Summer 2021 is going to be one for the history books. The pandemic is winding down, people are getting vaccinated and that means we’re dying to get back into the tattoo chair. We’re going to be seeing tons of fresh ink this summer and a refresh on summer tattoo care will be more important than ever.

A tattoo artist can only do so much. They work their hardest to ensure that the tattoo process is safe and sanity, but once you walk out the door, it’s in your hands. And this is where things often go awry, especially during the summer months.

There are many things you need to keep in mind when it comes to taking care of your fresh and healed tattoos during the summer months. Summer is one of the most popular seasons to get tattooed, however, all that sun can do serious damage to your new ink. We’ve curated five of the most important tips for keeping your ink happy and healthy, take a peek and let us know how you keep your tattoos looking fresh in the comments section on social media.

Keep Your Healing Tattoo Covered At the Beach

While we know you’re dying to get down in the sand at the beach, keep your healing tattoo covered up at all costs. The beach is one of the dirtiest places your tattoo could be and you’ll want to keep it away from the sand at all times. Saniderm or other cling wraps are great for keeping out the germs, but if you’re healing another way, keep your tattoo covered up by a piece of clothing.

Avoid Sweat-Inducing Activities During the Healing Process

You’ll want to keep the sweating to a minimum during the tattoo process. Of course, you can’t completely stop the sweating process, but while your tattoo is healing, avoid activities that are especially sweat-inducing. This means abstaining from high-intensity workouts during the healing duration.

DO NOT Submerge Your Healing Tattoo in Water

For the love of God, do not ever submerge your tattoo in water. You should try your best to prevent your tattoo from getting wet in the shower and never (EVER) go swimming with a fresh tattoo. This means no pools or swimming at the beach for at least two weeks after you get your tattoo. Ignoring this rule could lead to a very serious infection.

Avoid Prolonged Exposure to Sunlight

The sun is extremely damaging to your tattoos. And when you have a tattoo that’s healing, you do not want to expose it to too much sunlight. This can accelerate the aging process and leave you with a tattoo that requires an extensive touch up. You spend a lot of money on your tattoos and sit for hours in pain, so keep your fresh ink covered up throughout the healing stage.

Once your tattoo is healed, however, be vigilant about applying sunscreen. You’ll want to coat your tattoos in sunscreen and reapply every hour if you’ll be out in the sun. This is one of the most important factors in keeping your tattoos fresh for years on end and it makes a huge difference in the long run.

When Your Tattoo is Healed, Moisturize and Stay Hydrated

Every tattoo artist has their own aftercare tips, but by and large, less is more during the healing process. You don’t want to put on too much lotion, because this suffocates the tattoo, trapping bacteria in and causing an infection.

But, once your tattoo is healed, more is more when it comes to moisturizing. Moisturizing regularly helps your skin overall and can keep your ink looking super fresh. Additionally, keeping hydrated will have lasting benefits to the health of your skin.