If you are a person that has a tattoo with color, there is a good chance that you want that color to look as vibrant as possible in order to increase its overall aesthetic appeal. However, there are a large number of factors that can result in your tattoo fading, including sun exposure. Here are some tips for keeping your tattoo's color vibrant so that you won't have to redo it.

1. Make Sure It Heals Well

A tattoo that heals well will bond more strongly with your skin than a tattoo that is flaking or that suffers damage before it is fully healed. In order to make sure that your tattoo heals well, follow all of the instructions that you are given by your tattoo artist. Keep the tattoo clean while it is healing with an anti-bacterial soap that doesn't have a scent. Solvents and volatiles, which give a solution a scent and allow the scent particles to become airborne in order to increase the chances that people smell the scent around you, can cause your tattoo to heal more slowly and to not bond as strongly with your skin.

2. Use Sunscreen Everyday During the Summer

If your tattoo is in a prominent location, like your collarbone, arm, hand, or wrist, you are going to need to be religious about applying sunscreen when you go outside during the late spring, the entire summer, and the early fall. The reason for this is that the sun is going to cause the ink in your tattoo to fade. The sun will also tan your skin which is going to make your tattoo appear less vibrant than it actually is. Applying sunscreen regularly that has an SPF of more than 30 can help you protect your tattoo and the rest of your skin.

If you have a brand new tattoo, sunscreen isn't going to cut it. Instead, you are going to need to cover the tattoo with some sort of fabric or other protective covering when you outside. Simply applying bandaids over your tattoo that fully cover it without sticking to it can be an acceptable solution in the short term that will still allow you to go to the beach with your friends and have a great time.

For more information about how to keep you tattoo vibrant, talk to a professional tattoo artist like those at The Ink Lab.