In the world of tattoos, there’s a belief that always creates some doubt and much perplexity for many people: getting tattooed in summer.
It’s often believed that the warmer months of the year are an absolutely unsuitable time for a new tattoo, as certain external factors (sunlight, salt water, sweat, etc.) can make the healing process particularly complex and lengthy.
However, this is a false myth: tattoos can be done at any time of year, both in summer and winter, without any issues. In fact, in many cases, getting a tattoo during the summer is a winning choice because the skin breathes better and heals faster.
The only thing to pay attention to, if you choose to get tattooed in the warm season, is the care you put into practice to ensure the new tattoo maintains its beauty over time.
Among the precautions to adopt, the most important are:
- Protect the tattoo from the sun
- Avoid contact with salt water
- Follow daily cleaning and hygiene procedures
- Pay attention to the clothes you wear
Getting a Tattoo in Summer: Watch Out for the Sun
Anyone who decides to get a tattoo in summer must be aware of a fundamental rule: new tattoos and sun are a combination to absolutely avoid.
Therefore, at least for the first 2 weeks (the period when the tattoo is most delicate and needs to heal properly), it is essential not to expose it to sunlight, which could slow down the healing process, ruin the freshly done artwork, and cause skin irritation or damage.
UVA rays, which are radiation emitted by the sun, along with heat, penetrate the skin and underlying dermis, reaching the colored pigments that make up the tattoo and triggering natural reactions.
So, excessive sun exposure, in addition to damaging the tattoo during the healing period, can trigger long-lasting processes such as:
- Fading the tattoo
- Making the ink less vibrant
- Causing the design to lose definition and sharpness
Tanning beds are also strictly forbidden, as UVB rays follow the same principle and have the same consequences as the sun’s UVA rays.
Keep in mind that colored tattoos are more sensitive to sunlight than black ones, and more exposed body areas (arms, hands, neck, etc.) should be protected with greater care.
Once the tattoo has healed, it should always be protected with a very high sun protection factor (SPF 50+ or higher) to prevent the still-sensitive skin from easily getting sunburned.
Avoid Water Contact After Getting a Tattoo in Summer
After getting a new tattoo in summer, swimming in the sea, pool, lake, and even taking baths at home are strictly discouraged, while showers are allowed, but without rubbing the affected area.
Another thing to avoid is excessive sweating, so it’s best not to engage in overly intense physical activity, avoid excessively hot places, and stay away from saunas.
The reason is very simple: a freshly done tattoo is very delicate, to be considered a real open wound that can get infected and therefore must be treated with extreme care.
Water not only risks altering the freshly tattooed colors and drying out the skin, but it also contains bacteria that can attack the layer near the new tattoo, causing infections or allergic reactions.
Daily Cleaning and Hygiene for Your Summer Tattoo
The daily routine of care and hygiene for a new tattoo done in summer is almost entirely identical to that to be followed at any other time of the year.
On the first day post-tattoo, the transparent protective film applied by the tattoo artist should be removed, and the tattoo should be washed with lukewarm water and mild soap, simply using your hands, at least a couple of times.
This procedure aims to remove excess ink and reduce the risk of infection and should always be followed by reapplying the film, which is then permanently removed 48 hours after the tattoo was done.
When the new tattoo begins to form the typical scabs characteristic of healing, the cream indicated by the tattoo artist should be applied twice a day, and the cleaning routine with neutral antibacterial soap should be continued.
Once the tattoo has healed, continuing with moisturizing can still benefit the stressed skin.
What to Wear for Your Tattoo in Summer
When getting a tattoo, clothing is also extremely important.
Summer, in itself, already eliminates a major problem that usually arises in other months of the year: covering the new tattoo and not allowing it to be in contact with the air to accelerate its regeneration.
However, there are other things to avoid, such as overly tight clothing and synthetic fabrics that increase sweating and bacterial formation and do not allow the skin to breathe and thus heal correctly.
It’s better to opt for natural, breathable fabrics and always clean garments, so as not to expose the tattoo to dust and dirt.
Want to Become a Professional Tattoo Artist? Choose Milano Tattoo School
Training is the fundamental starting point and growth for any profession you wish to pursue: it allows you to learn, develop new knowledge, enhance skills and competencies, and discover techniques and tools of the trade.
In the tattoo landscape, Milano Tattoo School represents not only the best school for those who want to embark on a career as a professional tattoo artist but also a fundamental reference point in the world of tattoos.
First of all, it is an institution accredited by the Lombardy Region, which therefore issues the certificate of competence for tattoo operators valid throughout Italy and in many European areas.
Furthermore, it boasts decades of experience and a Team composed of expert tattoo artists and professionals in various fields, to provide high-level training that goes beyond basic skills and meets all modern professional needs.
In addition, it offers courses with a total duration of 1500 hours, divided into theoretical lessons, laboratory practice, and a final internship phase at affiliated studios, as well as seminars, workshops, and events with the greatest international artists and professionals that make the preparation even more complete.
Finally, thanks to a solid collaboration with over 400 tattoo studios throughout Italy, MTS ensures all students access to the real world of tattooing and a network of unique and fundamental contacts and opportunities to kickstart their careers.
If you want to become a professional tattoo artist, two Tattoo Operator courses are starting at our School in Milan:
- Monday, September 2, 2024
- Monday, October 28, 2024
If you want to turn your passion for tattooing into a real career, don’t miss the opportunity to join our comprehensive and qualified course!
Visit the page dedicated to upcoming Tattoo Operator Courses