Tattoo Aftercare Instructions
- Always wash your hands before touching your tattoo! When you get home: Remove bandage within 2-4 hours after getting your tattoo. Do not re-bandage. Your tattoo needs to breathe, just like any open wound. Wash your tattoo with an anti-bacterial liquid soap. Bar soap is not sterile, it can hold bad bacteria and can pass it on to your tattoo. Be gentle, do not use a washcloth or anything that will exfoliate your tattoo. Only use your hands. When you sweat you release toxins, which sit on the surface of your tattoo, increasing the chances of infection. After heavy sweating, you must wash your hands and your tattoo before re-applying a thin layer of ointment. Gently pat your tattoo dry with a paper towel.
- Be gentle, do not use a washcloth or anything that will exfoliate your tattoo. Only use your hands. When you sweat you release toxins, which sit on the surface of your tattoo, increasing the chances of infection. After heavy sweating, you must wash your hands and your tattoo before re-applying a thin layer of ointment. 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 ointment on your tattoo. You may use Bacitracin, A&D, an unscented lotion (with no alcohol in the lotion) – 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. Wash, dry, and apply ointment 3-5 times daily, as needed.
- On the first night, you may want to wrap your tattoo in saran wrap to prevent sticking to your bedding. Do not use any cloth bandages or pads, as the fibers of this material can adhere to your open tattoo and hinder the healing process. 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, first wrap your clean tattoo in saran wrap, then 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&D cream. Use cream/lotion for minimum 2 weeks, 1-2 times daily.
Things To Avoid
- Do not pick, scratch, peel, slap, rub or irritate your tattoo.
- You can shower, but you may not soak your tattoo for 2 weeks. No swimming, soaking or hot tub.
- You may not expose your tattoo to the sun for at least 3 weeks, after that you must use sun block.
- Do not wear abrasive materials, jewelry, or shoes that rub against your tattoo. Do not let anyone touch your tattoo.
- NO GYM.
- Directly after or before getting your new tattoo. While you sleep you shed skin, sweat, and hair. Anything in your bed or on dirty towels and clothing can come in contact with your tattoo and increase the chances of infection, especially within the first 72 hours.
- Before touching your new tattoo. Believe it or not, your hands are not clean. After you wash your hands, anything you touch afterwards (door handles, cups, hair, face, the list goes on) has bacteria on it and therefore your hands become contaminated.
You Can Also
- Elevate your tattoo, to reduce swelling.
- Take short showers.
- Start active training at least 5-7 days after getting your new tattoo.
Tattoo film/bandage Removal
- In the first 24 hours, there may be a build up of plasma under the Tattoo film. This is completely normal. If so, remove the bandage and repeat from step one. Whether or not you change your bandage, leave it on for an additional three to six days. Once you remove our Tattoo bandage, keep your tattoo clean and start using our aftercare cream as needed.
- Peel up an edge or corner of Tattoo film back over itself in the direction of hair growth. Pulling upward can be painful. Rarely, some people will find it difficult to remove, in this case try removing in a warm shower. The warm water will loosen the adhesive and make it easier to remove.
- Slowly pull the Tattoo film off. Do not pull it straight up away from the skin. Instead, pull the film back and across the skin while holding your skin taut.
- Wash tattoo thoroughly with warm water and antibacterial soap and pat dry with a clean paper towel.
- Once tattoo is clean and dry, apply a thin layer of unscented lotion to your tattoo as needed.
If you feel your tattoo is not healing normally at any point, please text us with a picture and we will get back to you as quickly as possible. And you can just text me +833-501-0699.