Healing

How well your tattoos hold up over time greatly depends on how you care them while they are healing!

Tattoo Aftercare

• Plastic wrap: Remove wrap bandage after 1-2 hours.

• Saniderm bandage: Leave on for 24-48 Hours, within this period you may notice a bit of pooling of plasma, extra ink, and white blood cell bath that will become darker over the course of the day. The Saniderm bandage is waterproof (you can shower with it) and most importantly breathable! When removing the Saniderm do not rip it like a band-aide, peel off slowly, doing so under running water may be easier.

• After bandages are removed: Wash area with warm water and a fragrance free/ mild fragrant antibacterial soap (Dial Gold, Dove Sensitive, Cetaphil) BE GENTLE: Rinse area and PAT dry with clean paper towel. (For the next few days it is common to see extra ink and top skin layers coming from the fresh tattoo in towel.)

• Allow your tattoo to breathe for a few minutes before applying AQUAPHOR lotion (Coconut Oil/ Hustle Butter). A very small amount will go a long way, pores must be able to breath in order to promote healing! If you notice a ‘pimping’ effect on or around the edges of the fresh tattoo this likely means too much ointment.

1st Week: Clean/Apply Aquaphor 2-3 times per day

2nd Week: Continue with a FRAGRANE FREE lotion until fully healed (Aveeno, Lubriderm, Vaseline Intensive Care)

• Please remember your tattoo is an open wound. FLAKING, PEELING AND ITCHING is normal! Heavy colored packed tattoos also have a greater risk of scabbing. If you notice a pumping effect in or around you fresh tattoo it is most likely a sign of too much ointment clogging the pores.

• DO NOT PICK, SCRATCH, or PEEL your healing tattoo! Not only can this cause infection from bacteria on hands/under nails to get into the healing wound, but picking off any scabbing or peeling skin can pull out the ink or lead to scarring. After the peeling your skin may become “leathery, shiny, or milky” as it continues to heal up.

• Keep your healing tattoo out of direct sunlight/ tanning beds and ANY chlorinated pools, freshwater streams, or ocean water- this can lead to tattoo healing up poorly impacting it vibrancy and durability.

• Always use sunscreen on your tattoos even after they are healed!