In recent years, fine line tattoos have become an increasingly popular trend. Platforms such as Instagram and Twitter have been overflowing with pictures of this beautiful art style of tattoos. From celebrities to influencers to your own circle of friends, everyone is becoming drawn to the fine line design. This is no surprise as fine line tattoos are intricately designed pieces that exude elegance. Yet, as lovely as these tattoos are, they still require responsible aftercare. If you want your fine line tattoo to remain as appealing as it was when it was first tattooed, you need to ensure that you take the proper steps to care for it until you have a completely healed fine line tattoo. The aftercare of your tattoo makes all the difference in how well it ages on your skin. In this guide, we’ll share with you the best way to care for your fine line tattoo.

What is a Fine Line Tattoo?

Stylistically, fine line tattoos are regarded for their crisp fluid lines and minimalist design. They resemble actual drawings on the skin with an ink pen at first glance. This is in contrast to the traditional thick and bold lines of tattoos. The delicate precision of this artistic style comes from the fact that artists use round liner needles such as one (1RL) or three round liners (3RL). This means that artists use only one or sometimes three needle tips for drawing these tattoos. These counts enhance the precision and details of tattoos. Additionally, fine line tattoos are typically drawn in black and gray which emphasizes their aesthetic appeal. Black and gray lines are more bearable on the skin, and they ensure a faster healing time.

You Got Your Fine Line Tattoo…Now What?

So, you’ve just got your fine line tattoo and now you’re ready to show it off. But wait…your tattoo still has to go through the healing process. To ensure that your tattoo heals properly, you must be diligent about the aftercare. But what exactly does aftercare entail? 

Removing Second Skin

Right after your artist finishes with your tattoo, they will wrap it in a cover to protect it from bacteria and infection. This covering is called “second skin” and it’s a clear sticker that stays on your tattoo for about three days. After these three days are up, you are free to remove this protective cover. Still, you need to be careful in how you remove it. We suggest that you peel up an edge of your second skin before slowly pulling the film up. If this proves difficult, you can attach medical tape to the corner to help with the lifting and pulling. Make sure that you hold your skin taut while pulling the film back and across the skin. If you notice a buildup of plasma, do not be alarmed as this is completely normal.

Avoid Soaking Your Tattoo

The number one thing that all artists emphasize is that you need to avoid soaking your tattoo in water even in the shower. This may seem like a harder task, but it is do-able. You’ll need to keep your showers quick as well as keep your tattoo out of the direct stream of water. When you’re standing in the shower, your pores open because of the heat and steam. This makes it harder for your skin to hold onto the tattoo’s ink. Really, in the first two weeks after you get your tattoo, you should avoid all pore-opening activities. So, this means that you’ll need to take a break from any outdoor adventures or intense workouts. 

Keep Your Tattoo Out of Sunlight

It is so important that you keep your tattoo out of direct sunlight. Like water, sunlight is one of the worst things that your tattoo can be exposed to. The UV rays can break down the structure of your tattoo, causing it to rapidly fade. It is especially essential to keep a fine line tattoo out of direct sunlight since these tattoos tend to fade faster than traditional tattoos. In fact, we recommend that you use 65SPF+ sunblock whenever you anticipate long-term sun exposure. It’s best to avoid direct sunlight for approximately 3-4 months.

Moisturize Your Tattoo

Something that you can and should do is moisturize your tattoo. As a matter of fact, it’s suggested you exfoliate and moisturize your skin in the few weeks prior to your tattoo so that the ink can better penetrate your skin. Even after you get your ink, you should continue to do this. The minute you take your bandage off, you’ll want to start moisturizing. Make sure you use unscented lotion as anything with fragrance can irritate your skin and disrupt the healing process. Additionally, you should keep the area clean as well. With a gentle cleanser, use your fingertips to gently wash the tattoo. Afterwards, lotion the dry area immediately.

Fine Ink for Life

All tattoos eventually fade, even stunning art such as fine line designs. Still, you can prolong the beauty and clarity of your fine line tattoo if you take the steps to properly care for it. Your tattoo is now a part of your body and just like any other body part, you want to take care of it. That means making sure your tattoo heals correctly.