AFTERCARE INSTRUCTIONS
Go to 100 different tattoo artists, and you’ll get a hundred different sets of aftercare instructions. There are many acceptable methods and products for healing a tattoo. Your body is the product of millions of years of evolution, and is incredibly good at healing. You will often heal just fine DESPITE the method, rather than BECAUSE of it, as long as it doesn’t get infected.
The real trick is knowing what NOT to do.
Do NOT get it dirty. Wash it a couple times a day.
Do NOT pick it, scratch it, soak it, or sun it.
That’s your basic “dry heal”. The tattoo will scab a little, the scab will peel off in a week or two, then it will be fully healed in a month.
Now, I like to explain the principles of healing, so people can more specifically tailor their healing process to get the best and most efficient results.
When your tattoo is finished, it will be open skin…inflamed, swollen, and seeping fluid… therefore it will be bandaged to protect you, and those around you. The tattoo should be bandaged for as long as it takes for that inflammation, swelling, and seepage to subside. For some tattoos, that’s a couple hours. For some, it’s a couple days. When the bandage comes off, the tattoo should be washed. Always wash your hands first, THEN wash the tattoo. A simple, fragrance free liquid soap is best. Then rinse, and pat dry with a clean paper towel. If the tattoo is still swollen and seeping, apply a thin layer of ointment and re-bandage it with a fresh nonstick dressing.The type of ointment will vary depending on your system, and what you may or may not have allergies to… but the ointment’s purpose is to keep the tattoo from scabbing until the inflammation has subsided . Aquaphor, A&D, Neosporin, or even plain Vaseline will do this job, just remember it should come clean from a tube, not a tub you continue to put your fingers in. Repeat this process 2-3 times a day until your tattoo has calmed down, then discontinue bandaging. Again, ointment keeps the wound open, so do not continue to apply ointment when you’re no longer bandaging it… the two go together.
The tattoo will then start to scab, or seal over. This is normal. If you let the inflammation subside sufficiently, this scab will be much thinner… if not, it will be thicker. Oftentimes, when the stars align, it will be so thin you won’t even notice until it peels like a sunburn. Continue washing your tattoo 2-3 times a day and keep it clean, avoiding bending, pulling, scratching, or soaking the tattoo until the scab flakes off. Remember, the scab serves a purpose. It acts as a bandage to keep dirt out of a wound…AND as a scaffolding along which the new top layer of skin cells will form. It serves both those functions better when dry and intact, so do not do anything to remove it too early… it will flake off on its own when it’s good and ready.
Your skin will now be a little shiny and will dry out easily, as the oil glands haven’t re-emerged yet. A fragrance free moisturizing lotion can be used to keep the skin from being too dry and itchy. The fresh layer of new skin is a little brittle initially, so avoid scratching it. The tattoo should be FULLY healed in about a month.
Sunblock is your friend. Excessive sun exposure will cause your tattoo to fade faster.
DON’T listen to your friends.
If you have any questions or problems, don’t hesitate to contact the shop.
If you have any serious, immediate medical concerns or problems, get seen by a qualified medical provider.