Memorial Day Weekend has come and gone, and school is almost out. It’s that time of the year when the skirts get shorter and the shirts lose their sleeves. We all wanna show off the great ink we got in the colder months, but sunlight is the ultimate way to break down our tattoos. Here are some best practices so you can keep your ink looking fresh and new.

1. TATTOO GUIDE – HOW TO PROTECT TATTOO IN SUMMER: EVEN IF YOU’RE JUST GOING OUT FOR A LITTLE BIT, TOSS SOME SUNSCREEN (IF YOUR TATTOO IS COMPLETEDLY HEALED)

We get it — it’s just a walk around the block with your cute dog. But that minimal sun exposure still does damage, so slather some SPF 30 or above on and then get your walk on. Your tattoos and your dermatologist will thank you.

2.  TATTOO GUIDE – HOW TO PROTECT TATTOO IN SUMMER: SPENDING THE DAY OUTDOORS? REAPPLY, REAPPLY, REAPPLY!

Put sunblock on before you find yourself in glaring sunlight, ideally at your house and in the shade. This way you’re not fighting time or your own sweat when you’re layering on that sweet SPF protection. Once you’re out and about, reapply every two hours to keep a sunburn and tattoo damage away. It’s easy to want to apply once and be done with it — after all, what a hassle — but it’s really better for the long term.