A Souvenir that Lasts Forever: Tips on Getting Tattooed During Traveling

If you’re thinking about an everlasting souvenir from your travels, consider a tattoo. It captures the moment and the reason why you have the masterpiece on your body. It might be a city you fell in love with, and you want to take home the memory of that city permanently. During your quiet time, you can take a peek at the body art and reminisce about happy moments.

What comes to your mind are the risks of having a tattoo abroad, but it’s not different back home. There are precautionary measures that you can draw on for a safe tattoo.

Why Get a Tattoo While Traveling?

You can get your body inked at home, why have it abroad? 

Tattoos connect you to the place and the event where the memories happened. And if the piercing was done by a local artisan, it will make your recollection very special, remembering all the details of the experience when you look at them. The story is part of the tattoo as well as the tattoo is part of the story.

Tattoos have stories behind them like meeting a lifelong friend on the road, something unexpected happened, or the lessons that you learned. It will help keep the memory that will last forever.

Are There Any Risks?

There are real risks involved, whether you are getting your tattoo here or abroad. Reputable artisans and parlors always keep the safety of their customers in the heart of their business.

You should ensure that parlors and artisans adhere to strict hygiene and health protocols, especially during pandemic times. Most tattoo shops do not give priority to safety and health, but there are always exceptions.

A tattoo is a giant open wound consisting of thousands of tiny holes in your skin, if sanitation is not practiced by your artisan you might wind up with a grave infection or a disease that will last for life.

Important Precautionary Steps to Take

There are simple precautionary measures to have the masterpiece pierced in your body in a safe way.

Research

A bit of research will help a lot. Check out the websites of at least three sites. Compare prices, artworks, and client reviews. Often the tattoo parlors will boast about them on their websites, Instagram, or Facebook. Be wary that they will be posting only good reviews, so use other platforms to get information.

You’ll find a lot of people with artwork in trendy bars. Don’t be afraid to commend a local for his nice tattoo and ask where they got it. Bartenders can point you to any shops or any people with local familiarity.

Onsite visit

Once you step inside the studio, look at the surroundings, it should be tidy and clean. Licenses and certificates should be prominently displayed. The sanitation area should be equipped with sterilizing equipment and separated from the tattoo work area.

Observe the artist at work

Hang around and observe your artist in action to remove doubts. During the tattoo process, look for these:

• Needles should be in sealed packages.

• A fresh pair of gloves.

• The area should be cleaned and sanitized for the next client.

•  Inks containers should be brand new, used ones should be disposed of.

• Equipment and gun should be wrapped when not in use.

• While working, the needle should be cleaned using a disposable cup with fresh water.

• They should work with clockwork precision, if they show any signs of ineptness – run to the next tattoo shop on your list.

Aftercare If You Are Going to Continue Your Trip After That

So you’re done with your tattoo overseas, follow your artist’s instructions. It’s pretty much similar if you had the same tattoo done in a tattoo shop in West Covina.

• Have it covered with a bandage for 24 hours, then gently remove it and wash with water and antimicrobial soap, and be sure to pat dry.

• Gently spread a layer of Vaseline or any antibacterial ointment twice a day, but don’t wrap it with a bandage.

• Wash twice every day with soap and water and gently pat dry before rubbing Vaseline or antibacterial ointment to keep it moist.

 Do this process for 2 to 4 weeks. Don’t wear clothes that will cling to your tattoo, avoid swimming and stay away from sunlight for about 2 weeks.

Tattoo scabs and hard layers are normal, under no circumstances will you scratch, pick, or peel it, you can get infected. In case of infection or the tattoo does not recover properly, seek your doctor’s help.