True Blue Suggestion: Summer isn’t the Best Time to get a Tattoo
“Winter comes with an icy breath, and snowflakes dance until their death. A blanket of white that covers the ground and nature's stillness; void of sound…'
A line from a sulky teenager's death metal band, a stanza by the poet Robert Frost (get it?), or the topic of our newest blog?
Arty allusions aside, for as long as we have been in the industry, there’s been a consensus and a sullen moan among fellow tattoo artists that tattooing is seasonal. That’s a narrative that I’d like to challenge. Sure, many things are better in the summer, however, getting tattooed is not one of them. Give me a moment and I assure you will agree with me on why WINTER IS THE IDEAL TIME FOR A TATTOO:
MORE LAYERS (LIKE AN ONION)
In my ageing years, I feel less synced with popular fashion, but it seems that everyone's clothes are getting tighter and tighter. Life is busy and no one can go home after the gym so they stay in their activewear all day, I guess. Winter, however, allows us to once again explore our cupboards, fight off the fish moths gather the mothballs and summon the magical door to Narnia where thick woollen coats and baggy clothes spend their summer days. During wintertime, we layer up to cover ourselves from the biting cold, and this HELPS PROTECT A NEW TATTOO FROM EXPOSURE to dust, dirt, harsh words, mockery and other nastiness. There is less need to worry about accidental rubbing or touching your tattoo in the winter season.
LESS SUN EXPOSURE (ALSO LIKE AN ONION)
Anyone who’s taken a midday nap on a leather couch has had that horrible moment of realization that you’re gonna need to peel yourself from the couch like the plastic from a new cellphone’s screen. And it’s going to sound pretty much the same. Yeah, summer in South Arica isn’t for the faint-hearted.
Here in the Highveld, we have days of scorching heat and unbearable humidity. All this muscle-flexing from the sun can cause your skin to need more time to heal, and in extreme cases, DISTORT THE LINES AND COLOURS of your tattoo due to excessive sweating and sun exposure. But in winter, the sun is not as potent, and the days are shorter. This can help prevent any damage to the skin during the healing process and reduce unnecessary scabbing and fading.
LESS OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES (LIKE A LAZY ONION)
Wintertime is Netflix time and people tend to engage in indoor activities rather than swimming and sunbathing, which increases the risk of damaging a new tattoo. Winter, on the other hand, is THE PERFECT TIME TO LAY LOW and allow your skin time to heal without any interference.
FASTER HEALING TIME (LIKE AN ANTI-INFLAMMATORY ONION)
We all want faster and better and instant gratification. Well for once, you can get what you want. During winter the air is dryer and less humid than in the summer. This means that your skin will not be as sweaty or oily, allowing the tattoo ink to penetrate the skin faster and ALLOWING THE SKIN TO HEAL MORE QUICKLY
NO NEED FOR SUNSCREEN (WOW, BEEN GETTING A LOT OF MILEAGE OUT OF THIS ONION JOKE)
We all know that one person with a seemingly endless supply of sunscreen. I will admit that I do not apply nearly as much as I should, but it’s something that every tattooed person should do daily to PROLONG THE LIFE OF THEIR TATTOOS. Sunscreen will aid you in avoiding sunburn, skin damage and fading of the tattoo. Winter saves you from the hassle of constantly applying sunscreen.
LET'S SUM IT UP (LIKE A COOKED ONION)
Considering all that’s been said, WINTER IS AN EXCELLENT TIME TO GET A NEW TATTOO . The cold weather creates the ideal environment for tattoo healing and can help reduce the risk of damaging the new tattoo. With winter clothing and less sun exposure, you can relax and enjoy your new tattoo with fewer worries.