Aftercare

You just got a tattoo. Congratulations and thank you. It is wrapped in a bandage meant to absorb excess blood and plasma as it continues to go through the motions of a super mild injury to the top layers of your skin. It is sore, possibly throbbing, but there is nothing to be concerned of as it was cleaned and thoughtfully handled as long as nothing has interfered with your bandage.

It is always recommended that the bandage stay on for 24hrs immediately after getting tattooed, this will always lead to a better healing process. After the 24hrs, make sure your hands are clean and carefully take off the bandage under warm water to loosen the glue from the tape. Use mild antibacterial soap to clean off any blood or ink remaining on your skin and gently pat dry with a clean paper towel. Allow your tattoo to air dry completely and always avoid touching it with your hands in the first few days.

For the first 4 days you can use an ultra-thin layer of Aquaphor applied with clean hands. Use a paper towel to pat off any extra ointment so that all that remains is virtually unnoticeable. It is essential that you do not block your pores while your tattoo heals. Moisture promotes bacterial growth so your tattoo should be able to breathe, staying mostly on the dryer side. Repeat this once in the morning and once at night. I can recommend sleeping in sheets and clothing that are not precious as ink may discharge during this period, staining them.

After the first 4 days, when necessary, a thin layer of unscented (no perfume) moisturizer can be applied to the tattoo when the skin begins to feel “tight” or itchy. It is important that you do not scratch your tattoo. Think of it as an exercise in discipline. In the rare case that a scab develops, absolutely DO NOT pick at them! Any mishandling of care instructions will not be touched up without charge. And yes, I can tell.

Full recovery can take up to 2 or more weeks. During the first 2 weeks it is recommended to not soak. This means no swimming, or bathing and no activities that lead to pruning skin. Showering is not harmful as long as it is an efficient in and out. Keep your tattoo out of direct sunlight and harmful UV rays. So no sun tanning, sun bathing, sun burning. If the harsh outdoors is unavoidable, try to shield your tattoo from the sun.

This all seems like a lot if this is your first tattoo. You will hear many peoples unprofessional outside opinions on how to take care of your tattoo, politely nod and disregard what they say. This is what I know works best for how I tattoo. The more tattoos you get the more you develop your own methods and understand what is best for you to comfortably heal your body.

Following these instructions should guide you resulting on a tattoo looking just as it did when it was applied. In the scenario a tattoo feels painful, swollen or red and discharging fluid far after a week of healing, contact me or seek medical assistance.