Tattoo Aftercare

Congratulations on your new tattoo! Aftercare is the most important part of taking care of your investment.
Below are my guidelines to take care of your new piece.

General

Your new tattoo is very much a wound that needs to be taken care of. It will naturally be red or pink, irritated, warm to the touch, or raised. There might be “weeping” or “oozing” which is normal and a healthy bodily response. Everyone heals differently and at different rates, so the most important thing in healing is to listen to your body and observe.

Please do not submerge your tattoo in any body of water except showering. That means no pools, bathtubs, hot tubs, lakes, rivers, oceans, etc. Avoid direct sunlight until your tattoo is healed. Use clean bedding and clothing, and wear loose fitting closing over your tattoo to allow it to breathe.

Bandaging + Tegaderm

For clients using regular bandaging:
Remove bandaging the next day (12 hours) after getting tattooed. Gently cleanse off blood, plasma or excess ink with comfortably warm water using an unscented soap — I like to use Dr. Bronner’s unscented wash which comes in different sizes and can be found at most stores. Let air dry.

For clients using tegaderm:
You may leave the tegaderm on for as long as it is intact, up to 3 days— meaning that there is no leaking of your tegaderm; leaking indicates that the seal is now broken and is exposed to the air. Once the “seal” is broken or three days lapses, whichever is first, you may slowly remove the tegaderm under comfortably warm water with cleansed hands, and gently pull the tegaderm off by pinching one corner, then pulling towards yourself.

Moisturize + Protect

During the first 3-5 days of your healing tattoo, apply a thin layer of unscented Aquaphor to your cleansed and air-dried tattoo. You can dab off excess with a clean paper towel. Repply if the layer is worn off or dried.

After the initial healing, please switch to an unscented moisturizer such as Aveeno or Lubriderm and apply as necessary.

During the healing process, tattoos will scab, flake, itch, and heal just like a normal wound would. Do not pick at your scabs, and do not scratch your tattoo.

It is vitally important to use sunscreen to protect your new tattoo. Direct sun on unprotected skin causes expedited cell turnover, in turn aging your tattoo faster than had it been protected with sunscreen. Protect your investment for the rest of your life, use sunscreen!

Its extremely difficult for your artist to determine whether your tattoo is exhibiting complications. Please consult your doctor if your tattoo is exhibiting signs of complications.

Please email me if you have any questions regarding aftercare.