Congrats friend on your new tattoo! 

Proper care of your new tattoo is essential for optimal healing and long-term appearance, so please make sure to follow the instructions closely.

AFTERCARE INFORMATION

You will be sent home with a clear bandage called Recovery (tagaderm). You will leave it on for 3-5 days. This type of wrap is water resistant so you can shower with it on but still avoid baths, hot tubs, or bodies of water until your tattoo is fully healed. You may get a goopy black/brown substance under the wrap, this is the excess plasma and ink that normally oozes out the first few days. It may look a little gross but ignore it, it won't hurt your tattoo.

Take off the wrap early if: water or sweat gets trapped under or if it peels up off the tattoo. When removed it is easier to take it off in a warm shower. I recommend taking it off like a command strip (in the direction of the skin.)

ONCE YOU TAKE OFF THE WRAP

  1. Wash the tattoo gently with your hands~ do not scrub with anything

  2. Use unscented mild soap (Hustle Butter Soap is my favorite~ Soap Link)

  3. Pat dry with a clean towel~ be careful with any scabbing

  4. Use a small amount of unscented lotion 2-3 times a day~ use more if needed (if the tattoo becomes itchy or dry) 

  5. Hustle butter or Aquaphor are my favorite. (Aquaphor link) (Hustle Butter Link)

  6. Applying too much ointment can cause your tattoo to "suffocate" apply only a very thin coat so your tattoo can breathe. 

  7. There is no need to re-bandage the tattoo, but please be mindful that your tattoo is a wound.

  8. Avoid until healed: Pools, baths, hot tubs, any standing water~ showers are fine. Also, avoid wearing abrasive clothing or jewelry on your new tattoo. Avoid scratching, picking, or touching the tattoo with unclean hands. Picking and scratching WILL cause healing issues and ink loss.  Avoid sun tanning, burning, or even exposing a fresh tattoo to the sun (when healing use a high SPF sunblock)

Remember, a tattoo is an open wound, treat it as so, be careful with touching it on anything, and if so wash immediately.

The scabs (if any) will fall off on their own, let them fall off on their own! The tattoo may go through a scabby/ashy phase. This goes away when fully healed.

Tattoos usually take anywhere from 6-8 weeks to fully heal. Once your tattoo isn't scabby or raised it is safe to assume that it is healed.

TOUCH UPS

  • I include one touch-up per tattoo for each client that must be claimed within the first year.

  • Fresh tattoos cannot be touched up, it is recommended to wait 2+ months to touch up a tattoo.

  • Once healed please email a picture of your tattoo(s) in good lighting. After I receive a healed picture, I will send you a booking link to get you scheduled. 


Tattoo Aftercare FAQ

  • ARE THERE ANY RULES SURROUNDING SELF TANNER OR SPRAY TANS?

    Getting a self tan before a tattoo doesn't necessarily effect the tattoo, but during the tattoo process much of it will most likely be removed, so I would avoid it or do it a few days in advance — just so [the tanner is] fully settled into the skin, As for after the tattoo, you will want to wait two weeks to a month before getting spray tanned or wearing self tanner over the tattoo. This will give time for the tattoo to fully heal and nix the chance of developing an infection.

  • WHAT DO WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SUN PROTECTION OR COVERING UP AFTER FIRST GETTING TATTOOED?

    After getting any tattoo, avoid sun exposure for a minimum of 2 weeks to a month. And after? Always sunscreen your tattoos. Sunscreen will keep your skin young and fresh by preventing the pigments from spreading and aging.