Aftercare Instructions

To keep your new artwork looking beautiful for years to come, proper aftercare is key.

If you were given a second skin style bandage on your tattoo:

Your bandage will fill up with a dark fluid--this is a mix of blood, plasma, and ink which normally would turn into a scab, but since your tattoo is not exposed to air, your body will reabsorb that fluid and use it to help heal the wound. Do not be alarmed if your tattoo becomes fully covered by this fluid, this is normal! Think of it like a blister--when that puffy layer of skin comes off and you wash away the fluid inside, there's a nice new layer of skin underneath.
Leave the bandage on for at least three days if possible, and up to five if you prefer. You can shower with it on and wear your normal clothing during this time, although try not to wear anything abrasive that can tear the bandage, and limit strenuous physical exercise which may pull the bandage back and forth across your skin, as this can irritate your pores and cause a rash. Sweat can also accumulate under the bandage, which can loosen the adhesive and make the bandage fall off, just as it would with a regular bandaid on your finger.
After three to five days, remove the bandage in the shower or under running water. Grab the corners and gently pull the bandage parallel to the surface of your skin. (That is, if the tattoo is on your leg and you're standing up, pull the bandage straight towards the ground. Don't pull away from your skin, as you would when ripping off a bandaid. It works more like a command strip.) Wash with any gentle, unscented antibacterial soap and carefully pat it dry with a clean paper towel.
Follow up with any gentle, unscented moisturizer at least twice a day or whenever your tattoo starts to feel dry or itchy. Do not scratch your tattoo! Twice a day is a good place to start with moisturizer, but feel free to do more as needed--some added moisture can help with the itchy feeling, but don't over-moisturize. Stick to a small amount of moisturizer, only enough to be fully absorbed into the skin. This can be any hydrating lotion, as long as it's gentle and unscented. If you put anything on your tattoo that causes it to sting or tingle, wash it off and try something gentler. A simple cocoa butter always works.
NOTE: Aquaphor or Vaseline is NOT what you want at this point--anything with that thick, ointment texture is going to sit on the surface of your skin and create a barrier. This is what your skin needs during those first three days when it's still an open wound, and we're using the bandage for that purpose instead. After day three, your skin needs hydration, so go with a regular moisturizing body lotion with a creamier texture.
IMPORTANT NOTE: if any of that fluid starts to leak out of your bandage, if it tears open, or if any part of your tattoo is exposed to the air, take the bandage off right away, no matter how long the bandage has been on. If fluid can get out, bacteria can get in. If air can get in, a scab will form, and it will be harder and more painful to take the bandage off later. Follow the instructions above to remove your bandage, and from there you can continue to follow the instructions below.

If you were not given a second skin bandage (either due to tattoo placement or personal preference) or if your second skin bandage came off early:

Leave on your plastic wrap covering (if you had one) for at least 3-6 hours, ideally overnight if it's comfortable enough to sleep in. When you remove it, wash it with any gentle, unscented antibacterial soap, and carefully pat dry with a clean paper towel.
After washing, apply a layer of Aquaphor, A&D, Vaseline, Neosporin, or anything else with a similar ointment type texture, for the first 2-3 days. These products work best to create a protective barrier over raw and open skin.
On day 3, switch to a gentle, unscented moisturizer (anything with a creamy lotion texture is good, as long as it's gentle and unscented) which will actually hydrate your skin and help it heal. Apply at least twice a day or whenever your tattoo starts to feel dry or itchy. Do not scratch your tattoo!

For everyone

No swimming for 3 weeks! This includes baths and hot tubs as well as natural or public bodies of water. In addition to risking infection from unclean water, soaking a fresh tattoo can actually leech the ink out of your still healing skin.
The single most important thing for tattoo longevity is proper sun care. Exposure to UV rays causes tattoos to blur and fade over time, so don't forget your sunscreen. Unfortunately sunscreen can be too harsh on freshly healing skin, and will likely cause some burning for the first few weeks, so during that time you'll need to keep it covered with clothing. Again, if you try any product on your tattoo that causes any kind of discomfort, that's your body telling you it's not helpful--wash it off and try something different.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding aftercare, feel free to reach out to me directly. Happy healing!