Take Care of Your Ink: Tattoo Aftercare Tips and Advice
The first few days and weeks (for a new tattoo) are probably the most important for your new tattoo. Make sure you care for it properly. Below is the healing procedure, do's and don'ts we recommend. Because each individual is different, this may not always be the best recommendation for each person.
#1 Leave your bandage for a minimum of 1 hour:
Leave your bandage on for minimum of 1 hour and no longer than 4 or 5 hours. (we would rather you left it on longer as opposed to washing it in a dirty bar bathroom) DO NOT RE-BANDAGE unless you speak with us and we decide it is a good idea, etc.
* For saniderm breathable bandages, you can keep the bandage on for 24 hours.
#2 After removal of bandage wash thoroghly with hot water:
After removal of bandage wash thoroughly with hot water and preferably a mild, liquid, UNSCENTED soap. (dial, equate, etc...)
3# Pat dry with a clean paper towel:
Pat dry with a clean paper towel and let air dry for one hour or more before applying aftercare.
#4 Apply a THIN layer of product:
Apply a THIN layer of product (AQUAPHOR, FRAGRANCE-FREE hand lotion, Tattoo goo) and massage into the skin to the point where it just barely looks moist. DO NOT GOOP ON A PILE OF A&D OINTMENT. If using lotion, make sure the product has the words "FRAGRANCE FREE" on the label, otherwise there may be a small amount of chemical additive to make it smell just a little better and that is what will irritate it. We do NOT recommend A&D ointment because of its high petroleum content, This will block your skin from breathing which is the most important thing for not only healthy but especially healing skin. It needs to be able to breath to avoid clogging pores, etc.
#5 KEEP YOUR TATTOO CLEAN WITH SOAP AND WATER:
THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF HEALING YOUR TATTOO IS KEEPING IT CLEAN WITH SOAP AND WATER! It is a mere matter of common sense. If you are out and about working, getting dirty, wash it more than if you are sitting on the couch watching Scooby Doo re-runs.
#6 Repeat this process for a week or two:
Repeat this process for a week or two depending on how the tattoo looks, It will peel like a sunburn after a few days. (It is totally normal to see colored flakes of skin shedding). If it does scab in a few areas this is nothing to worry about, just let them fall off on their own. DO NOT SCRATCH OR PICK AT THEM and DO NOT over-saturate in the shower. This could soften them up too much and cause them to come off prematurely which will leave blank spots that will need touching up.
#7 NO SUN, NO SOAKING IN WATER OF ANY KIND:
DURING THE HEALING PROCESS... NO SUN, NO SWIMMING POOLS, NO JACUZZIS, NO OCEAN, NO SOAKING IN WATER OF ANY KIND!
#8 After your tattoo is healed:
After your tattoo is healed... use sunblock, this will keep it looking like new longer.
#9 The better you take care of the skin, the better the tattoo looks underneath:
Think of it this way, you are looking THROUGH the skin at the ink underneath much like a picture in a frame with glass over it. The better you take care of the glass/ skin the better the picture/ tattoo looks underneath.