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It’s finally summertime, which means it’s time to break out the swimsuit and head to the pool or beach.
But what if you just got a new tattoo?
Can you still swim without worrying about your ink getting wet? Yes, you can!
Just follow these simple steps to waterproof your tattoo for swimming.
How To Waterproof A Tattoo For Swimming: 7 Key Tips
1.Clean your tattoo
Clean and dry your tattoo thoroughly to ensure it is clear of bacteria that could lead to infection. Make sure to use tattoo friendly soap so that the place of your new tattoo would be really clean.
2. Cover with sunscreen
Apply sunscreen to any exposed skin around your new tattoo to keep sun damage at bay! Make sure that you are not allergic to any of the ingredients in this product before applying it.
For some tips on how to choose the best sunscreen for tattoos, check our article “Best Tattoo Sunscreen: Here’s What To Look For”
3. Cover your tattoo in plastic wrap
After your tattoo is clean and coved in sunscreen, cover it with a sheer piece of plastic wrap. If you have any hair on the area where your tattoo is, be sure to trim them so that the plastic can lay flat against it. That way, when you jump in the pool or ocean, your new tattoo will be protected.
4. Wear loose fitting water-friendly clothing
Choose outfits that are made out of polyester or another material that is not too thick and won’t make you sweat. Make sure to tuck in any parts of your shirt or bathing suit that could ride up and expose your brand new ink!
5. Avoid staying in the water for a long time
Sure, you might want to stay in the ocean or pool for hours on end- but your tattoo isn’t used to being wet.
Stay in the water for no more than 15 minutes at a time before taking a break. This way, your new tattoo will be sure to stay safe and dry throughout its healing process!
6. Remove the wrap straight away once you’re out of the water
A lot of people forget this step, but it’s super important.
As soon as you are done swimming or playing in the water, make sure to remove the plastic wrap you used to protect your tattoo. After all, it does no good if it stays on while you’re out of the water.
7. Make sure to keep up with how your tattoo is healing
Don’t go swimming until the day after you get a new tattoo. It needs time to heal before any water can touch it.
Keep an eye on how your tattoo heals and how it looks when it dries or peels, just in case there are signs that there may be problems going on.
How to protect a tattoo from the sun?
If you are in a place where there is a lot of sun, and you will not only be swimming but also will spend time in the sun, it is really important to protect it not only from water but also from sun.
Well, how to do this?
Apply sunscreen before you go out. It is not enough if you put it only after you get your tattoo wet. You have to apply the sunscreen even before going into a pool or ocean, and then reapply every two hours, or more often if needed. Make sure that the sunscreen has a SPF at least 30, but the higher the better. It should also be water resistant. Make sure that you choose a sunscreen that doesn’t contain any oils too.
If you are only going to get your tattoo wet and will stay out of sun, don’t use sunscreen yet, wait for a week or two before doing so because it is still healing and the sun could harm it.
Don’t forget to wear a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, long sleeve shirt or rash guard.
This is how you can make sure your tattoo is safe from the water as well as from sun damage. But remember that you should always protect yourself from harmful UV rays not only when getting a new tattoo!
Final Words
If you follow these steps, how to waterproof a tattoo for swimming will be easy peasy.
Just make sure to pay attention to how your new tattoo is healing and how it looks after swimming. If there are any problems, then consider asking your doctor how tattoos can heal in water or how you should take extra care of it when in the water.
