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Aftercare

Fresh New Tattoo, now what?!

  • Always wash your hands before touching your tattoo!

  • When you get home: Remove bandage within 1 - 2 hours after getting your tattoo. Do not re-bandage. Your tattoo needs to breathe, just like an open wound.

  • Wash your tattoo with an anti-bacterial liquid soap. Be gentle, do not use a washcloth or anything that will exfoliate your tattoo. Only use your hands.

  • Gently pat your tattoo dry with a paper towel. Do not rub, or use a fabric with a rough surface.

  • The first 3-4 days: Rub a small amount of lotion/ointment on your tattoo. You may use an unscented lotion (with no alcohol in the lotion) like Cetaphil or Lubriderm – whatever you know you’re not allergic to. Always use clean hands and do not place your fingers back into the ointment after touching your tattoo. Make sure to rub the ointment in so that it is not shiny, or greasy– you want the thinnest amount possible. Pat off any excess ointment with a clean paper towel. Do not use Vaseline, petroleum, Neosporin, or Bag Balm. They tend to suffocate the pores and cause more harm than good, with most results leading to ink getting pushed out and a faded tattoo. Wash, dry, and apply lotion/ointment 1-3 times daily, as needed.

  • Wear clean, soft clothing over your tattoo for the first 2 weeks– nothing abrasive or irritating. For a foot tattoo: go barefoot as much as possible. If you must wear shoes, cover with a clean cotton sock before putting on your shoe. Avoid sandals or flip-flops for this period to prevent chafing and damage to the tattoo.

  • After day 3 or 4: On the 3rd or 4th day your tattoo will begin to peel. This is normal! Do not pick at the skin. Begin using a mild, white, unscented lotion, free of dyes or Perfumes.

  • Use lotion for minimum 2 weeks, 1-2 times daily

After week 2

- Your tattoo should be completely healed within 2-4 weeks. Most times, they have an extra week of setting in or the "shiny" stage.

- If you have extremely sensitive skin, your lotion may cause breakouts. If this happens, just reduce the number of your daily lotion application. Let it dry heal until your skin recovers, just keep it clean. Once it is healed from irritation, continue moisturizing according to physician's recommendations.

- If you don't have sensitive skin, then you will notice by WEEK 4 the tattoo will be fully healed, at this point moisturize AS NEEDED, but it's always recommended to do so at least once a day.

- Avoid direct sunlight and UV rays. Tanning is TERRIBLE for a healing tattoo. After your tattoo has completely healed, using sunblock will help reduce fading over the years.
- If you have pets, make sure to avoid getting pet hair on the tattoo. If they greet you with too much love and lick your brand new fresh tattoo, wash immediately please!

- The last and most important thing you need to heal your tattoo correctly- STAY HYDRATED. You'd be surprised how much just simply drinking water can help your body! It definitely applies here as well. 

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In The Long Run

  • Following with the principle that what's good for your skin should be good for your tattoo, moisturizing your tattooed skin should be part of your long term tattoo care routine.

  • If you have tattoos, it is not unlikely that you have been questioned with concerns about how your tattoo will look like once you are older. 

  • The question then is: is there something you can do to take care of your tattoos in the long term? Absolutely.

  • With a healthy amount of common sense and plenty of SPF, lotion, and healthy hydration, you can ensure that your tattoo will look more vibrant and healthier for the rest of your days.

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