips for you and your tattoo to keep the fading to a minimum.
  1. Do Your Homework. ...
  2. Choose the Best Spot on your Body for Your New Tattoo. ...
  3. Prepare for the Healing Process. ...
  4. Stay Hydrated! ...
  5. Protect Your Tattoo from the Sun.

Does Vaseline fade new tattoo? ›

Why Vaseline and petroleum-based jelly aren't great for a new tattoo. Petroleum-based products can cause ink to fade and may trap moisture and bacteria on top of the tattoo, increasing your risk of developing an infection. Use water-based moisturizers on new tattoos instead.

What is the best aftercare for a tattoo? ›

You want to keep your tattoo dry and out of direct sun to give it the best chance to heal properly.
  • Avoid wearing tight clothing. Clothes that stick to your tattoo can be uncomfortable and delay the healing process.
  • Take cool showers. ...
  • Use sunscreen and moisturizer often.
Nov 29, 2023

What not to put on a new tattoo? ›

Avoid Applying Certain Skincare Products

Petroleum-based products, like Vaseline, are very heavy. They can prevent oxygen from reaching the skin even if applied in a thin layer. It's best to avoid them altogether. You'll also want to avoid soaps and lotions which contain alcohol, fragrances, or dyes.

Is Aquaphor good for tattoos? ›

Aquaphor is a commonly recommended part of a tattoo aftercare regimen. It has hydrating and anti-inflammatory properties that can speed healing and make the process more comfortable. If you're getting some new ink, or have just gotten a tattoo, you may want to consider using Aquaphor.

What helps tattoos fade? ›

Hydrogen Peroxide and Exfoliation - Exfoliation paired with hydrogen peroxide can do wonders to gradually fade tattoo ink naturally. This is because exfoliation removes dead skin while hydrogen peroxide is a skin lightening agent that has bleaching properties.

How to make tattoos last longer? ›

When it comes to the long-term care of your tattoo, here are some of the best practices to adopt:
  1. No. 1: Remember to Give It Lots of Water. ...
  2. No. 2: Protect It With Sunscreen. ...
  3. No. 3: Beware of What You Wear. ...
  4. No. 4: Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize. ...
  5. No. 5: Watch Your Weight.
Aug 24, 2018

What lotion is best for tattoos? ›

According to Goold, Aquaphor is a go-to in most tattoo shops, since it's super effective at soothing and moisturizing fresh ink. "It's great for both the initial healing period and afterward," she says. Cosmo assistant news editor Sam Olson loves using Aquaphor on her fresh tattoos.

How to make a bad tattoo look better? ›

Laser Fading for Cover-Up. One very reasonable way to deal with a bad tattoo is to have it faded via laser. Fading occurs to the point that it can be covered up with the tattoo you initially desired.

How to keep old tattoos looking new? ›

Life Phase
  1. Avoiding UV Rays/Direct sun light. There have been many analogies, but I like to use this one: Think of your tattoo ink as being very similar to the paint on your house. ...
  2. Sunblock Lotion. ...
  3. Rash Guards. ...
  4. Moisturizing.

Is vaseline good for tattoos? ›

However, Vaseline isn't a good option for tattoos. This is because the moisture-trapping effects also block your new tattoo wound from getting air. Air moving over a wound helps the healing process. You may even be more prone to infections if you use Vaseline on fresh tattoo wounds.

What is a blown out tattoo? ›

Tattoo blowouts occur when a tattoo artist presses too hard when applying ink to the skin. The ink is sent below the top layers of skin where tattoos belong. Below the skin's surface, the ink spreads out in a layer of fat. This creates the blurring associated with a tattoo blowout.

Can you brighten up a dark tattoo? ›

Overall, the best way to lighten a tattoo is by using a white base layer and applying a lighter color layer. However, you may also do it by applying darker colors and a white layer.

How long will new tattoo look dull? ›

The Next Two (To Four) Weeks

It is common for the skin on the tattooed area to appear fairly dry and dull with the cloudy-looking ink underneath. Be consistent with regularly applying your moisturizing cream to keep the area hydrated. During this period, the dead skin will exfoliate itself away.

What does Vaseline do to a new tattoo? ›

Why Vaseline and petroleum-based jelly aren't great for a new tattoo. Petroleum-based products can cause ink to fade and may trap moisture and bacteria on top of the tattoo, increasing your risk of developing an infection. Use water-based moisturizers on new tattoos instead.

How can I make my bad tattoo look better? ›

Laser Fading for Cover-Up. One very reasonable way to deal with a bad tattoo is to have it faded via laser. Fading occurs to the point that it can be covered up with the tattoo you initially desired.

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