You’ve made it to the easy part, and welcome to the first day with your new tattoo!

The first 48 hours are the most important. If not correctly cared for, your tattoo can suffer permanent damage. During this time tattoos are especially vulnerable to infection and loss of pigment.

Remember, your tattoo is a wound, and it’s your responsibility to care for it. Your body is now protecting, and repairing itself by sending the platelets in your blood to the surface to create a barrier that prevents blood loss & microorganisms from getting in. This is part of your bodies natural defenses to fight infections.

Infections could potentially result in excessive scabbing, and loss of pigment in affected areas.

These aftercare instructions will help you both minimize scabbing, prevent infections from occurring, and help make sure your tattoo heals up fast & bright.

After your tattoo is finished, your artist will apply a bandage after it’s cleaned.

What you do with that bandage depends on the material.

If your artist uses plastic wrap, you don’t want to leave it on for too long because it can prevent air from getting to your tattoo, and create a environment for bacteria to grow causing your tattoo to fester. You probably want to remove it within a hour, or less. If a self adhesive barrier film is used it typically stays on for 24 hours.

When you remove your bandage, wash your tattoo immediately with clean hands removing the bandage slowly under warm running water prevent it sticking as much as possible. Then gently wash your tattoo thoroughly removing any blood, or debris on the surface.

Pat dry with a clean paper towel. Do not use towels made of fabric like hand, or bath towels. They could harbor bacteria.

Do not re bandage your tattoo. However, you will want protect it against bacteria found in all kinds things like dirt, pet hair, upholstery from furniture, or car seats, friends who ignore the rules of appropriate social decorum, or the grubby mits of curious children, etc by keeping in covered with loose clean clothes made from the softest fabric possible.

A good technique that can be very useful, especially for people who work in professions that have potentially more risk of infection like construction sites, bars, gyms, etc, or anywhere that has a more of a prevalent risk of contamination is using a clean, new Ace bandage over your tattoo to protect it.

KEEP YOUR TATTOO CLEAN.

For the next few days you’ll want to wash your tattoo at least 4 times daily with a mild (fragrance free) soap, and water

If your tattoo feels dry, or itchy apply a (fragrance free) lotion. Some examples of good brands are: Curel, or Aquaphor. There are also many different forms of aftercare products that are specifically designed for tattoos. Apply them like you would normal skin ; Do not cake it on. Areas that are near, or on joints might need more attention with a moisturizer to prevent the surface from cracking from movement.

Do not use petroleum based ointment, such as Vaseline, or A&D ointment, it will cause your tattoo to ooze, or weep, and possibly fester. If you have, wash it off immediately. Bacitracin & triple antibiotic are also not necessary unless signs of infection occur. If one does, consult a physician.

Do not share aftercare products with other people; Especially if it’s a product you have to put your fingers into, and it’s always better to use a product that does not get exposed to the open air.

                            (DO NOT TOUCH YOUR TATTOO WITH DIRTY HANDS)

                             Please wash them if you have to touch it for any reason.

AVOID: activities that require you to repeatedly bend joints, or stretch skin in areas on, or near skin that have been freshly tattooed.

AVOID: clothing, or surfaces that rub against, or cause friction to your tattoo. They will damage it, and potentially cause loss of pigment, or even scare tissue. Please be mindful of elastic straps from underwear, bras, waistbands, or any tight, coarse, and rough material.

Swelling after getting a tattoo typically lasts for 1-2 days. However, it can vary depending on the size and placement of the tattoo, as well as individual healing times.

Taking an anti inflammatory like ibuprofen can reduce swelling. But make sure you’re not allergic to NSAID’s. You may want to seek medical advice before doing so.

AVOID: Direct sunlight, tanning beds, and excessive heat for 30 days. A sunburn can be very damaging to a fresh tattoo, and can cause the skin to become red, swollen, and blistered, which can lead to scarring and fading of the tattoo. Additionally, exposure to UV rays can cause the tattoo to fade and lose its vibrancy over time. It is important to protect a fresh tattoo from sun exposure by keeping it covered with clothing. Then afterwards use a sunblock with a high SPF rating.

AVOID: standing bodies of water for two weeks. These environments can increase the risk of infection and damage the tattoo. Standing water can contain bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens that can enter the open wound of a healing tattoo. Additionally, soaking a healing tattoo in water can soften the scabbing and prolong the healing process, leading to potential scarring or fading of the tattoo. It is best to avoid submerging it until it’s fully healed to ensure proper healing and preservation of the tattoo. These include pools, lakes, the ocean hot tubs and bathtubs.

DO NOT!!! ITCH, PICK, SCRATCH, or RUB your tattoo while it is healing.

Your tattoo will have a small amount of scab over the surface, and even if they are starting to come off somewhat clear, you will not want to rub them or pick loose pieces off, especially in, or when you get out of the shower, no matter how tempting, or itchy your tattoo is. It can also be tempting to fidget with it. But the best idea is to leave it alone unless you’re gently washing it until it’s completely healed.

Avoid activities; Lifting weights, yoga, Jujitsu, or anything else you can imagine that could potentially cause friction on, or contact with your tattoo that could damage it, or cause infection.

The surface of your skin will roughly take about a week to initially heal if you follow these instructions. You may have some small areas that take a little longer, and you may experience dry skin after it’s healed that takes time to exfoliate. That is normal.

Hopefully that covers just about everything. But if you have any questions about aftercare, please don’t hesitate to ask:)