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How do you protect your tattoo while tanning?
How long should you wait before tanning after getting a tattoo?
And what is the best tanning lotion for tattoos?
These are the three questions I will answer today.
Contents
The tattoo artist probably warned you to stay out of the sun while your new tattoo is healing.
It may take three to five weeks for all the layers of skin to completely heal.
During that time, you shouldn’t use tanning lotion on it to not cause irritation. Stick with a fragrance-free tattoo aftercare lotion.
At a minimum, don’t apply sunscreen either until you’ve stopped peeling (1).
Tanning can dehydrate your skin. After all, your skin goes darker in response to the injury done to it by ultraviolet radiation.
Worse, tanning slows down the healing process of a new tattoo. It causes free radicals to break down the DNA of your skin cells and damage collagen.
The UV rays can also fade the ink.
Therefore, stay out of the sun for at least two weeks and up to five weeks after you get a tattoo. If you need to be outdoors, cover up the tattoo with clothing or a bandage to block the sun.
Then once you start tanning, always apply a high-quality lotion to keep your skin in top condition.
If you don’t have time to read the complete article, here are our top picks.
First of all, tanning lotion moisturizes your skin. If your skin isn’t ashy, your ink will appear brighter and clearer.
Second, you can still get bronzed while wearing sunscreen. If you tan outdoors, this is a smart option.
Third, tanning lotion companies are aware that many people with tattoos also love to tan. They have proprietary formulas to protect the ink against fading.
The lotions include antioxidants to fight free radicals and prevent damage to the skin. If your skin is healthy, your tattoos will look beautiful.
Now let’s look at the top tanning lotions for tattoos.
Coconut Kisses is the number one choice for many tanners with tattoos. It has a tattoo and color fade protector but no instant bronzers. The color you develop with this lotion is all-natural.
Within a few sessions, you’ll progress from winter pale to the sun god. That’s because it has tanning accelerators like the Quad Tyrosine Blend plus MelanoBronze. These stimulate more melanin production.
There’s also Nouritan, which boosts tyrosine to help you retain color for longer.
Plus, the tanning lotion has cocoa butter, coconut milk, and coconut oil for deep hydration. It smells delicious and will make your body silky smooth.
If you have sensitive skin, the #TANLIFE Tanning Butter is made especially for you. It’s based on shea butter, an excellent natural moisturizer.
It defends ink against fading and helps in firming the skin, too. One of the ingredients, Advanced Matrixyl Synthe 6, is scientifically proven to reduce wrinkles.
Ed Hardy’s Tanista is like a BB cream for your body. It provides an instant touch of color, shrinks your pores, and tones your skin. As a result, cellulite is less noticeable.
While you wear it, it protects your ink from fading and reduces redness. The creamy texture absorbs quickly and leaves the skin velvety soft.
JWOWW Natural Black Bronzer tanning lotion starts with a base of yogurt infused with black currant oil and pear extract. It smooths and nourishes the skin to keep it looking young.
Next, shea butter and kendi oil moisturize without making the skin sticky or greasy. And Ink Guard prevents fading. Meanwhile, the Ink-Drink complex makes old tattoos look vibrant again.
Happily, the instant bronzers will make you look like you’ve already been tanning.
The #Beachtime lotion is made for tanning indoors and outside. It has no bronzers, but it has other important benefits.
First, the tattoo and color fade protector keeps the ink bright and clear.
Second, seaweed, passion fruit, vitamins, and hibiscus detoxify and prevent free radical damage.
Third, the lotion tones and firms the skin.
The JWOWW One and Done White Bronzer features the Ink Drink Complex made of shea butter, vitamins, raspberry, and beeswax.
It has an instant bronzer, black walnut, to create a little color on your skin. Then, DHA and erythrulose deepen the color over the next few hours.
Simultaneously, the lotion nourishes and tightens the skin with yogurt, fruit, and caffeine.
The Supre Tattoo Black Tanning Lotion contains proprietary technology called InkCredible. It protects tattoos and makes old ink look fresh again.
It gives you a little bronze as soon as you apply it. In the meantime, the high levels of DHA darken the color over the next several hours.
Also, it nourishes the skin with aloe vera, algae, essential minerals, and cocoa butter.
Snooki wants you to live your dream when you enjoy this tanning lotion. It has Tattoo Color Shield and an intense moisturizing blend to leave your skin ultra-soft and healthy.
Some of the natural ingredients include algae, aloe vera, minerals, coconut oil, and shea butter.
Please take note that it has both instant bronzers like caramel and tanning accelerators like DHA and tyrosine.
The Sorry Not Sorry tanning lotion is great if you have oily skin. It mattifies to leave you feeling clean and fresh. But it won’t dry out your skin as it moisturizes with cucumber, aloe vera, and avocado.
The 50x cosmetic bronzers will give you an instant tan before you lay down on the tanning bed. Then, DHA will deepen the color.
Of course, it contains the Tattoo and Color Fade Protection blend that most Ed Hardy lotions have.
Color Karma is a fun lotion to experience. It has an instant bronzer with golden sparkles made from crushed gems.
If you have naturally oily skin, you’ll appreciate how it reduces shine and redness. Also, ingredients like Japanese Rose and Tiger Grass keep acne away.
While tan enhancers help you go darker faster, the Tattoo and Color Fade Protection watches over your masterpieces.
The European Gold Dark Star lotion makes tattoos more vivid. That’s quite a feat as it contains 100x bronzers that would ordinarily make tattoos look muddier.
Instead of DHA, it has erythrulose to deepen your color. It’s also full of luxurious moisturizers like olive oil, shea butter, and hemp seed oil.
Camo Queen has tattoo fade protection technology and so much more.
Cosmetic and natural bronzers give you a streak-free tan before you soak up any UV rays. The lotion camouflages imperfections and perfects the skin.
Next, DHA continues to darken the color while anti-aging ingredients like Vitamin C and green coffee fight off premature aging.
Inside this lotion is a blend of tattoo-protecting ingredients plus proprietary skin perfectors. It has a bronzer and a fit and firm complex.
Do you hate that after tanning odor? Then grab this lotion because it has a deodorizer called Freshtek. The long-lasting clean scent lasts for hours.
The formula also protects tattoos and fades redness caused by tanning and acne. Then, it speeds up your tanning with tyrosine, so you get the most from every session.
Additionally, it has rye seed extract and Advanced Matrixyl Synthe 6 for anti-aging benefits.
Devoted Creations Mermaid Majesty feels extra cool on your skin. It’ll keep you comfortable under the lights or out in the sun.
Tattoo color protectors maintain your ink vivid and clear, while Hawaiian seaweed, starfruit, and seabuckthorn provide plenty of hydration.
Vegans love Hempz lotions as they are based on hemp seed oil, not animal byproducts. But don’t worry, there’s no THC in them. The only high you’ll feel is the one you get from tanning.
Tattoo ColorShield Technology keeps your ink bright while natural bronzers and DHA boost your color. At the same time, willow bark, green tea, and vitamins prevent wrinkles.
The Girl Boss lotion will give you a commanding presence with HyperDark cosmetic bronzers plus DHA. Hours after your session ends, you’ll continue to develop a darker tan.
In the interim, algae, aloe, and minerals moisturize and protect tattoos. Also, lotus and hibiscus shrink fine lines and firm the skin.
SunGodz is a unisex lotion with a fresh fragrance. Although it has a bronzer, it won’t wash off in the shower or streak. It is long-lasting and protects tattoos from fading as well as provides luxurious moisturization for healthier skin.
Tan Asz U promises to make your ink pop with a Tattoo Enhancing Complex. That’s convenient as it also has intense bronzers plus DHA to make you go dark faster.
The marijuana leaf logo on the bottle hints at the hemp seed oil inside. Hemp seed oil is an excellent skin conditioner with the power to reduce fine lines and prevent wrinkles.
Are you worried about damaging your new tattoo? Then grab one of these sunscreens that protect the ink from fading.
Once your skin is no longer scabbed or peeling, you can apply sunscreen and get on with your life outdoors.
Tattoo Goo’s sunscreen has SPF 30, the minimum amount of protection recommended for tattoos by dermatologists and artists (2).
But it doesn’t just prevent damage; it also enhances the color of old tattoos.
The formula is based on 95% olive oil plus vitamins. It doesn’t have petroleum or lanolin, so it won’t clog pores or feel greasy.
Australian Gold’s Tattoo Stick is about the size of a glue stick, making it ideal for small tattoos. It fits in a pocket, so there’s no excuse to leave it behind.
CannaSmack’s Ink Guard stick defends tattoos from fading and protects micro-bladed eyebrows, too. It’s non-comedogenic and water-resistant for swimming.
Some of the key ingredients include beeswax, coconut oil, hemp seed oil, aloe, Vitamin E. Moreover, it offers broad-spectrum UV protection with octisalate, octinoxate, oxybenzone, and Meradimate.
Once the INK Sunscreen Stick absorbs into the skin, it has no fragrance and no residue. The vegan formula filters out both UVA and UVB rays while it moisturizes the skin.
Once your session is over or you’ve come back from the beach, it’s essential to moisturize. If your skin is well-hydrated, your tan will last for longer.
Ed Hardy’s Ink is the perfect moisturizer for anyone with tattoos and a tan. It’s packed with shea butter and antioxidants to keep the skin healthy and young-looking.
The lightweight, whipped texture sinks in fast. It has an appealing fragrance of bourbon and honey.
While you wear it, it fights free radical damage, makes cellulite less noticeable, and enhances the appearance of tattoos.
Furthermore, the hypoallergenic formula is free of oils and wheat.
It’s a canvas for your hopes and dreams. Therefore, take good care of your body with the best tanning lotions for tattoos.
Ink protectors and skin moisturizers prevent fading so that you can relax while you soak up UV rays.
Do you have a favorite tanning lotion that makes your tattoos pop? Let us know in the comments below.
Resources:
1. https://www.alaskaink.com/artists accessed August 2, 2019
2. http://www.tanunique.net/tropical-topics/tattoos-and-tanning by Glenda Wise, published November 5, 2018, accessed August 2, 2019
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