Tags
art, clean, dermalogica, Dermalogica Close Shave Oil, Dermalogica Post Shave Balm, Dermalogica Protection 50 Sport SPF50, Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel, Dermalogica Ultra Rich Body Cream, ink, moisturised, skin, sun protection, tattoo
Go back just 20 years and tattoos were not quite so mainstream, but here in 2016 it seems like everyone and their Nan is getting inked (seriously, we aren’t kidding about the Nan thing…last year almost 10% of over sixties were the proud bearers of tattoos and the number is expected to rise!). No longer are tattoos confined to the likes of sailors, footballers and ‘alternative’ types, which means that the stigma of body art is finally wearing away and we thought we’d put together some tips for how to care for tattooed skin.
Shave
Before you get tattooed, unless it’s on an area like the palm of your hand where hair never grows, there’s a good chance that your artist will shave the area. This is usually done dry, with a disposable razor, and doesn’t always make for the most comfortable experience! If you know where you’re being inked, shave before you go using Dermalogica Close Shave Oil to properly protect the skin, as well as Dermalogica Post Shave Balm to condition the skin. DON’T be tempted to wax as this can leave the skin broken and any tattooist worth their salt won’t put a needle on broken skin.
Keep it Clean
Directly after you’ve been inked and you’ve removed the dressing that your artist applies, it’s really important to clean the tattoo, which is effectively a big, open wound and is highly susceptible to infection. Use a really mild wash like Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel, which is gentle and soap-free, is important for keeping it clean but make sure you pat it thoroughly dry with a clean, soft towel after washing.
Moisturise
There’s nothing that makes a tattoo look duller than dry skin, so using a rich, thick body cream on your skin will help to keep them vibrant and defined. Dermalogica Ultra Rich Body Cream is the perfect product for inked skin as it deeply moisturises and nourishes the skin without feeling oily and is even suitable for sensitised skin.
Protect
Over-exposure to the sun will literally murder a tattoo as the harmful UV rays can basically dissolve the inks in your skin, so covering yourself in a high factor SPF such as Dermalogica Protection 50 Sport SPF50 is essential. It’s important for another reason too – highly tattooed skin can effectively mask the early signs of skin cancer such as ragged edges or colour changing of moles, which means that you need to stay even more alert.
