HEALING & Aftercare
How to Prepare for Your Appointment
There are several things you can do to ensure you get the best results possible and make our job as easy as possible:
Avoid drinking excessively the night before you get your tattoo. This can thin the blood and create additional bleeding. Drinking and recreational drug use is also a bad idea on the day of your appointment.
Please shower before your appointment. Not only are we creating a wound by tattooing you, but we are also working in close proximity to you.
Make sure to eat before your appointment.
Wear comfortable clothing that allows access to the area being tattooed.
Bring your ID.
Healing + Aftercare
We can give you a beautiful tattoo, but it is ultimately up to you how beautiful it remains after you leave our shop. Keep in mind a tattoo is an open wound, open to all sorts of germs and bacteria.
Good aftercare is essential to ensure that the tattooed area remains infection free, and that the healing process happens and quickly and efficiently as possible. Also keep in mind that as you age, so does your tattoo. Following the tips below will ensure that your tattoo ages as gracefully as possible.
If you received a regular bandage:
Remove bandage with CLEAN hands after a minimum of 2-3 hours. The bandage can be left on overnight if it is secure and feels comfortable.
If you received a second skin:
Keep the second skin on for a minimum of 24 hours; however it can be kept on for up to 72 hours. Do not keep it on longer than three days.
Remove the second skin in the shower slowly, starting at the edges.
Wash your tattoo under warm water immediately after removing your bandage, with unscented soap and warm water.
Process for washing a fresh tattoo:
Lather the unscented soap in your hands with warm water. Gently clean the tattoo using a circular motion until all blood and lymphatic fluid are removed. Rinse with lukewarm water. Pat your tattoo dry with a clean paper towel. Do not use washcloths, towels or loofahs on a healing tattoo!
Caring for your new tattoo:
Keep your tattoo dry for the first 24 hours after removing your bandage. No lotions or ointments.
After 24 hours of removing your bandage, you can apply thin amount of the ointment provided or unscented lotion. Do not smother the tattoo, too much moisture will slow down the healing process.
You can continue to apply small amount of lotion daily until it is healed.
Other things to keep in mind:
Do not rebandage your tattoo after the initial bandage is removed unless your artist says otherwise.
Wear loose, breathable clothing over your fresh tattoo.
Tight clothing or shoes rubbing on your fresh tattoo can lead to healing problems.
Consult your artist on what clothing to wear/avoid if your tattoo is in a difficult location.
Always maintain clean bedding and clothing during the healing process (2-3 weeks)
Things to avoid
For the best results possible, it is critically important that you avoid all of the following while your tattoo is healing:
Picking the scabs or peeling skin. Pulling or picking at scabs and peeling skin can pull ink out of the skin causing damage to your new tattoo.
Scratching your tattoo. By scratching your fresh/healing tattoo you are exposing the wound to potential bacteria hiding under your nails, as well as mentioned above, pulling ink from your new tattoo. Alternatively, you can lightly smack the surrounding area with clean hands.
Soaking your tattoo. No baths, swimming, hot tubs, or hot springs for at least 3 weeks following your initial tattoo appointment!
Sun exposure. Sun exposure (and tanning bed exposure) are the #1 tattoo killer!Shaving the tattooed area.
Do not shave the tattooed area for at least 2 weeks. Doing so can remove scabs or peeling skin and introduce all sorts of germs and bacteria to the area.
Excessive drinking. Alcohol thins the blood, so it’s best to avoid any heavy drinking the day before your appointment as well as the next few days following.
