Is my tattoo ruined??? First tattoo, please help!?

That is normal, it's part of the healing process of a tattoo. You should be using lotion as well after washing. If you don't use enough lotion you will end up drying out your skin. Black flakes are only scabs starting to come off, just don't pick at them let them come off on their own. As long as there is no bleeding or red streaks coming from the tattoo you should be fine.

Don't worry this is normal. It is excess ink and it won't effect the real work which is layers deep in the epidermis. As for the healing, three washes per day is excessive. The body heals tats the best. Light lotion if you must use. Washing soaps and lotions can be abrasive to an open wound and may fade the ink.

This is completely normal. Just keep following the directions your artist gave you. When I got my first one a whole layer peeled off and I freaked out! I was sure I had ruined that tattoo. But I found out that it was normal and it still looks great! My second tattoo scabbed up and peeled even more than the first one. It'll be ok!

That is completely normal, you will see color come out in the shower during healing.

The top layers of your skin are always replacing itself, and a tattoo is the ink that stays below those layers. So, while it is healing, the extra ink in those replacing layers are being washed out. That's what you're seeing in the shower. Don't pick at it or rush this process. You're on the right track.

No, this is completely normal.

However, at this point you only need to wash it when you shower. You need to wash it regularly for the first couple of days but after a week 3 times a day is excessive and will only serve to dry out your skin.

Good luck.

no your tattoo is not ruined. just do NOT pick it. that is just the extra skin coming off your tattoo. when artists tattoo they tattoo the ink under layers of skin. when your tattoo is healing all the skin that is taking the soap and lotion your putting on it is peeling bc it is dead skin. and with that the extra ink is on your skin which is coming off too which is completely normal. I have 16 tattoos and it happened to all of mine. just keep following the directions your artist gave you.

That is as normal as it gets, sweetie. Do yourself a favor, don't glop 'heal creams' on it either. Heal it up dry, that's how I do it, along with every tattoo artist I know, as well. But don't take my word for it, ask your tattoo artist about it. And yeah, them flaking like that is quite normal. Not to worry.The only thing I really do endorse, as a healing aid, is Aloe Vera. The plant, not a product. Simply cut off a peice, peel it back, and moisten it with the gel-like insides. Works really well. Every plant store has them. But yeah, it's supposed to do exactly what it's doing, no problem. Take care.

Its fine its all part of the healing process

its fine. dont rub it too much. especially w/ a towel!!! dont soak it for long periods of time. its scabbing. keep it lubricated but not too much. oh man, is it going to itch!

that's what's suppose to happen

LOL