How to Care for Tattoos to Keep Them Vibrant for Years

When we talk about body art, tattoos are an inevitable topic. Tattoo is a kind of expression of one’s personality and the artist’s creativity. How to keep your tattoos vibrant and sharp? The key is to follow a proper aftercare routine. 
In this article, we cover some tattoo care tips to keep your ink looking vibrant and fresh for years.

1. Sun Protection: Your Tattoo's #1 Enemy

UV damage is one of the leading causes of fading tattoos. Sunlight is like kryptonite to tattoo ink(kryptonite: a chemical element that exists only in stories, especially in stories about Superman, a character with special powers which he loses when he is near kryptonite).

Apart from UV harm to the tattoo color. UV irradiance, particularly from the sun, can accelerate skin aging. This process is called photoaging. The main contribution to this is damage from UV radiation, which does harm to skin DNA, proteins, and elastic fiber.

One of the most common sense is that when exposed to the sun without protection, we get sunburn and tan. Imagine it, if you got a cool color tattoo which looks cool on pale skin, and after you tanned, even the tattoo does not fade, the color contrast would not be strong enough to feel as cool as it should be.

Not to mention that those UV rays break down pigment molecules faster than you can say ‘sunburn’.

An efficient way is to wear factor-50 SPF when you're outside. Apply it like your tattoo's life depends on it (because it does).

Reapply every 2 hours when outdoors.

Cover up with lightweight, UPF-rated clothing for beach days or hiking.

If it is cloudy, and you have sleeve tattoos, sun protection arm sleeves or golf sleeves would be enough.

Wearing any kind of sunblock as often as possible and for any length of time once you decide to go out. Better to be protected than not.

(Pro tip: Tanned skin around a tattoo makes the ink look duller. Embrace the pale aesthetic.)

2. Moisturize Your Skin Daily

Dry skin = faded.  Moisturizing is essential. It is the second important thing to do to keep tattoos fresh and healthy. Applying a rich lotion every day not only maintains the tattoo's vibrancy, but also supports skin health.

For everyday use, the recommendation is to choose fragrance-free lotions. Color tattoos can be considered to use lightweight oils. People with extra-dry skin should better apply thick balms at night. Some artists would say moisturize while your skin is still damp to lock in hydration.

3. Exfoliation

Many people may wonder will tattoo fading as exfoliating? Well, that is not how exfoliation works.

Exfoliation is the process which our body naturally removes dead skin cells from the surface of our skin. You can do it by physical methods or chemical means. After exfoliation, your skin will be brighter and smoother. This is also potentially improving the absorption of skincare products as well as the tattoo inks.

Tattoo ink is inserted beneath your top layer of skin (epidermis) into the dermis by tattoo needles, where it stays permanent. If your skin is thick, it would make it harder for needles to prick into your skin, and needles may not be able to insert the inks deeply enough to the ideal place where inks stay as long as they should be. That's why it's extra important to exfoliate (and always follow with moisturizer!).

A suggestion is to exfoliate your skin before getting new tattoos. This makes the tattoo process smoother and helps the ink settle better in the skin.

Start this skincare routine a few weeks before your tattoo appointment - well-hydrated.

4. Hands Off the Healing Process

We've all been there—that unbearable itch during the peeling stage. But picking? That's how tattoos turn into patchy messes.

During the healing time, keep it out of water, too. No pools/oceans, that kind of thing.

Let scabs fall off naturally and try NOT TO SCRATCH the tattooed area. The more you baby a healing tattoo, the better it ages.

5. Pick a Professional Tattoo Artist

Seeking a skilful tattoo artist, seeing through his/her tattoo works. Learn more information about his/her style. Unless you want an amateur tattoo, do di before making an appointment.

There are many ways to find a reputable local tattoo artist. Ask your friends who have gotten inked. Search online for ‘tattoo studio near me’, start from the high-rated studio, go to their Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, etc. You can also keep an eye on the local tattoo convention. Artists who participate in tattoo conventions are experienced, since they have to compete with their tattoo works.

6. Tattoo Ink Is Also the Key Point

Here's the cold, hard truth: No amount of aftercare can fix cheap ink. No way.

Aftercare plays a significant role in keeping tattoos fresh. The right tattoo ink from the very start is also important.

When we talked about tattoo ink, Intenze definitely would be brought about. As the world’s most famous ink brand, Intenze is committed to healthy and safe ingredients and to modern values. 

If you are specializing in black and grey tattoos, Intenze Black Label Tattoo Ink is the optimal choice, because it has vegan ingredients and is 8 oz, without a premium price.  
Intenze Black Label ink claims smooth application, exceptional saturation, and unrivaled intensity. It features achieving the deepest, most decadent black.

REACH Compliant: Formulated to comply with stringent European Union regulations.

Intenze Black Label is committed to ethical and sustainable tattooing practices, and their pigments are vegan and never tested on animals. Cruelty-free. It is an appealing choice for artists who demand both premium performance and environment-friendly tattoo inks.

Whether you're lining, shading, or doing blackwork, Intenze Black Label delivers the quality and consistency tattoo artists need to create beautiful, lasting artwork.

Over the long term, it’s no longer about tattoo care. It’s more about skin care. All the things that keep skin healthy will help your tattoo. 

Q&A: Tattoo Care and Maintenance