Aftercare
What to expect post-tattoo and my full aftercare guide
Follow Us
The First Day
The day of your tattoo I will cover the fresh tattoo before you leave and send you home with detailed aftercare information. I have several different types of covers for the tattoo, including "second skin" style bandages.
Healing With an Adhesive Bandage
(Second Skin, Saniderm, etc)
If you left your appointment with an adhesive bandage (also called second skin, saniderm, tegaderm, etc) you can leave it on for 3-4 days.
But if it bothers you, starts peeling, leaking, or you just dont like it you can remove it at any time before those 3-4 days.
You can shower and go about life as usual with the bandage on. A “bubble” of ink and blood may form under the bandage, this is normal. If the fluid leaks out of the bandage then remove the bandage as that creates an entryway for germs to settle under the bandage.
When removing the bandage it’s best to do so in the shower. The water can loosen the adhesive and limit any mess.
After removing the bandage, clean tattoo 1-2x per day with unscented liquid hand soap and water then pat dry with a paper towel. Do not use cloth towels or other reusable towels
You may apply a small amount of unscented lotion or tattoo aftercare product to tattoo if dry. If the skin looks shiny, that is too much lotion.
Do not re-cover the fresh tattoo with any bandages
Do not use products like neosporin, alcohol, peroxide, or other cleaning agents other than unscented liquid hand soap on the fresh tattoo.
Keep the healing tattoo out of direct sunlight
Do not submerge the healing tattoo in open water (lakes, rivers, oceans, etc), pools or hot tubs, or bath tubs for 4 weeks
It takes tattoos roughly 4-6 weeks to fully heal
-If you have any questions or concerns with how your tattoo
is healing, please reach out to me! I'm happy to answer any questions.
Healing With a Temporary Cover
(cling wrap, absorbant pads)
If you left your appointment with plastic wrap and/or absorbant pads covering your tattoo, you'll keep the wrap style bandage on for 1-2 hours after it’s applied and then remove it and wash your fresh tattoo.
To clean area, rinse it with an unscented liquid hand soap and water and pat dry with paper towels.
Clean the tattoo 1-2x per day with unscented liquid hand soap and water and pat dry with paper towels. Do not use cloth towels or other reusable towels.
After 2 days you may apply a small amount of unscented lotion or tattoo aftercare product to the tattoo. If the skin looks shiny, that is too much lotion and you can pat it with a clean paper towel to remove the excess.
Do not re-cover the fresh tattoo with any bandages
Do not use products like neosporin, alcohol, peroxide, or other cleaning agents other than unscented soap on the fresh tattoo.
Avoid direct sunlight on the fresh tattoo for 4 weeks
Do not submerge the healing tattoo in open water (lakes, rivers, oceans, etc), pools or hot tubs, or bath tubs for 4 weeks
It takes tattoos roughly 4-6 weeks to fully heal
-If you have any questions or concerns with how your tattoo
is healing, please reach out to me! I'm happy to answer any questions.
Still have questions?
If you have a tattoo done by me and have any questions or concerns with how your tattoo is healing, please contact me and I'm happy to help!