What is your best preference to heal a tattoo most effectively? I will ask this site because most of you are experts by now. I am unsure how my newest tattoo is healing! I got different advice from what I am used to in my country. I was told not to put any ointment for 2 days, and only wash twice a day. And then put only Vaseline on after that. normally I would put Bepanthen, Or even Savlon does the trick, I think, only to stop the sting, other than that, I apply nothing unless it hurts. I've heard people say, dry it out, then keep it moist. Because a wet tattoo will heal more slowly, and give the ink more time to soak in or some shit. I don't think these people really know about skin! I have had a lot of wounds and scabs, and wet or dry, the healing time is no different! It only depends on the depth of the wound. And I don't see why it would make a difference to the ink, skin is not like paper! This one in particular, maybe where it is located on my forearm, it feels like it is healing and then ripping a lot, as I use my arm. And the scab seems kind of thick. But I didn't buy Bepenthen, I followed his advice except my whole arm turned pink with infection! I find people to be quite superstitious with tattoo healing! Everyone has their own ideas of how to "lose ink" or keep it brighter. Some of the scab has come off already, and as usual, the colours look not quite what they were when it was done. They never look quite as good as before. Am I being paranoid? I got the scab good and dirty this week at work. But that was after it had formed. It is only the blue I am concerned about. There is a spot where the scab came off and it looks a few shades darker than the ink. And other spots it looks much brighter underneath, in the cracks. How is that possible, I wonder?? I think maybe because it got some dust on it, that could have dulled it. But from what i know of scabs, they are there to protect, and nothing can penetrate. I can't do anything until it heals anyhow. But I am digressing as usual. Normally, I think the tattooists told me don't get it wet, keep it under the glad wrap for a couple of hours. Wash it tonight. Apply cream after a day or two. I asked the chemist about bepanthen and savlon, and she told me they are both antiseptic. There was a guy at work who said I can't use Savlon because it will cause it to "heal too quickly" and my body will "push the ink out". But I have used it on other tattoos I have had and it was fine. I tend to buy a tube of Bepanthen, use it once for the tattoo, and then I have moved house before the next one and somehow lost it. End up buying another tube. It annoys me! But if I have spend a few hundred dollars on a tattoo, it's a small expense! I was told by another inker that everyone has different skin and etc too! I also got a bad tatt from a mate who shredded my skin and it took 3 times as long to heal. This one feels nearly as painful as that one, but it was on my chest and the skin got very stretched as it was healing.
Does anyone have any tattoo rituals that they would like to share with me? I think people sort of forget that it's going to be there for THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. It is more focused these days to get it to look as good as it did when it was done, but it never will. Not quite :D