Well, I’ve got 7 tats, and my partner has been tattooing for 14 years, and he only uses vasaline. It doesn’t sink in and provides a barrier to protect the wound (‘cos that’s what a tat is until it’s healed) from dirt. I have known a few tattooist, and it’s mostly the newer ones who are anti-vas. Most of the expensive tattoo balms work just the same, or worse.

Though Bapanthan and prep H both also work fine.

Know gonna get slammed, but that’s what’s always worked for mine, and they are all perfect.

On a map, would the shape of where you live make a good body for a guitar? If so, then that would be a cool tattoo, you could have portraits of your family in the map/body if you were looking to spend a few quid.

I wouldn’t worry too much. Like everyone is saying, if a scab gets pulled off, all that may happen is a bit of ink coming out, but most tattooist will give you a free re-colour within reason (if the tattoo loses a bit of colour due to normal wear and tear). If you’re worried, but a thin layer of vasaline on it, and cover it in cling-film.

And next time you get a tattoo, leave it to breathe with just a thin layer of vas on it until you go to bed the day you have it, then wrap it in cling-film. The next morning take the film off, and clean with warm water. The tattoo will look like you just had it done that second. Then leave it to heal, just using vas to stop it getting dry. This method ensures it will heal quicker, with less scabbing and less loss of ink.

Hope that helps.