Aftercare

Disregard any advice from friends and family. Angel is a licensed professional and the proper healing of your new tattoo is very important. 

Your bandage should be worn for 1 to 2 hours. Thoroughly wash your hands and dry them with a paper towel before removing the bandage. If you find that the bandage is stuck to your tattoo, try running the bandage under water. You DO NOT however, want to soak your fresh tattoo in ANY water like bathtubs, swimming pools, hot tubs, lakes, ponds, and ocean. These all have chemicals, dirt, bacteria, etc... that can cause infection. Please avoid submerging the tattoo in water for 3-6 weeks. Showers are fine-just NO SOAKING! 

Using a mild, fragrance-free antibacterial soap (Dial, Neutrogena); gently wash all excess blood, ointment, ink, and plasma from your tattoo. Only use your hand – DO NOT use a washcloth or loofah as they can harbor  bacteria. 

If you are not sure which soap to use, read the ingredients. If alcohol is listed as one of the first few ingredients, DO NOT USE IT. Soap with fragrance, harsh chemicals, and alcohol will burn or harm the area, and can over-dry the skin. 

After washing the tattoo, pat it dry with a paper towel. DO NOT use a hand or bath towel. Towels can harbor bacteria. DO NOT re-bandage your tattoo. It needs to “breathe” and get air to heal properly. 

Wash your tattoo once or twice a day for the duration of the healing time. Too much washing can wash away your body’s natural bacteria which helps your skin to heal. Washing the tattoo in the morning and at night before you go to bed is sufficient. For the first day, the tattoo will “ooze” clear plasma. This is completely normal.           

There is NO NEED to use any ointment on your tattoo. Most ointments are for fighting infection and are contributing to antibiotic resistance. Additionally, ointments can “suffocate” the tattoo by not letting enough air get to it which can cause excessive scabbing. Ointments also lead to higher rates of dermatitis in tattoos. 

Before going to bed, wash your hands and wash your tattoo. Most tattoos will ooze clear plasma the first few nights. This is normal.  

By the third day or fourth day, your tattoo will start to dry out. It will start to flake like a sunburn. You will see large black flakes coming off, especially in the shower. This is completely normal. DO NOT under any circumstances, pick or “help” these flakes come off.  Doing so will result in the loss of line and color in your tattoo as well as cause scarring. In addition, DO NOT wear tight clothing that may rub the tattoo. 

When your tattoo starts to flake and peel (usually around 5th day) , you may then start using 1 or 2 drops of fragrance-free hand lotion. Keri, or Curel are both good choices. Rub the lotion in completely or blot excess off with a paper towel. The skin is likely to feel very itchy during this time, but it must not be scratched. Additional non fragrant moisturizer may help relieve the itch. If you are unsure if the lotion you have at home will work, read the label. If alcohol is near the top of the list of ingredients, then DO NOT USE IT.

Continue to use the above steps until your tattoo is completely healed. Healing time varies with each individual and the area that was tattooed. Generally, tattoos are fully healed in 3 to 4 weeks. 

Outer layers of skin should completely heal by the end of week three. The inner layers of skin can take longer to heal but require much less care. The chance of infection is reduced once the outer layers of skin have healed, as there is no open wound for bacteria to infect.

During the healing process, DO NOT use anything on your tattoo that you wouldn’t use on any other wound or abrasion. This includes oils, glitter, sun block, etc.

Miscellaneous Advice

Do always wear sunblock over your tattoo when in the sun or tanning bed only after it is healed. This will prevent any fading or color loss.

DO wear something old (yet clean) to bed the first night. Most tattoos will “ooze” and seep clear plasma and excess ink for the first day and night. This is normal but can stain sheets and clothes.

Your fresh tattoo should be considered an open wound. NEVER EVER touch your tattoo with dirty hands, fingernails, clothing, shoes, etc. This is the NUMBER 1 reason why infections occur. NEVER let anyone else touch your fresh tattoo either. USE COMMON SENSE!

Swelling and bruising of the area around the tattoo is common. Some people bruise easily, some do not. In addition, certain areas are more prone to bruising and swelling. Ibuprofen and elevating the affected area can help.

LOTIONS/OINTMENTS FOR AFTERCARE

  • Alcohol-free healing ointments

  • Lotion such as Eucerin or Curel

  • Coconut oil, pure cocoa butter, or shea butter

  • Tattoo-specific cream, such as H2ocean Ocean Care Moisturizing Cream

  • It is important not to use any scented creams or lotions. Harsh chemicals can irritate the wound and damage the tattooed skin.

  • Avoid using sunscreen on a tattoo until it is fully healed, so you do not clog pores and trap bacteria.

Above all, if you have ANY questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to email us. We know what looks normal and what does not and we’ll assist you in any way that we can. We put a lot of hard work into your new tattoo and care about it just as much as you do.