Tattoo Aftercare

After care is a very important part of making sure that your tattoo looks beautiful in many years to come. Properly following aftercare instructions will prevent any infections and ensure your tattoo heals great. Every artist has slightly different advice when it comes to the process of healing and these are some things I’ve learned and that I have been following in the years of giving and receiving the tattoos.

First Steps

At our appointment, we will talk about your history with skin sensitivities and past tattoo experiences, and together we will make a choice of what bandage will work best for you. I will offer you a couple options.

Second skin Saniderm bandage is the option I use the most often, and that most people prefer.
This is a medical grade transparent adhesive bandage that is waterproof, breathable and protects your tattoo from dirt and bacteria.

If you have ever experienced redness or irritation when using products such as adhesive bandages, or have a skin conditions which may effect the healing of your tattoo I suggest using a black bandage or simply saran wrapping your tattoo.

Aftercare for a Second skin style bandage

Leave your adhesive bandage on for about 48 - 72 hours after receiving your tattoo (remove sooner if your skin appears to be increasingly red or irritated, or if you know you are sensitive to adhesives). I’d suggest not to leave it on longer than three days.
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Within the first 12 hours of receiving your tattoo, you’ll likely notice some pooling of ink, blood and plasma below the bandage. This is normal! But if the bandage begins to leak, take off immediately and proceed to bandage removal.
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After 36 hours, some of the pooling ink, blood and plasma may begin to dry under the bandage and look kinda crusty. This is normal! But it’s probably approaching the time to take off the bandage.
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To remove the bandage I recommend taking it off with clean dry hands, or at the end of a hot shower.
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Peel bandage off (along the hair grain) in a downward direction, close to the skin, like a command strip. Do not pull outwards away from your skin. (It may feel like pulling tape off of a sunburn.) Take nice deep breaths as you pull it off, or sit down on a bench in your shower area if possible.
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Once bandage is removed, gently wash with just water or diluted unscented soap and ensure all soap is rinsed completely off. I recommend Dr. Bronner’s unscented castile soap. Avoid direct water pressure and instead, splash water gently onto skin.
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Pat dry with a paper towel (I like to leave some prepared pieces ready before I get in the shower) and let air dry for 10 minutes.

After the bandages

Day 1-7

After you removed your bandage and for the first week after the appointment, wash your tattoo 1-2 times per day with just water or diluted unscented soap, pat dry with paper towels, let air dry, and moisturize with a light coating of your preferred unscented lotion. Please be cautious of over-moisturizing. We want the tattoo scab to flake off as naturally as it would a normal scab. Over-moisturizing doesn’t allow the scab to form correctly and may result in a duller looking and less contrasty tattoo. Please DO NOT use vaseline or petroleum based products on your fresh tattoo.
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Avoid working out to hard right after your session and in those first few days. Pushing your body by exercising can weaken your immune system and potentially affect the healing of your tattoo. Also sweating excessively can open your pores, increasing the chance of ink to seep out.

Day 7-21

Keep your tattoo dry and clean and keep moisturizing at least once a day. Everything that touches your tattoo should be clean. Treat your tattoo as if it is an open wound, which it is. Do not submerge your tattoo in water, so no swimming in open waters, no hot tubes or baths. Showering is totally fine. Also please avoid using saunas during this period. Wear looser fitting breathable clothing preferably made out of natural fibers. Be aware of what is touching your tattoo and use common sense.
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Avoid direct sun exposure for the first 2-3 weeks until your tattoo heals. I can’t emphasize enough how important this step is, especially in healing very colorful tattoos. Do not put sunscreen in this stage of a healing process.
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During this time, your tattoo may appear dry, flaky, scabbing, itchy, red, etc. Your tattoo will go through a very itchy stage, especially if it drying out. Do not scratch or pick of these scabs as it can cause ink to be pulled out of the skin along with the scab. Leave it alone and your tattoo will be happy.
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Your tattoo will be healed when it is no longer doing those things. At this point you can finally start using sunscreen every time your tattoo is exposed to sunlight.

Note: If you have healed several tattoos already, and have a preferred method of aftercare, trust your own judgement. At the end of the day you know your skin best.