Vita

My basic aftercare routine:

1) Get home, wash tattoo with warm/hot water and gentle soap (I already buy the cheapest, shittiest soap out there, which is usually good for tattoos )
2) Pat dry with paper towel, apply a tiny dot of Aquaphor
3) Depending on the time of day: either continue to wash it a couple times a day, or loosely wrap a paper towel/cloth around it to sleep and not destroy my sheets (to remove stuck on paper towel, I hop in the shower and let it wash off, no pulling!)
4) Wash maybe 3-4 times a day for the next couple days, whenever I was sweating or the tattoo starts to feel oozy and gross, maybe another tiny dab of Aquaphor once a day
4) Once scabs and peeling starts happening (around day 3 or 4), I stop doing anything special to it. I only rinse it in the shower like any other part of me (albeit more gently). I apply lotion only when it's so dry and itchy I can't stand it anymore, maybe once every couple days.

So yeah, I'm generally pretty low maintenance with mine and only apply lotion for my own comfort. Your body can take care of itself. 

My first couple of tattoos I had a very strict and detailed schedule of aftercare. Now with 200+ hours under the needle I am more of a minimalist. I can't help you with the bra strap dilemma, but  I just avoid wearing skin tight clothes for the first week. In day 5 I only shower/wash the tattoo once a day and moisturize it with cocoa butter when I get up and when I go to bed.
Your body will heal itself unless you really screw up badly. 

Take it easy. Relax. Breath. No reason to be depressed, for sure. 
Let your arm heal for a few months. Also a historical infection doesn't mean your arm or skin is any weaker, once healed. 

There is a trick there, because a good artist will tell you if they're not up to the task, but a bad one won't necessarily. The best defense is to spend a lot of time learning how to recognize average work from great work. 
Your tattoo isn't shitty - but it isn't world class, either. We've all had or have those, too. If you really want to commit to world class results you could laser at least the hair places a couple of times and lighten up everything. That would open up your world to infinite cover options with the right artist. 

Thank you! The infection is clearing up now, the peeling and itchy phase is in full force right now. It's kind of amazing all the stages that injured skin can go through! 

The old saying of "Time heals all wounds" seems like it was meant for tattoos. We all want them to heal instantly...but they obviously wont. Keep an eye on the infection, follow your aftercare guidance and let it heal. I look forward to seeing it in a few months!

Good advice. What's that saying....patience is a virtue? Tattoos are not for the faint-hearted...or the impatient....

Good advice. What's that saying....patience is a virtue? Tattoos are not for the faint-hearted...or the impatient....