Tattoos and sun: here's how to make them coexist during the summer

Tattoos and the sun don’t always get along. But that doesn’t mean you have to live with long sleeves and a turtleneck below 40 ° C! A pinch of precautions, a little attention and off we go!

Updated article originally published 25 July 2012,

A tattoo is beautiful. Exposing it to the sun is already much less so. In order not to get shriveled and to preserve your beautiful creation, We give you two three tips that may be useful to you during and after his recovery.

During healing

During healing, the tattoo is very fragile and the skin is raw. So, although it is very tempting to get a tan once at the beach, better to stay under the umbrella… At least the first few times. Since the skin has just suffered a small trauma (even if it was worth it), the sun risks damaging it and disturbing its healing. which can take 5-6 days and extend up to 2 weeks depending on your metabolism. Worse still, the skin can swell and the ink will tend to smear slightly, making more intricate designs less sharp.

To protect your tattoo while it heals (even if you stay in the shade), it is recommended to use a cream intended for this purpose (for example bepantene). Generally, tattoo artists recommend a product that they consider effective, often based on the appreciation of each. But don’t be fooled by the classic mistake of applying a monstrous layer of cream to your skin: it is useless and keeps it in a certain level of humidity, which isn’t terrible. In reality, a thin layer is enough to do the job and it will be preferable to renew it regularly. To make it penetrate, remember to massage the area for a few seconds (without pressing too hard) so that it can absorb the formula without getting irritated.

Also, don’t hesitate to add a sunscreen with 50+ protection (to be renewed every hour) which will block the UV rays that would have crept through the umbrella.

Tattoos and sun: here’s how to make them coexist during the summer — @Ralph Rabago via Pexels

Beware of light tattoos!

If you have opted for a light color tattoo, you should know that these it will be more fragile against UV rays compared to their dark counterparts. Brown brothers tattoo artist Max Brown explains this phenomenon to Byrdie :

“As they settle and are exposed to the elements, lighter colors fade faster than black, dark green, dark blue and dark purple. Darker colors have proven their resistance to fading over time. Care while healing is essential and sunscreen is needed to help your tattoos retain their gorgeous colors. “

And then the bathroom?

This announcement will hurt you a lot, but we still have to tell you: swimming is not recommended if you just got a tattoo. There it is said. If you are wondering why, know that the answer is very simple: after 5 minutes in the water, your skin tends to wither and the ink may bleed. Which makes the tattoo less sharp and less direct in terms of color.

As for the plastic film that you could possibly use to protect your design: it is not recommended to know that this material makes you sweat and that sweating is one of the elements that make the tattoo bleed … Sorry.

After healing

After waiting several days / weeks, that’s it, it’s time to expose yourself. But beware, it must be done in moderation! promised, a tattoo does not condemn you to live a vampire life and it keeps you away ad vitam aeternam sun, but one thing is certain: you should always protect your skin as much as possibleeven when the epidermis has completely recovered from the trauma.

The sun, after healing, will not make your tattoo move, but if the latter has colors, these may blur and the lines may become less clear … And considering the price it costs, it’s a shame.

At each exhibition, it is therefore necessary to design an index 50+ sunscreen and this, whatever your phototype is. Very sensitive skin can count on a total screen. The indices 15, 20 and 30, on the other hand, are not sufficient for a recent tattoo or for a tattooed and fragile skin … Even dark skin will not be SPF free.

Ah and we prefer to specify it because you never know: it is forbidden to milk fat! Yes, because it makes you fry in the sun with or without a tattoo, but also because at the same time it nibbles your tattoo. Yum.

Spin your tricks if you make your own salad to protect your tattoo from the sun! We are curious to hear them!