Yesterday, (Saturday) I got my very first tattoo and I want to keep the tattoo fresh. From what I understand, the first few days of using the right aftercare will greatly help with reducing fading. My tattoo artist told me to use Tattoo Goo or H2Ocean (I went with the Tattoo Goo) and apply 3-4 times a day, not applying too much on it. I was reading online though that some say Tattoo Goo is just a scam. It doesn't produce the results it say it does or even works. I was researching on the forums here and other sites as well that Emu Oil works well. I was wondering if anyone had any personal experiences with using Emu oil on a fresh tattoo on a daily basis and helped the Tattoo stay fresh and reduce much fading. Or using Emu Oil in conjunction with other after care products, or not even using Emu oil at all. I have nice shades of blue that I would hate to loose if at all posible.

 Any help is greatly appreciated and thank you in advance. :)

 http://i745.photobucket.com/albums/xx97/Peter26_02/Tattoos/Carpe3.jpg

^Pic of the new tattoo.

Follow the instructions your artist gives you. I used tattoo goo with my first tattoo and it healed well.

 I've used Tattoo Goo on all of my tattoos, I find it really soothing when a healing tat gets to the itchy stage... I've only used Emu Oil on my nipple piercings, but it worked wonders on those... different artists have different aftercare, your best bet would be to stick with the intructions he gave you.

 I used Emu Oil and Tattoo Therapy on my sleeve with great results.  But you should stick with what the artist suggest unless it causes you problems at which point you should ask THEM for a second opinion.

I talked to the tattoo artist before I left telling her how I read up about using Emu Oil and the Emu Oil Tattoo Therapy and she didn't seem to have a problem with me trying it out since I told her I found some good reviews from people who used it on new tattoos. (She knew about Emu Oil since a lot of people use it for stretching) But, I did buy a tin of the Tattoo Goo there and she basically said use it if you have any problems with the Emu Oil. She didn't seem to have any problem with me trying out Emu Oil on the tattoo since I read up about it and did the research. I'll post a pic of the tat later today if I can. :)

@Adwoa: When I was researching one of your posts came up about successfully using Emo Oil on a new tattoo which was one reason I wanted to try it out. :)

Sorata -Peter-:

I talked to the tattoo artist before I left telling her how I read up about using Emu Oil and the Emu Oil Tattoo Therapy and she didn't seem to have a problem with me trying it out since I told her I found some good reviews from people who used it on new tattoos. (She knew about Emu Oil since a lot of people use it for stretching) But, I did buy a tin of the Tattoo Goo there and she basically said use it if you have any problems with the Emu Oil. She didn't seem to have any problem with me trying out Emu Oil on the tattoo since I read up about it and did the research. I'll post a pic of the tat later today if I can. :)

 

@Adwoa: When I was researching one of your posts came up about successfully using Emo Oil on a new tattoo which was one reason I wanted to try it out. :)

Well the emu oil should only be used for the first three days or so.. afterwards you should switch to the tattoo therapy, if you want.. but I found that i had better results with unscented lubriderm at that point.

 Despite the fact that we all suggest following the aftercare instructions your tattoo artist gave you, there's something to be said for checking in with other people about the recommendations. There are plenty of hackjobs out there who have suggested all sorts of crazy things for tattoos and piercings, so while generally following your piercer's advice is recommended, it also definitely makes sense to do a bit of research on your own and find out if other people have used the product (or whatever) with success.

 First of all, caring for your tattoo during the first few days is critical.  yes, you want to try and keep touching and stuff to a minimum, but there's still a necessary care routine you NEED to take.  It's not like a piercing.  I have 5 very large tattoos that still look as vibrant as the day they were done years ago.

You need to wash that tattoo with an antibacterial soap 3 times a day.  go light!  but make sure it's CLEAN.  then, apply a THIN layer of A&D ointment to your tattoo.  this is key.  dont apply too much because you WILL draw the ink out of your tattoo.  put a little on your finger, and spread it over.  if a little ink bleeds out, i promise you its not the end of the world, you wont even notice.  this is critical.  the point of A&D is to soothe your chaffed skin.  you need a protectant against INFECTION which WILL RUIN* your fresh tattoo.  if you fell of a bicycle and skinned your knee would you not take care of it?  a tattoo is the same concept; it's a skin abrasion.

 a few days seem to have gone by since you got your tattoo which makes what i just wrote above kind of pointless, but really consider it if you ever get another tattoo.  all you need to do now is pick an unscented lotion (i recommend lubriderm for sensitive skin) and keep your tattoo moisturized at all times.  do not pick at your tattoo.  i picked at the tattoo that completely covers my foot and i ruined it.  still wash your tattoo 3 times a day with an antibacterial liquid soap.

 *MORE INFO THAT'S NOT DIRECTLY IMPORTANT 

I used to work in a pharmacy, and one day I had a man in his 40s come in with a tattoo he had gotten done a few days previous.  he was looking for how to care for his tattoo and the cashiers directed him to me for advice.  this man was way more concerned about the appearance of his tattoo at that time than long term, and refused to care for it properly, and i watched as he payed the price.  he didnt wash his tattoo or provide any protection against infection.  i took one look at his tattoo and i counted 6 infected areas (and his tattoo was maybe 3 inches wide, 4 inches high. not big) which were already noticeably ruining the appearance of his tattoo. i told him he needed to care for it immediately.  i picked out everything he needed from soap to lotion.  what he had to say to me was shocking.  he put lotion on it once the day before, and didnt like the way it looked.  he didnt want to moisturize his tattoo because it remained white from the lotion.  he picked himself out a bottle of clear vitamin e oil, and against my advice, thats what he got.  he didnt get the soap, he didnt get the lotion, and the ones i picked out were a generic brand not name so $$ really wasnt a factor.  he absolutely didnt want to listen to me, as he stared at my bright tattoos covering my chest, neck and legs.  i was starting to get pissed, i even told him if he wants results like i had then he needs to listen to at least a portion of my advice.  he just needed to pull on the big girl panties and suck it up for a few weeks while the tattoo healed.  reminding him that it was permanent and he had his whole life for it to either look a) amazing, or b) fucked up, and he didnt care.  he wanted the clear stuff.  i even asked the pharmacist if the vitamin e oil would have done anything and he said no.  i didnt think i was just pulling that out of my butt.  he needed protection and a healing agent for his seriously messed up tattoo (which was a tribute to his son, pretty important actually).  the oil wouldnt have done anything for him at that point.  he came in again a few weeks later to pick up various things, and i saw nicely healed scars on his tattoo where detail should have been.

Not that I'm the god on tattoo care or anything here, but this is what happens when stupidity reigns.  the jerk saw i had a bunch of tattoos; i dont know why it occured to him that i didnt know what i was talking about.  not saying anyone here doesnt know what they're talking about - i just thought it was an interesting relevent story because initial care is way more important than people would think.  the LITHA method generally speaking is not the best way to heal a tattoo. 

What you were given as aftercare is different than what other people are given. I wash mine twice a day, with my gentle body wash, and put aquaphor on my tattoo for a few days then unscented lotion... I know others who dry heal theirs... There isnt really one way that is better than another... that is why its best to follow the artists advice who did the tattoo... 

 Exactly right!  But there definitely needs to be some sort of care, correct?  The regimen I posted always worked exceptionally well for me.  But what was aggravating is that in my story, the guy ignored his artist's advice, looked elsewhere and ignored that too.  He did what he wanted and based it on appearance instead of healing.  And the results of ignoring care were completely obvious.  I've read some great suggestions by people, but I've always stuck to the routine that my original artist told me, because it's what I knew best. This guy didn't know anything because it was his first tattoo, but there was no talking to him.

I hope I don't seem like I am being ignorant or completely ignoring my artist suggestions or instructions to take care of my new ink. I am cleaning it once a day as she suggested to me, only twice if I happen to get it dirty or something. The artist told me to not clean it too much as it may hurt the tatto. (I read a review of  a person washing there new tattoo 3 times a day and they ruined it) And keeping my hands away from it, not picking at it, letting it breath etc.

I did read up too that some people had great success keeping there tattoo fresh and new using Emu Oil before attempting to test it out on my tattoo. I did try to research as much as I could about most commonly used products and such, good aftercare tips and procedures. And most of the time I did read some bad reviews on Tattoo Goo, enough to convince me to give the Emu Oil a try. And I wanted to start this thread to get some more insight. ^.^ Which has greatly helped.

I did make sure to talk to the artist before using the Emu Oil, and I do have Tattoo Goo if I run into problems. So far, the tattoo has not scabbed or flaked. Its not itchy and it looks ok. Im not using too much Emu Oil, as I had read about using too much of almost any aftercare product can also ruin the new tattoo. >.>Only applying 3 times a day, and then in a couple days, switching to the Emu Oil Tattoo Therapy.

My advice to the OP would be to follow the artist's instructions (unless you happen to be allergic to the goo) or don't put anything on it, don't pick at it, etc.

 My artists tells me not to apply anything on it as well, and it has worked well for me.