Everything You Need To Know About Tattoo Aftercare

Getting a new tattoo is an exciting time for every tattoo enthusiast. You’ve done all the planning, sat through the tattoo itself, and now it’s time to let the tattoo heal. You want to ensure your tattoo heals correctly and you provide proper care as your skin recovers. Read on to learn everything you need to know about tattoo aftercare so that you can successfully heal.

The Importance of Aftercare

A tattoo is a way for individuals to show off their style. You took time to plan and work with an artist to create the piece of art before inking it onto your body. Caring for the tattoo is incredibly important because you want the tattoo to heal correctly. Believe it or not, tattoos are a medical procedure. The artist uses a needle to insert ink underneath your skin. You’re susceptible to infection and scarring in any situation where you open the skin, and tattoos are no exception.

Proper care can prevent infections, scarring, and other complications to ensure the tattoo heals correctly. It’s important to start by choosing a reputable and licensed tattoo artist. Choose a shop like Ink Nation Studio, the premier tattoo studio in NYC. We have the knowledge and expertise to keep you safe during the process. Plus, we only use high-quality equipment for the tattoo.

Some states don’t require tattoo studios and artists to provide aftercare instructions. The areas that do require shops to provide aftercare instructions let the studio decide what information is important enough to make available. This inconsistency makes figuring out proper care tricky for clients who collect work from many different shops or lack experience with tattoo aftercare.

Cover the Tattoo

In many cases, after the artist completes the piece, they’ll cover it with a thin layer of antibiotic ointment and then cover it with plastic wrap or a medical-grade adhesive barrier. The cover helps stop bacteria from entering your skin and prevents your clothing from irritating the fresh tattoo.

Your artist will tell you how long to keep the covering on. Most tattoo artists recommend you leave the cover on for at least one hour, as it will help contain excess ink or fluids leaking from the tattoo.

Allow the Tattoo To Heal

Your new tattoo needs time to heal. Wear sun-protective clothing whenever you go outside. Call your doctor or tattoo artist immediately if you begin to experience any infection symptoms. These steps are crucial in allowing the tattoo to heal.

A few things to avoid while your tattoo heals include:

 

    • Don’t scratch or pick at the tattoo.

    • Don’t go swimming.

    • Don’t apply sunblock on your healing tattoo.

    • Don’t wear tight clothing over the tattoo.

Wash the Tattoo Gently

Before you remove the covering, ensure you wash your hands. You don’t want any bacteria or germs in the open wound. Once you remove the covering, wash the tattoo with fragrance-free soap and warm water. It’s crucial you do this step gently, as you could hurt your skin otherwise.

After cleaning the tattoo, use an alcohol and fragrance-free moisturizer. Don’t reapply a covering unless your tattoo artist provided specific instructions on how to do so—you want to allow the skin to breathe.

Day-by-Day Tattoo Aftercare

The more intricate the tattoo, the longer it will take to heal. Larger tattoos will stay swollen and red longer than smaller ones because the lengthy process causes more trauma to the skin.

Day One

Ask your artist how long to leave the covering on, and don’t take it off earlier than advised. Each artist will have their recommendations based on tattoo size and style. Some will suggest waiting one to two hours, and others will recommend longer than 24 hours.

You’ll likely notice some fluid coming from the tattoo after removing the plastic wrap or bandage. This liquid is plasma (the clear part of the blood) and ink. Your skin will feel sore and slightly warm when you touch it. You may also notice redness around the tattoo.

Gently clean the tattoo two or three times a day. Always use antibacterial, fragrance-free soap. Whatever you do, don’t scrub the tattoo! Pat—never rub—the tattoo dry. You can also allow it to air dry. Ask your artist if they have any specific products they recommend you use throughout the healing process.

Days Two and Three

On the second day, your tattoo will appear cloudier and duller, which is normal for healing skin. You’ll also notice scabs beginning to form. Continue washing your tattoo twice to three times daily and applying the moisturizer afterward.

Don’t become alarmed if you notice ink running into the sink while you wash that tattoo. It’s only excess ink coming up through your skin, and it’s completely normal. Your tattoo artist may warn you of this happening so that you don’t feel panicked when you see it.

Days Four to Six

During this time, you’ll begin to notice the redness fading and more scabbing occurring. These scabs won’t be the thick ones you’re used to when you undergo a deep injury, such as a cut. Instead, the scabs will follow along with the strokes of the tattoo artist’s needles. You should avoid picking at the scabs because lifting the dead skin can bring some healing skin with it, leading to scarring.

Continue to wash and moisturize two to three times a day, as this routine aids in the healing process. Allowing the tattoo to breathe is also critical in the healing process. Continue to avoid wearing constrictive clothing and keep the tattoo clear of fabric when possible.

Days Six to Fourteen

After a week, the scabs will begin to harden and fall off. Avoid picking or pulling them off, and let them fall off naturally. If not, you risk damaging your skin and the appearance of the tattoo.

Your skin may begin to feel itchier than normal. Rub the alcohol and fragrance-free moisturizer onto the tattoo multiple times a day to avoid feeling uncomfortable.

If your tattoo is still swollen and red a week out, you may have an infection. Call your doctor or tattoo artist immediately if you suspect you have an infection. You’ll need medical attention to clear up the issue, and professionals can advise you on what the next steps are for your specific healing needs.

Days Fifteen and Beyond

The large scabs should fall away entirely in the final stage of healing. The dead skin you may notice will clear up, too. The tattoo may appear dry and dull, but don’t worry; it won’t always look like that. Continue to hydrate with the same moisturizer you’ve been using to bring the tattoo back to life.

The outer layers of the skin should heal by the second or third week, but the deeper, lower layers will take longer. It could take anywhere from three to four months for those layers to finish healing completely. The tattoo should look vibrant and healed by the end of the third month.

We hope this brings clarity regarding tattoo aftercare. You spent the time and money planning and receiving the tattoo and want to care for it correctly. Follow the above tips as you navigate the healing process.

Everything You Need To Know About Tattoo Aftercare

Pro tips and tricks for tattoo artists

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Thinking of getting a tattoo, but not sure how to present it to your clients? Or maybe you have an idea of ​​what you want, but you need a tool that allows you to let your creativity explore?

Today, with the rise of artificial intelligence, many programs and interfaces have emerged to offer all artists the ability to create unique, attractive and professional designs using both editing and design programs, thus creating an artistic piece that will allow you to present your idea to any client.

There are many ways to design your own tattoo using computer programs and websites. Some of the most used and effective interfaces and programs are those that offer you a wide range of ideal tools to edit, modify, draw and capture your idea in a more realistic way.

Adobe Photoshop is one of the most popular and powerful graphic design software on the market and is widely used in the professional tattoo industry for editing and creating designs through the layering system and tools offered by this application.

On the other hand, slightly more interactive applications such as Procreate, Clip paint studio or Wacom are the most used by Zhimpa Moreno, J Luis and Nicolás Asencios since they have a friendlier interface and at the same time offer a wide variety of tools for both design as to make textures and shadows.

Finally, it’s important to highlight that when choosing a program to design your tattoos, you must take into account what your design style is and if the program you selected offers you the right tools and options to apply your style within and offer you more freedom when designing your tattoo.

In this way, you will be able to choose the interface or editing program that facilitates your design process and thus offer your client a proposal that is not only professional but also adapted to the reality we live in.

Inknation Studio Podcast.

Video and photography in professional tattoo

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Tattoo photography and video making is a great way to capture the beauty of inked skin and showcase the artwork of a tattoo artist. For this, it is important to use the right equipment and techniques to obtain the best results.

When taking pictures of your tattoos, it’s important to use a fixed millimeter lens for standard tattoo photography. This will also depend on the approach you want to achieve and the goal you have in mind. A 34 lens at 50mm it’s a great choice, as it’s known to be much sharper and generally higher quality than a zoom lens.

Also, natural light is the best option to capture your tattoo as it prevents unnecessary glare and shine. When taking tattoo photos, it’s also important to experiment with different poses and angles to get the best shot. Close-ups of each part of the body where the tattoo is present can help capture the details of the artwork.

On the other hand, when recording videos of your tattoos, it is important to use a suitable camera. In the market there are specialized caracas for the creation of videos that can be very useful if this is your main objective. In addition, it is important to take light and exposure into account when recording or taking a photograph as it can affect or benefit the final result of your tattoo.

In general, photography and videography for your tattoos is a great way to capture the beauty of your tattoo and showcase the artwork of a tattoo artist. The use of the right equipment and techniques can help guarantee the best results at a visual level that will undoubtedly become highly valued content on social networks.

Inknation Studio Podcast.

The Human Story Behind Inknation Studio

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How Two Tattoo Artists Changed Lives With Their Art is an inspiring story of how two men are using their talents to make a difference in the world.

Zhimpa Moreno and Darwin Enriquez are two talented artists who have used their talents to change lives. They knew from an early age that their passion was art and their dream was so big and real that today they managed to become the most recognized tattoo studio in New York City where not only art plays a fundamental role, but they also have a message of equality where they offer talented tattoo artists a space to expand their art and grow as people and professionals

Inknation Studio was a dream come true where neither prejudice nor negativity managed to prevent the dream of these two tattoo artists.

For this reason, Inknation proves every day to be more than a tattoo studio, but offers the guarantee to each resident artist to learn and develop in every aspect of their area. being so, talented, humble, creative and dreamy artists.

In its beginnings, Inknation Studio didn’t have the same approach as other tattoo studios, it wanted to make a difference from the beginning, managing to analyze the mistakes of other tattoo studios and turn them into learning in order to take its studio to another level. This is the approach that Darwin Enriquez and Zhimpa Moreno wanted to achieve in order to build an original study.

They both believe that tattooing is not just about the art, but about the connection that you make with your clients. They both strive to create tattoos that are not only beautiful, but meaningful to their clients.

Inknation Studio Podcast

Realism tattoo fused with cartoon: Brad Pitt in the fight club.

Realistic tattoos fused with cartoon are one of the most striking styles as they combine various tattoo techniques, full color and a wide range of textures to bring life and dynamism to the design.

The expert tattoo artist and resident of Inknation Studio, Pablo Frías will share some of the techniques he implemented during his participation in “The New York Tattoo Convention” where he stood out thanks to a piece on realism of Brad Pitt and cartoon techniques.

One of the main characteristics to perform a professional tattoo is to use the appropriate machines, needles and pigments that provide unmatched quality. Like any good professional, Pablo Frías recommends using Cheyenne machines and needles and Fusion brand pigments, ideal for professional tattoo artists.

On the other hand, letting your creativity flow and looking for elements that combine but at the same time bring life to the tattoo are techniques used that will give strength to the style of tattoo you are doing.

Finally, the professional tattoo artist recommends using graphic elements such as fonts to find those aspects that help bring the realistic fused cartoon tattoo to life.

With these simple but effective tips from professional tattoo artist Pablo Frías, you will be able to create a tattoo that reflects your creativity and techniques.

Inknation Studio Podcast.

Creating full color realism by Armando Muñoz.

The realistic tattoo is one of the most demanded thanks to its high level of detail and the characteristics that identify it. That’s why professional tattoo artist and Inknation Studio’s resident artist, Armando Muñoz, will share his secrets for creating a great, realistic, full-color tattoo. 

To create his piece inspired by the good and bad of New York City, Armando Muñoz chose to find representative elements of this city to combine them with his style and thus create a worthy piece for a convention like “ The New York Tattoo. Convention”

One of the characteristics that the tattoo artist highlights is looking for a suitable tattoo machine that adapts to the style of tattoo that you’re going to do and to the characteristics that you consider necessary as a professional. To do this, Armando recommends using a Cheyenne 2.5 machine, the machine he used to create his masterpiece. 

On the other hand, knowing how to combine colors and using the right ones to create your tattoo plays a fundamental role in the design. It is not necessary to use a single range of colors. 

Armando Muñoz combines the same tones to create a unique palette that gives life and background to the tattoo. For that reason, he recommends using professional pigment brands like World Famous.

Keeping these recommendations in mind, you will be able to create a full color realism tattoo that will help you not only elevate the design, but also show your techniques as a professional artist. 

Inknation Studio Podcast

The Beauty of Neo Traditional Tattoos by Artist Jluis: An Exploration

Tattoos are not just a form of body art, they are a canvas for self-expression. And when it comes to finding the perfect tattoo style to showcase your individuality, the neo traditional style stands out as a great option. Artist Jluis is one of the most talented tattoo artists, known for his exceptional skills in creating neo traditional tattoos that are both beautiful and unique. In this blog, we’ll dive into the artistry of neo traditional tattoos and explore why choosing Artist Jluis for your next tattoo is a great decision.

 

 
 
 
 
 
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The Artistry of Neo Traditional Tattoos by Jluis

Jluis’s tattoos are a fusion of classic traditional elements and modern creativity. He masterfully blends bold lines, solid color, and intricate details to create tattoos that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also have a timeless appeal. From portraits to abstract compositions, Jluis’s tattoos showcase his exceptional talent and creative flair, making each piece a true work of art.

 

 A Perfect Blend of Timeless and Contemporary

What makes Jluis’s neo traditional tattoos so special is his ability to seamlessly blend traditional motifs like roses, skulls, and ships with modern elements like abstract shapes, graphic patterns, and imaginative creatures. The result is a tattoo that is both timeless and contemporary, with a distinct style that will never go out of fashion.

Choosing the Perfect Neo Traditional Tattoo by Jluis

When it comes to choosing the perfect neo traditional tattoo, there are several factors to consider. To begin with, decide on the design and subject matter that best represents your personality and style. Jluis’s tattoos come in a range of styles, from portraits to abstract compositions, so you’re sure to find something that resonates with you.

Next, think about the placement of the tattoo. Jluis’s tattoos can be small or large, so consider the size and location of the design based on your personal preference and lifestyle. For instance, a larger design may look great on the back or chest, while a smaller design might be more suitable for the wrist or ankle.

 

Lastly, choose a tattoo artist with the skills and experience to bring your vision to life. Artist Jluis’s exceptional talent and experience make him the perfect choice for anyone looking for a neo traditional tattoo that is both beautiful and unique.

In conclusion, the beauty of neo traditional tattoos lies in their perfect blend of classic and contemporary elements. And when it comes to finding the right artist to bring your vision to life, look no further than Artist Jluis. With his exceptional skills and talent, you’re sure to get a tattoo that is both timeless and contemporary, with a distinct style that is sure to turn heads.

 

 

3 professional techniques to tattoo Micro Realism by Andrés Makishi.

Micro Realism is a style of tattooing that has gained great popularity inside and outside the professional tattoo industry and this is because it gives the possibility of creating a small piece with a great amount of detail, technique, elegance and sophistication.

For that reason, Andrés Makishi, professional tattoo artist and resident of Inknation Studio will share the 3 techniques he uses to create tattoos with the Micro Realism style.

The first technique is to work the tattoo thinking that it’s a large and complete piece like any other tattoo. 

Even if it’s a small tattoo, the level of detail, color and quality must be maintained because this will give it the impact that characterizes this style of tattoo. 

On the other hand, knowing how to analyze the design and create a strategy to start tattooing is essential. What this will allow you isn’t only to work in order, but it will help you so that the colors and techniques you use don’t mix or lose the level of quality. 

Finally, depending on the design you’re going to make, Makishi recommends starting by creating the lines and contours to later fill in and develop the complete composition. In this way, you will have more control of the piece and the tattoo will look more detailed and delicate. 

With these 3 simple but powerful techniques you will be able to create a Micro Realism tattoo worthy of a professional.

3 professional techniques to tattoo Micro Realism by Andrés Makishi.

Micro Realism is a style of tattooing that has gained great popularity inside and outside the professional tattoo industry and this is because it gives the possibility of creating a small piece with a great amount of detail, technique, elegance and sophistication.

For that reason, Andrés Makishi, professional tattoo artist and resident of Inknation Studio will share the 3 techniques he uses to create tattoos with the Micro Realism style.

The first technique is to work the tattoo thinking that it’s a large and complete piece like any other tattoo. 

Even if it’s a small tattoo, the level of detail, color and quality must be maintained because this will give it the impact that characterizes this style of tattoo. 

On the other hand, knowing how to analyze the design and create a strategy to start tattooing is essential. What this will allow you isn’t only to work in order, but it will help you so that the colors and techniques you use don’t mix or lose the level of quality. 

Finally, depending on the design you’re going to make, Makishi recommends starting by creating the lines and contours to later fill in and develop the complete composition. In this way, you will have more control of the piece and the tattoo will look more detailed and delicate. 

With these 3 simple but powerful techniques you will be able to create a Micro Realism tattoo worthy of a professional.

Small Tattoos with Big Impact: Andrés Makishi’s Dog Portraits

For dog lovers, there’s nothing quite like the bond we share with our furry friends. They become a part of our family, and we want to keep their memory with us always. That’s where Andrés Makishi comes in – with his micro-realism tattoos, he captures the essence of our beloved dogs in a small, but powerful way. Andrés is an artist who specializes in pet portraits, specifically dog tattoos. His unique style of micro-realism tattoos creates a vivid representation of our furry friends, and it is a way to keep them close to us forever.

Andrés’s Technique: Andrés has mastered the technique of putting intricate details in a small place. His dog tattoos are a vivid representation of our beloved pets, a glimpse of the happy moments we shared with them. Each tattoo is a work of art, created with precision and care. He uses different techniques to create the illusion of depth, movement and texture, making the tattoo look realistic and lifelike.

A Way to Keep Our Pets Close: But it’s not just about the artwork. Andrés’s tattoos are also a way for us to keep our pets close to us, even when they’re no longer with us. It’s a way to honor their memory and keep them in our hearts forever. Many of his clients choose to get a tattoo of their pet who has passed away, as a way to commemorate them and to keep them close in their hearts.

A Unique Way to Remember Our Pets: Andrés’s tattoos are not just a representation of our pets, but it’s also a unique way to remember them. Each tattoo is a personalized piece of art that captures the essence of our furry friends, their personality, and their quirks. It’s a way to tell their story and to keep their memory alive.

 

If you’re looking for a dog tattoo, look no further than Andrés Makishi. His small tattoos pack a big punch, and you’ll be proud to have your furry friend immortalized on your skin. Follow Andrés on Instagram to see more of his work and book your appointment today. With his unique style of micro-realism tattoos, Andrés can help you create a lasting memory of your beloved pet that you will cherish forever.