Directions:
Aftercare
Tattoo aftercare:
Remove plastic wrap about 4 hours after I tattooed you. Wash your hands with a liquid anti-bacterial non-scented hand soap, like the orange dial soap. Wash your hands first for 15 seconds and rinse them off. Then wash your hands AGAIN and create some lather and bring it onto the tattoo. DO NOT JUST APPLY A GLOB OF SOAP ON THE TATTOO. Antibacterial soap is often strong enough to kill the bad and GOOD bacteria in the skin, breaking the soap down into a lather will be far more effective. Use your fingers, not a washcloth or sponge, as these harbor outside bacteria that you don't want in your tattoo. Lightly pat the tattoo dry with a clean paper towel, and then allow it to get air for ten minutes.
Then your just going to wrap it with clear plastic wrap. No lotion. You're going to repeat the whole process of washing you hands, rinse, wash your hands again and then your tattoo, pat it dry and then wrapping. Three times a day for three days straight. That's three days after the tattoo, so if you got the tattoo Tuesday, you'll continue all the way until Friday. You want to use new plastic wrap each time, and you're going to have it on all morning until mid-day and then until beddy-by time and then all night while you’re dreaming up your next tattoo you want me to do on yourself.
After three full days of wrapping the tattoo. You're going to wake up, wash it off that same way you have done for the past 9 times. Pat the tattoo dry and stop using the plastic wrap. You’re just going to apply a white, unscented hand lotion. Simpler is generally better when it comes to lotion... try to stay away from anything scented or with oatmeal, etc. These additives are unnecessary and can irritate your tattoo. Normally store brand (Walgreens, CVS, or Rite-Aid) lotions are the best and are the cheapest. Only apply lotion your tattoo 3-4 times daily. You should keep it as thin as you can on the tattoo. The thinner the lotion the faster the heal. I’d rather have NO lotion than too much.
The first day of the plastic wrap being off. Your tattoo will start to flake up, like thin scabs. Eventually your tattoo will start to peel like a sunburn. This is normal... it is just dead skin flaking off. It will look pretty gross but this is the healing process. DO NOT PICK, SCRATCH OR RUB YOUR TATTOO at this stage.
Once your tattoo is completely done flaking, it is mostly healed and you can go in water and the sun again (with sunblock.). HOWEVER, you will want to allow another 1-2 weeks for the skin to return to normal. Sometimes a tattoo looks a little "hazy" at this stage. It will be rather glossy. That just means the skin has not returned to normal yet. Give it some time and the colors should brighten and the blacks should darken and settle in a little more.
Even after your tattoo has completely healed, you will want to put a high s.p.f sunblock on your tattoo before going into a tanning booth, or into the sun for more than 15-20 minutes. The sun is by far the worst enemy of tattoos, and WILL fade colors over time. A sunburn can be disastrous. In my honest opinion, don't tan. You've just gone through pain and paid good money for something that will be on your for the rest of your life. I design my tattoos to be extremely durable against normal aging and wear. But tanning is like purposely destroying your tattoo, and I can’t stress enough how bad it is.
Things to remember:
Always, always, always wash your hands before you touch your healing tattoo. Hand washing by itself reduces the chance of infection by 70%.
DO NOT expose your tattoo to direct sunlight or soak it in water for at least 10 days. This will cause complications in healing, almost always resulting in color loss.
Different areas of the body sometimes require a little extra care... feet and pubic/inner hip areas are two that are both highly prone to friction from clothes and shoes. Try to wear looser fitting clothes or go barefoot for the first few days.
If are unsure if your tattoo is healing correctly, please do not hesitate to call us and we will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have. DO NOT take medical/healing advice from your friends, other tattoo artists. If you use any lotion I did not OK or have written here. Then I will not guarantee success in your healing process. I'm also less likely to touch up your tattoo for free, and you've diminished any chances of us being friends.
Products that are NOT recommended:
- Bacitracin ointment
- Neosporin
- Petroleum jelly
- Eucerin lotion
~ Do not submerge tattooed area under water for 2 weeks.
~ Do not pick at, scratch, or let clothing irritate tattoo.
~ Never let tattooed area sunburn. (Do not apply sunscreen until tattoo is healed).
~ Always seek medical attention if you feel you have come in contact with something that caused an infection.
( An alternate healing method is sometimes required for certain Tattoos)
Tattoo aftercare:
Remove plastic wrap about 4 hours after I tattooed you. Wash your hands with a liquid anti-bacterial non-scented hand soap, like the orange dial soap. Wash your hands first for 15 seconds and rinse them off. Then wash your hands AGAIN and create some lather and bring it onto the tattoo. DO NOT JUST APPLY A GLOB OF SOAP ON THE TATTOO. Antibacterial soap is often strong enough to kill the bad and GOOD bacteria in the skin, breaking the soap down into a lather will be far more effective. Use your fingers, not a washcloth or sponge, as these harbor outside bacteria that you don't want in your tattoo. Lightly pat the tattoo dry with a clean paper towel, and then allow it to get air for ten minutes.
Then your just going to wrap it with clear plastic wrap. No lotion. You're going to repeat the whole process of washing you hands, rinse, wash your hands again and then your tattoo, pat it dry and then wrapping. Three times a day for three days straight. That's three days after the tattoo, so if you got the tattoo Tuesday, you'll continue all the way until Friday. You want to use new plastic wrap each time, and you're going to have it on all morning until mid-day and then until beddy-by time and then all night while you’re dreaming up your next tattoo you want me to do on yourself.
After three full days of wrapping the tattoo. You're going to wake up, wash it off that same way you have done for the past 9 times. Pat the tattoo dry and stop using the plastic wrap. You’re just going to apply a white, unscented hand lotion. Simpler is generally better when it comes to lotion... try to stay away from anything scented or with oatmeal, etc. These additives are unnecessary and can irritate your tattoo. Normally store brand (Walgreens, CVS, or Rite-Aid) lotions are the best and are the cheapest. Only apply lotion your tattoo 3-4 times daily. You should keep it as thin as you can on the tattoo. The thinner the lotion the faster the heal. I’d rather have NO lotion than too much.
The first day of the plastic wrap being off. Your tattoo will start to flake up, like thin scabs. Eventually your tattoo will start to peel like a sunburn. This is normal... it is just dead skin flaking off. It will look pretty gross but this is the healing process. DO NOT PICK, SCRATCH OR RUB YOUR TATTOO at this stage.
Once your tattoo is completely done flaking, it is mostly healed and you can go in water and the sun again (with sunblock.). HOWEVER, you will want to allow another 1-2 weeks for the skin to return to normal. Sometimes a tattoo looks a little "hazy" at this stage. It will be rather glossy. That just means the skin has not returned to normal yet. Give it some time and the colors should brighten and the blacks should darken and settle in a little more.
Even after your tattoo has completely healed, you will want to put a high s.p.f sunblock on your tattoo before going into a tanning booth, or into the sun for more than 15-20 minutes. The sun is by far the worst enemy of tattoos, and WILL fade colors over time. A sunburn can be disastrous. In my honest opinion, don't tan. You've just gone through pain and paid good money for something that will be on your for the rest of your life. I design my tattoos to be extremely durable against normal aging and wear. But tanning is like purposely destroying your tattoo, and I can’t stress enough how bad it is.
Things to remember:
Always, always, always wash your hands before you touch your healing tattoo. Hand washing by itself reduces the chance of infection by 70%.
DO NOT expose your tattoo to direct sunlight or soak it in water for at least 10 days. This will cause complications in healing, almost always resulting in color loss.
Different areas of the body sometimes require a little extra care... feet and pubic/inner hip areas are two that are both highly prone to friction from clothes and shoes. Try to wear looser fitting clothes or go barefoot for the first few days.
If are unsure if your tattoo is healing correctly, please do not hesitate to call us and we will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have. DO NOT take medical/healing advice from your friends, other tattoo artists. If you use any lotion I did not OK or have written here. Then I will not guarantee success in your healing process. I'm also less likely to touch up your tattoo for free, and you've diminished any chances of us being friends.
Products that are NOT recommended:
- Bacitracin ointment
- Neosporin
- Petroleum jelly
- Eucerin lotion
~ Do not submerge tattooed area under water for 2 weeks.
~ Do not pick at, scratch, or let clothing irritate tattoo.
~ Never let tattooed area sunburn. (Do not apply sunscreen until tattoo is healed).
~ Always seek medical attention if you feel you have come in contact with something that caused an infection.
( An alternate healing method is sometimes required for certain Tattoos)
