AFTERCARE
Proper aftercare is essential to ensure your tattoo heals well, and stays looking great as long as possible. Please read through this thoroughly and contact me or your doctor if you have any questions or concerns.
the wrap
After cleaning your fresh tattoo thoroughly with soap and alcohol, I will place an adhesive medical bandage over the top of your tattoo. Please leave this tattoo on for 5-7 days.
I may send you home with an extra piece depending on your tattoo (if its heavily shaded or saturated), because you may need to replace it due to ink and plasma leakage or the bandage falling off. If this is the case, please wash your tattoo with unscented soap, pat dry with a clean paper towel, clean the tattoo with rubbing alcohol and a new clean paper towel, pat dry once again with a new, clean paper towel, and place the new bandage by removing the backing, sticking it on and removing the top film. Leave the bandage on for the remaining days, or as long as you can. I find that the longer you leave it on, the better.
If you start to notice any burning sensations, extreme itchiness or discomfort, red bumps forming around the border of the bandage, or anything else out of the ordinary, please remove the bandage as soon as possible. This is rare, but it can happen.
To remove the wrap, do so under warm running water. Pull your skin taut (if possible) and pull the bandage towards the ground while the water runs between your skin and the bandage. This helps loosen the adhesive, making it easier and less uncomfortable to remove. Clean with your hands using an unscented soap (do not scrub with a loofah, washcloth or anything abrasive), pat dry with a clean paper towel, and apply a moisturizer.
Moisturize
Do not overlook this part!!!
Please do NOT use Aquaphor or any petroleum based products on your fresh tattoo (or at all, ever tbh). Petroleum based products clog pores and can trap bacteria in your tattoo, which may cause infections. Petroleum products also contain carcinogens that are linked to cancer and disrupt the skin’s natural microbiome. I wont even get into how bad these products are for our planet! *cough cough* fossil fuels *cough cough*
My favorite moisturizer is unrefined coconut oil. 1 ingredient with so many benefits for our bodies. It is an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal and antimicrobial. It reduces redness and scarring, making it perfect for healing a tattoo. Shea butter or Jojoba oil are awesome options as well. If you aren’t a fan on those, use the most basic unscented lotion with the least amount of ingredients you can find.
Scented soaps and lotions may cause skin irritation and infection. Scents are made of many nasty chemicals that can affect the healing process of your new tattoo. It is best to avoid chemicals as best as you can to avoid any possible reactions.
Be sure to clean and moisturize 2-3 times a day. Applying moisturizer will help with the itchiness of your healing tattoo but try not to over-moisturize. Just use a small amount of moisturizer to keep the tattoo from feeling dry or tight. Keeping the tattoo too moist can clog your pores, cause infection, and can even cause blurring or lifting of the ink.
sunscreen
If you want your tattoo to look fresh for as long as possible, you must protect it from the elements. Sunscreen will prolong the life of your tattoo and protect it from fading from the sun. This is especially important if your tattoo has color.
I do not recommend your regular store bought sunscreens because of all of the nasty chemicals in them that do way more harm than good for our bodies and our planet. If you care about your skin and your body (and the earth), I recommend getting an organic, Non-Nano Zinc sunscreen. My favorite is from the brand Crunchi.
avoid
Do not scratch or pick at the scabs of your healing tattoo. This will pull out the ink and prolong the healing process, and may also cause scarring. Let the scabs fall off on their own!
No pools, saunas, hot tubs, baths, heavy sweating, or direct sunlight for at least 2 weeks-1 month after getting tattooed. Showers are perfectly fine, just don’t let your tattoo soak under the water.
Try not to wear tight or abrasive clothing or jewelry over the tattoo while it is healing.
touch ups
I include one free touch-up per tattoo for each client within the first year. I recommend waiting at least 3 months before getting your touch-up, to ensure the tattoo is fully healed.
Please send me a healed picture of your tattoo after 3 months and I will let you know if I think a touch-up is necessary at that point, or if holding off would be in your best interest.