Your Guide To Tattoo Aftercare Serums And How To Choose The Best One
For tattoo artists, the human skin is the canvas. Except it is a canvas that is part of a living person. That is why inking it to your skin requires utmost care to make the procedure as safe as possible. In addition, the maintenance should also reciprocate from the one getting the tattoo, which is where certain cosmetic products can assist.
While there are generic cosmetics available both online and at your local Walmart, you require a more customized approach if you have a pre-existing condition. You might spend that bit extra on getting a safer tattoo, but it can still lead to complications if you don’t care for it afterwards.
Throughout this piece, we’ll focus on a product that most people might miss without a professional consultation: serum. You’ll learn about how effective it is and the proven method to choose the one most suited to your needs.
What Are Tattoo Aftercare Serums?
Unlike regular creams and lotions, tattoo aftercare serums focus on preserving the inked masterpiece and your skin in equal measure. They usually have a potent action and are often used in tandem with other, milder cosmetics.
You can get one with a dropper or a sprayer attached to the top. No matter which one you prefer, it is safe to apply on both the inked surface and regular skin. Still, considering the price tag for each dosage, it is best to avoid the latter.
Composition
On average, tattoo aftercare serums are 60% more expensive than other cosmetics of similar volume. But that is because of their unique composition. You can get serums containing peptides, antioxidants, amino acids, hyaluronic acids, and phospholipids alongside several vitamins. The exact percentage can vary from every manufacturer. Therefore, it is best to check the ingredients before deciding which one suits your skin type best. More on that later.
Working
There are two primary functions a tattoo aftercare serum fulfills: healing the skin around the tattoo and enhancing the ink within it. The skin heals with the various vitamins, peptides, and other nourishing contents of the solution. In contrast, the ink gets preserved with liquid components, such as oil extracts and aloe vera. The serum works almost immediately and leaves no trace of application. Nevertheless, the reaction is quite strong, so you must limit the consumption to only a few swabs a day unless your dermatologist prescribes otherwise.
Application
If you buy a dripper pack, evenly drop it across the tattoo and the skin that borders the design. Then, take a swab and spread it evenly over the surface. For a sprayer pack, you can simply spray it over the inked area and rub it gently with a clean finger.
Since tattoo aftercare serums act on the tattoo and the skin differently, you can start using them after the first day you get your tats done. Even so, experts recommend that you keep the tattoo covered using a soft cloth or paper bandage. Exposure to the sun or too much physical stress can ruin the tattoo design.
Benefits Of Using Serums For Tattoo Aftercare
Alongside their essential functions, tattoo aftercare serums can provide several advantages. A few notable ones include:
- Thanks to their multifunctional approach, tattoo aftercare serums can save you from buying multiple products, such as balms and salves. So, your overall budget for tattoo aftercare decreases by a massive margin.
- If you have a more active routine that doesn’t allow your skin to recover appropriately, then a tattoo aftercare serum can enable you to keep your design consistent. As the skin healing process accelerates, you can get back to your routine quickly while preserving the ink design.
- For those who want to renew their old tats, such serums can assist with returning the flair. Moreover, the skin nutrition protocol can prepare you for any further procedures, especially for those with pre-existing conditions.
- Since you can’t clean the tattooed area with regular soap and water, tattoo aftercare serum can deliver the necessary moisturization. More so during the initial days when it might not be ideal to apply moisturizing lotions.
How To Choose the Best Tattoo Aftercare Serum
Due to their specialized nature, you must choose a tattoo aftercare serum that best suits your needs. That is why it is best to consider the following criteria before buying your next batch.
Assess Your Epidermal Needs
Before investing in aftercare products, consult with a dermatologist who can provide a complete assessment of your skincare requirements. It is best to do it right after you receive the ink so that they can record the appropriate response on the required tests. They can tell you a precise range of concentrations that are safe for you to apply.
Keep Clear of Allergens
Regardless of your skin requirements, you can still get exposed to allergens from the solution through your mouth or nose. Thus, it pays to study the ingredients carefully and ensure that it doesn’t contain anything from which you can get an unpleasant reaction.
Be Wary Of Preservatives and Other Toxins
A few manufacturers can slip in preservatives and parabens to increase the shelf life of their tattoo aftercare serums. However, such chemicals are toxic and may result in skin cancer with extended use. Instead, you should prefer solutions with 100% natural and organic ingredients. Remember, Vitamin E extracted from plants is a good enough preservative that grants you several months of safe storage.
Stick To a Schedule
The serum action is quite potent, which is why medical professionals advise you to stick to a schedule. Too early, and you might destabilize the ink, letting it spread and ruining your artistic statement. Too late, and the skin might not retain enough nutrition to heal within the expected time frame.
Summing Up
All in all, tattoo aftercare serums are life-savers for customers who have specific needs and don’t want to carry tons of cosmetics wherever they go. If you’re a tattoo shop owner, it can open up a bespoke business opportunity while also helping customers with certain skin conditions reconsider their decision not to get a tattoo.
