Summer Tattoo Care: Protect Your Ink

Healing a tattoo in the summer just takes a little extra planning. Protect your investment, respect the healing process, and your artwork will look as bold and crisp as the day you walked out of the studio.

Brian

6/7/20261 min read

Tattoo by Brian Ulibarri
Tattoo by Brian Ulibarri

Summer is great for showing off ink, but high-altitude UV rays in Denver are a tattoo’s worst enemy. Fading can ruin the contrast of highly detailed, custom pieces like photo-realism, Trash Polka, or surrealist sleeves.

Fresh Tattoos (Under 3 Weeks)

  • No Sunscreen: Never put sunblock on an open wound; chemicals will irritate the skin and damage the ink.

  • Physical Barriers: Keep the area completely covered with loose, breathable clothing and stay in the shade.

  • No Soaking: Absolutely no swimming or submerging in pools, lakes, or hot tubs until fully healed.

Healed Tattoos (3+ Weeks)

  • Use SPF 30+: Apply a broad-spectrum, fragrance-free mineral sunscreen (zinc or titanium dioxide) 20 minutes before going outside.

  • Reapply Often: Put more on every two hours, or immediately after swimming or sweating.

  • Daily Habit: Protect against incidental exposure, like sun hitting your arm while driving.

Stay Hydrated

Sun dries out skin, making ink look dull. Drink plenty of water and apply an unscented daily lotion to keep your artwork vibrant and sharp.

Protect your investment. For more tips or to view my portfolio, visit brianulibarri.com/tattoos.