Take Care Of Your Tattoos In The Summer

2024 Author: Steven Freeman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 08:15

If you just got a tattoo or are thinking about it, you should know that the sun, the sea and the heat are not the best friends of fresh ink. We spoke with the tattoo artist Carla Robles (@circatattoo) of the West 4 studio, one of the most requested on the New York scene, to solve all your doubts and get your tattoos to heal better and endure like new longer. Read it before deciding!

Is it advisable or not to get a tattoo in summer?

I personally believe that all seasons have their benefits and drawbacks. Winter is good because you don't have to worry about sun and water. While the tattoo is fresh, it is preferable to keep it away from the beach and pool, not immerse it in water for at least a month, it is also preferable not to expose it to direct sunlight. The problem with winter is the amount of clothing we wear, which entails a constant rubbing of the new tattoo with the clothing. The optimal time would be spring.

Why should those things be avoided?

[I also recommend] not exercising too much for a few weeks and avoiding the pool or beach in case of infection in the first days and to keep it out of contact with chlorine, salt water, and other components that are harmful to the healing process. You don't [have to] wrap it up again and it's very important to let it breathe as well. [You should not] scratch and remove the scab like this, however small it may be, if you pull them they can tear off the ink.

What is the best cream to apply on a new tattoo and for how long should we use it?

Today there is a lot of variety of tattoo creams, one of my favorites is Hustle Butter and Aquaphor or AandD, or any one that is rich in vitamin E and is not very oily. The application is very important: it should not be soaked in ointment, it should be put on a thin layer so that the skin can breathe. When you see dry and flaky skin (probably after about 3 days) you can use an odorless moisturizer, as natural as possible.

Once the healing process is complete, how do you have to take care of the tattoo area in the long term to keep it beautiful?

Sunscreen is the best friend of your tattoos, it helps to keep colors vibrant and like new.

How and when did you decide to become a tattoo artist?

Since I was a child I liked drawing a lot. It all started when I was a high school graduate. With my mother's sudden passing and [realizing] that I couldn't afford a career in art, I began to think about what I could do with my passion for [art]. One day a friend asked me to accompany her to get a tattoo and that was my 'eureka' moment. I asked the owner how a tattoo artist becomes, he told me to make a portfolio and show him my best drawings. It took me 2 years of learning with her. When I became a Dreamer I could start my career and I could do it full time, it makes me very happy to know that I live from this now.

How would you describe your style as a tattoo artist? What sets you apart from others and other artists?

I really like the fluidity of the lines which I think differentiate me from other artists. I like the organic, the flowers and what flows with the body and is seen as part of you. The fine lines call my attention a lot, the works come out delicate and carry a certain elegance with them.

Would you erase any of the tattoos you wear?

Yes, a tattoo on the finger with a super thick scar was one of my first tattoos and the boy who did it put the needle in too much. After that I all like them very much.