Starting Off Right
Getting to know Your Artist is very important. hopefully, you were tattooed in a modern studio with sterilized instruments and pigments, and after the process, the artist may have dressed the tattoo with a small amount of ointment.
Your tattoo artist might have given you special instructions relating to the aftercare of your specific tattoo, but here are the basics for quick healing, compiled from quality parlor operators worldwide:
Do not re-bandage the tattoo.
Do not apply Vaseline, lanolin- or petroleum-based products.
Do not apply alcohol or peroxide
Do not rub, scratch or pick at the tattoo.
Do not expose the tattoo to direct sunlight, swim or soak in a sauna, steam bath or bathtub for two weeks.
Be sure clothing touching your tattoo is clean and soft.
The First Days.
Remove bandage after a minimum of two hours, do not keep it on more than ten hours. if bandage stick to the tattoo wet the area with lukewarm water.
Once the tattoo is exposed, wash it carefully in cold water(DO NOT USE CLOTH!), gently applying a mild amount of FRAGRANCE-FREE antibacterial soap with fingers to remove all surface blood and ink. Rinse soap with cold water, pat dry with a clean towel and air dry for 15 minutes.
Apply a VERY THIN LAYER of Bacitracin, Tattoo Goo® or Aquaphor® 2-3 times a day for the next 7 to 10 days. Do not over lubricate your tattoo, but don’t allow it to get too dry. If you have had problems with antibiotic ointments in the past, you may prefer FRAGRANCE-FREE lotion such as Curel, Lubriderm, or Original Formula for the entire healing process.
The First Weeks.
After five to 14 days, the tattoo may start to peel and scab. This is normal—like a sunburn. DO NOT pick or peel the skin away. It will fall off naturally during washing or application of ointments. Fresh skin will soon replace the dead skin. Colors may fade a bit during this process but will return when healing is completed.
Keep your new tattoo out of direct sunlight during healing. Regular application of sunscreen when your tattoo is exposed to sun or tanning bed (after it is healed) will prolong the life of your tattoo.
Please keep in mind that we would need to see your tattoo before we could offer any suggestions beyond what is listed here.
Please do not hesitate to Contact Us with any questions!
See Videos of the tattoo process.
More on the FAQ/Contacts page link at the bottom.