Inside: What Is The Point Of Saran Wrap Tattoos?
Tattoos are cool to adorn; they become a part of you and stay with you permanently. It is not just the inking procedure and design of the tattoos that should be thought of, but you need to realize that your tattoo will be an open wound requiring care.
Your tattoo will require a long time to heal; you need to be patient with the process and protect your wounds. Ask your tattoo artist about the best way to take care of your tattoo and help with the healing process.
The process will start when you are in the tattoo studio.
The first thing that professional tattoo artists would do after the tattoo is done is to make sure that the tattoo is wrapped safely. This will ensure that nothing grazes it, and you can get on with the healing process after that.
The Start Of The Saran Wraps For Tattoos
The origin of covering tattoos with saran wrap goes way back to the ‘70s and ‘80s. People who got new tattoos always took off the bandages to show the people their tattoos. This was causing hindrances in showing off their newly inked body. So this led to the idea of using a transparent sheet as a covering so that people could show off their beautiful tattoos without any problems.
While this can help you easily uncover the tattoo from the depths of bandages, you must also understand that there are dangers attached to this process. It can be risky, so you need to understand all the pros and cons before you get into it.
Pros of Saran Wraps on Tattoos
There are two pros to getting a saran wrap for your tattoo:
- It makes the tattoos visible so that everyone can see them because the bandages tend to conceal them.
- Something is better than nothing, so wrapping your tattoo with a saran wrap is better than leaving it uncovered.
Cons Of Saran Wraps on Tattoos
The saran wraps tend to create a seal that stops the air from passing through. Due to the saran wrap, the air does not pass through, and this can result in a rising body temperature. The risen body temperature acts as a perfect spot for the accumulation of bacteria, and your brand new tattoo can be sort of a petri dish that is used for the growth of bacteria (gross, isn’t it?).
Another con of saran wraps is that the skin and stops the breathing of the skin; due to this, there is a buildup of blood and ink on the tattoo.
The saran wraps can disturb the healing process of the wound and can be harmful because of that.
If you need to wrap your tattoo with a saran wrap, make sure you do it for a short time.
You may experience an infection where your tattoo is; the first thing to do is to stop using saran wrap and visit a doctor as soon as possible. Some symptoms of a tattoo that is infected are :
- Swelling of the tattoo
- The appearance of pus or lesions in the area where the tattoo is
- Fever
- Muscle ache
Top Saran Wrap Tattoo Products
How Long Should You Wear A Wrap?
You should be cautious about the saran wraps and only wear them for a short period of time. When the tattoo is made, you can wear the saran wrap for three to five days after that. Use it mainly when you are wearing tight clothes, participating in some athletic activities, or doing some work that can get you dirty.
For the rest of the time, you can let your tattoo breathe freely so that they do not cause problems in your skin.
If you have sterile bandages over your tattoo, they are far better an option than the saran wraps. You should keep the bandage and saran wrap away from salt water, chlorine, and sun, as these things can cause the tattoo to fade even when it is wrapped.
If at all possible, saran wrap should only be used if you don’t have sterile bandages available to cover your new tattoo. And it should not be used if you’re going out in the sun.
Be careful about changing the saran wraps or bandage every single time rather than reusing the same one.
Takeaway
So, these are the pros and cons of saran wraps for your tattoos. You can avoid them and use sterile bandages if you want or use them for as little time as possible.
Learn More About Tattoos
- Tattoo Peeling Tips – Tattoo peeling is one of the least fun parts about getting a new tattoo. Don’t worry though, it is a natural part of the healing process and will not have a negative effect on your tattoo long term. While uncomfortable and at times a bit alarming, peeling is no big deal. Read our expert advice on what to do with tattoo peel.
- Tattoo Blowout – Tattoo blowouts are not super common, but when they do occur it is generally because of the tattoo artist applying too much pressure. The ink is placed below the surface of the skin and in turn is injected into the next layer of fat. This can cause a number of issue both with the tattoo clarify, longevity, and even some health concerns. Read more about how this happens and what to do.
- Hand Poke Tattoos – If you are interested in getting inked but aren’t too sure about the lifelong commitment, a hand poke tattoo might be the right answer for you. They are pretty cool looking when done professionally and last up to 10 years if done correctly. There typically isn’t as much pain involved if you have someone with experience. Take a peek at these hand poke tattoo designs.
I'm Victoria Hudgins founder of Tattoo Glee and managing editor. I'm a Tattoo Stylist and love helping others find the best way to express all the fun and joy that is within them! Follow along with my posts for all the celebratory style your next ink design is needing.