Karen's Tattoos Blog

You'd think getting a tattoo would be the most difficult part, but sometimes taking care of it afterward is actually the biggest challenge. There's so many different opinions on what works best and how to treat your ink that it can become very confusing! Why are there so many contradictions when it comes to tattoo aftercare and what really works?

Before you get too frustrated by your options, keep this one thing in mind: your tattoo will more than likely heal just fine, even if you do nothing to it at all except keep it clean. The body knows how to heal itself and usually requires very little help on our part except to prevent the introduction of new bacteria. Aftercare products simply serve to make the healing process a little shorter and a little more comfortable than using nothing at all. When comparing aftercare products, most of them work pretty much the same - people choose what they like based on ingredients, scent, and feel. Since we all like different things, we're all going to have different favorites when it comes to caring for a tattoo.

The general rules of aftercare are universal, though - keep it clean and keep it from getting dried out. What you choose to use to accomplish that is pretty much up to you, but you can follow these basic aftercare guidelines for some ideas on what to use and how to use them properly.

Kerrie (Fairychick) says: "You'll probably get a different answer from every person. When I'm in the shower, I don't really wash the tattoo, I just let soapy water run over it & then rinse it off. The main reason for that is b/c if the tattoo develops any scabs they would get soft in the shower & could be pulled off prematurely by scrubbing the tattoo. You absolutely want any scabs to fall off on their own, when they're ready. Otherwise you risk losing the color underneath.

As far as aftercare, I use A&D ointment very sparingly for the first few days. Around day 4 I usually get into the really dry, itchy, peely phase and that's when I switch over to lotion. I use dye-free, scent-free Lubriderm. Usually it's another 3-4 days I use lotion until the peeling & dryness goes away, and then I let the tattoo be & don't do anything special to it."

How do you care for your new ink? Join the discussion on the message board and share your thoughts!

When an Illinois teen went to the hospital with a staph infection from an illegally received tattoo, his parents - who were previously unaware of and had never consented to the tattoo - filed charges against the tattooer, 18 year-old Michael Whitlock. The age of consent for a tattoo in Illinois is 18, lowered from 21 a few years ago.

Unfortunately, a lot of teens who get tattoos and piercings without their parent's knowledge or consent will also keep quiet even when they see it becoming infected. That can be a fatal error, so if you're one of those teens keeping an infected tattoo or piercing hidden, please tell someone! If you really don't think your parents will understand, talk to your school nurse or another trusted adult. But believe it or not, most parents are a lot more concerned with their kids being healthy and safe than about how they got themselves in trouble. You might get grounded, but that's better than being hospitalized or dying - and an untreated infection will lead you in that direction.

I love animals. The picture you see here is my big ball of fluff, Julius. We also have a cat, a hedgehog and a fish at home. So if anyone would be a supporter of having animals in the tattoo studio, it would be me. I know some shops have their four-legged or feathered friends greet their clients and many of them enjoy being welcomed by a wagging tail or a squawking hello. But is it really a good idea to have pets in the shop, or should they be left at home?

"So I'm doing a portrait/memorial for my parents on my left arm. It is also a cover up of an arm band i got some 12 years ago. We've put in around 20 hours so far (plus another 5 or so with the original arm band). The sessions now are getting shorter and shorter as I am bleeding too much, and especially with the portraits my artist doesn't want to be pushing the blood back in. Anyways, [I'm] looking for some suggestions on what to do here. [I'm] not drinking before the tattoo - no aspirins/blood thinners/drugs - I let the arm heal fully, and have been using a moisturizer - upon my artists advice, been eating jello - read that vitamin k is a natural way to coagulate the blood and green leafy veg like spinach are a good source. None of this is helping! Anyone have advice?" - ghettojoey

Question: "I am considering getting a pair of tattoos on my feet; one for Mom and one for Dad. I already have 2 tattoos so these aren't a first and I'm sure they wont be a last. My question is why are they considered feminine? and what is your opinion on this?"

Answer: I've never heard that foot tattoos are supposed to be considered feminine. Granted, I think I know more women with foot tattoos than men, but that doesn't mean they're actually more feminine - I think it's just because women enjoy showing off their feet more than men do. But some of the most bad-ass foot tattoos I've seen have been on men. As long as the tattoo itself isn't feminine, it should be fine! Good luck!

Earlier this week, I posted about Bambu Needlez giving back to their community by volunteering time and supplies to provide a local special needs school with an art program. Now another shop has appeared in the news for doing something positive. Recently, Guerilla Tattoo in Shippensburg, PA joined forces with Ledbetter Heights (local band) to raise money for their local food pantry. Kudos to both groups for putting others before themselves for a night!

Other News This Week:

Poker Run Held in Honor of Terminally Ill Tattoo Artist

9 Year-Old Aspiring Tattoo Artist; Parents Proud

Man Starts Revolt Against Club for Banning Tattoos

Morgan Hill, CA Tattoo Shop Robbed at Gunpoint

Olympians Doing Drugs Via Tattoo

Friends/Family - If you've been a victim of prejudice by your own family members or friends because of your tattoos or piercings, your story is needed for the book I am currently working on. Please email me at tattoo.guide@about.com with your personal experience and contact information. Please put "social discrimination" in the subject line.

Employers - If you've been discriminated against by an employer or during an interview with a potential employer, those stories are also needed. Please follow the same instructions above, but put "employer discrimination" in the subject line.

It's nice to be able to report about something positive, and this story really touched my heart when I saw it this morning. Several artists from Bambu Needlez tattoo shop in Mary Esther, Florida have collaborated with a local special needs school (Silver Sands) to volunteer their time and provide an art program for the students. The school hasn't been able to afford supplies needed to provide their own art program and when Bambu Needlez called and offered their services, they happily accepted.

Volunteer artists from Bambu Needlez plan to visit the school at least once a month and have already been collecting supplies. This is where you come in - if you are able to donate, they need all the poster board, glue, paints, brushes, etc. that they can get their hands on. For more details, you can call the school at 850-833-3364 or Bambu Needlez Tattoo at 850-226-4091.

Ever since I first heard of these little beauties, I knew I'd want at least one. Now, they're quickly becoming one of the hottest body art trends. So, the other day I finally went for it - and got two. I absolutely love them. This photo journal will give you a close-up look at how they work and what it was like for me to get them done.