So you finally figured out what kind of tattoo to get? It only took 2 years to come up with the design and now that you've had it for 2 years it just doesn't look the same. I know, it stinks! This is a common situation I hear about from those who spend a lot of time in the sun or in tanning beds. If you want to protect your tat's from fadin' and keep them lookin' like they did the day you got them, then you MUST protect them from the sun (or on the tanning bed.)
Things to consider when protecting your tattoo's from the sun:
LOCATION, location, LOCATION! Where is the ink located? Your foot, back, arm, or a more sensitive area?
The location is important because the best way to protect your tattoo is by covering it completely. If it's in your bikini area then unless your at the nude beach it should be easy to cover up. If it's on the middle of your back you may find this difficult to do when your looking to show off the summer body.
If you can't cover then you must protect with a powerful sun block. Cover the tattoo with at least an SPF 30, go higher if you can. Remember, if you go in the water or sweat a lot to reapply every hour or so. I know, seems like a real hassle but you'll be real glad you took the steps 5 years from now.
Are there multiple colors or is it just black ink?
Certain inks are more prone to being broken down by the suns harmful rays. The brighter the color typically the easier they break down when exposed to the ultra violent rays of the sun. Again, cover up with sun block!
Sun block is a great opportunity for you to show off your tatt's to the cute blond on the beach. Perhaps he/she can reach the spots on your back you can't get to.
Remember, use an after care lotion designed for tattoos once your out of the sun. Some products have a built in SPF so you can use the same one for before-and-after sun care. You can try H2Ocean, Tattoo-Eze, Tattoo Goo, or Tat Wax to name a few.
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Remember, when in doubt, cover your tattoo completely when you are in the sun for extended periods of time. That is the only true way to protecting it from fading due to sun exposure.
If you are unable to cover your tattoo, make sure you use a very high SPF sun block and reapply numerous times throughout the day. If you hit the pool or beach, reapply each time you get out of the water.
Thanks for any help you may give!! I have very very pale skin and I have recently been going to the tanning salon for about the past week. Suprisingly it's been working very well! But my problem is that I have a tatoo on my lower back that was done about a month ago. I didn't even think about it fading! So I wanted to know the easiest way to pretext it without slowing down my tan on the rest of my body and how to cover it accurately without any missing spots! The reason for a bit of a rush is that I'm going to Vegas in august for my 21st birthday. I'm still tanning at a pretty steady making sure I don't rush and en up with a nasty burn!! :)
I am really happy to hear you are taking it slow with your tanning. So many people rush and end up in painful and unhealthy situations.
With regards to protecting your tattoo, there are a few different things you can do. Some of this also depends on how large and what the shape of the tattoo is.
Ideally you should cover the tat completely. If it is a shape that is perfectly round or square or somewhere close to either, then you may be able to cutout some heavy paper or a cloth. Then you can use double sided tape, like the kind the stars use to make sure their boobs don't pop out on stage or in front of the cameras. Many stores are selling double sided body tape these days.
Another option would be to have a friend apply a very high SPF lotion prior to going into the bed. The key is to let the lotion set in for a 20-30 minutes prior to using the bed. This way it doesn't run as much if you sweat and cause blotching.
The first solution is only really applicable to tanning beds or stand-ups, because you'll want to show off that tattoo around the pool or on the beach. So make sure throughout the summer you keep protecting your tat with sunblock.
I hope this helps. Please let me know if you have any more questions.
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