Your artist will go over with you on how to take care of your tattoo during your appointment. If you have questions regarding aftercare, you can refer to this page for instructions.
How to clean your Tattoo:
Take the bandage off within 2 hours
2-3 times daily: Wash with warm water & liquid antibacterial soap that’s fragrance free (ex: Dial – the amber colored one)
Pat dry with a paper towel or a fresh clean towel every time.
Let your tattoo dry completely, then choose one of the three healing methods below:
Healing Methods (for first 3 days):
Dry Heal
Let it breathe with NO lotion. Great for black & gray work.
Aquaphor
Apply a thin amount of Aquaphor ointment
(made by Eucerin).
Especially helpful for “bendy” body parts.
Cocoa Butter
Apply a thin amount of a white non scented lotion or cocoa butter.
Especially helpful for “bendy” body parts.
Healing Advice (after first 3 days):
Around day 4, it may start to feel tight when you move it, itchy, and flaky. After your tattoo is clean and paper towel dried, use a white non scented lotion or cocoa butter (or lubriderm) on it. Keep some lotion with you at all times so any time it’s itchy, use it! This will help alleviate the “need” to scratch!
Do NOT scratch or pick at your tattoo. You can pat or slap it.
AVOID the sun and soaking water of any kind until it’s healed completely. (No bathtubs/Jacuzzi/lakes, etc. Only showers.)
AVOID TIGHT CLOTHING over the tattooed area for at least a week and a half. You don’t want ANY friction rubbing on it all day. This will hurt, the healing will take longer, and you may lose parts of the tattoo, and increases risk of infection.
Your tattoo is an OPEN WOUND for the first 3-4 days. Please be extremely cautious and keep all hands off unless you are washing it. Foot, hand and lower leg tattoos require a little extra vigilance. Keep your hands clean. Don’t ever soak a healing tattoo. Always be conscious of any dirt flying up in your lower leg or foot tattoo from sandals, etc and wash immediately.
Tattoos typically take about 2 weeks to fully heal. You will know it’s healed when your skin feels the same on your tattoo, as it does on the rest of your body. Keep applying lotion to your skin always, to keep it hydrated and fresh looking. After your tattoo is fully healed, always use sunscreen.
Saniderm
If your tattoo is oozing under the Saniderm, don’t be alarmed. It’s normal. You can press the plasma out through any little “tunnels” / bubbles. Do NOT pop the bubbles if there are any.
Take the 1st piece off in 24 hours. It is easiest to take off in the shower. Let the water run over it for about a minute, then peel it off slowly from one side to the other.
Wash with warm water, fragrance free liquid antibacterial soap and paper towel dry.
Let the tattoo dry completely.
Apply the 2nd piece of Saniderm with the white side down first.
Keep this second piece on for UP TO 48 hours.
Take this piece off the same way as before; wash, dry twice daily.
