Awesome! You got a brand new tattoo, now what? Do your best to take care of it so it stays looking vibrant and fantastic for years to come by following the recommended guidance contained below. 

 

More important than the actual tattooing process itself is the aftercare. Despite being a cosmetic procedure, the effects of tattooing go beyond your skin. That’s why your aftercare routine is just as important for your overall health as it is to keep your tattoo looking incredible.

 

For at least the first 2-3 days, your tattoo is considered to be an open wound!

 

Many factors go into how fast your tattoo heals including: health, age, hygiene, and the location of your tattoo on your body.

 

Below are the 2 main ways to manage aftercare. Your artist will provide you with information on how you should care for your tattoo. Some artists use a protective tattoo film(e.g. Saniderm or Recovery film) that stays on for roughly 5-7 days. Other artists may have you wash it and apply ointment several times a day until the tattoo is healed. 

 

 

 

Healing With Protective Film (Saniderm/Recovery)

If not using protective film, skip to Healing Using Soap, Water, and Ointment

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THIS IS NOT PLASTIC WRAP - PLASTIC WRAP IS FOR FOOD NOT PEOPLE. 

THESE PRODUCTS ARE MEDICAL GRADE TO PROMOTE WOUND HEALING AND TO KEEP THE SKIN CLEAN.

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ALWAYS reach out to your artist with any questions BEFORE you do anything such as removing your film early. This can harm your tattoo if it’s not healed enough underneath the film. 

 

This protective film keeps bacteria and other unwanted things off of your tattoo; so long as it remains intact and covering the tattoo in entirety. If the film starts to roll up on the edge or the corners, it’s okay to trim it as long as the film that’s intact is still covering your tattoo with a border of at least 1.5 centimeters.. 

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After your artist applies the film, it’s most important for you to be mindful of what’s going on underneath. If you have any concerns at all, reach out to your artist directly before doing anything to your film.

 

DO NOT peel or pick at the edge of the film, you don’t want it to peel off early.

 

DO NOT poke or puncture any air bubbles or bubbles with liquid (plasma & ink) underneath. Breaking the film introduces bacteria to your fresh tattoo. 

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Keep the film on for the full 7 days, 5 days minimum if your tattoo is simple like line work. Remember, your artist knows better than anyone (including your friends or the internet) how their tattoos heal and the best method of healing their work, always follow their instructions. 

 

When it's time to remove your film, we recommend doing so under warm water like in the shower. The longer you allow the warm water to heat up the film (roughly 10 minutes), the easier it peels off; almost as if you’re heating up the glue on the back of a sticker. Start at the top and gently pull the film downwards off of the tattoo, allowing the warm water to help you remove it. 

 

After you’ve removed the film, wash your tattoo with antibacterial soap and water, pat dry, and apply a simple fragrance free lotion. If your tattoo is flaky do not pick or peel your tattoo, let it fall off on its own over the next few days and keep it well moisturized. 

 

If you have excessive build up of fluid (we call them “ink sacks”, see examples on the internet here) under your tattoo film and won’t dry out, beyond the day after your tattoo, reach out to your artist immediately to see what they would like you to do. DO NOT remove the film early unless your artist instructed you to do so as it’s not always necessary in this case. NEVER pop, perforate or otherwise break the barrier. This fluid is just plasma (white blood cells) and ink that you would normally wash away or it would scab. This excessive build up is a common occurrence with protective film and can happen for many reasons, usually due to the area moving around a lot after the tattoo and film placement (e.g. leg tattoos from walking a lot). The more you move and get your blood pumping, especially in the area of the tattoo, the more likely you are to have one of these ink sacks. The problem with these is that if the tattoo remains wet, it can’t heal and remains in the open wound stage longer, that’s why it’s best to take care of it right away. This can lead to extended healing times, more discomfort during healing, and even the tattoo not healing to look the way it’s intended to. But if you follow these instructions using the film, healing time is decreased and tattoos tend to look as bright as they were when initially done. 

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If you have to take your protective film off early for any reason, do so following the instructions above^ and as gently as possible. Then care for your tattoo using the instructions below with antibacterial soap, water and ointment. If taking the film off early, the tattoo may be a day or two behind in healing and slightly more sensitive; be mindful if your skin is still raw as you want to be careful of infection.

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DO NOT expose your tattoo to the sun while the film is on, this can cause excessive damage to the tattoo and it may lose a significant amount of ink.

 

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Healing Using Soap, Water & Ointment 

 

 

Because a tattoo is an open wound, it’s important to be aware of what you touch or place your tattoo against during this time as you do not want to risk infection. Every person and tattoo is different, be mindful and use your best judgement to keep your tattoo clean and free of infection (e.g. don’t let pets or animals touch the tattoo, don’t rest your arms on a table if your tattoo is placed somewhere like your forearm, go to the gym). If you aren’t sure of something, ask the artist.

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A lot of people are surprised to hear that you should wash your bedsheets once a week. Yes, once a week. To keep this short, and to the point, you can read more about that here. Having clean sheets to sleep in is essential after getting a tattoo, particularly if you aren’t using a protective tattoo film. It’s also recommended to use old (clean) sheets that you don’t mind getting stained as that is a possibility while your tattoo is still weeping. 

 

Do not go swimming in pools, lakes, ponds or any body of water that is not the salt water ocean, even then we still recommend getting your tattoo when you won’t be going to the beach.

 

Always make sure your tattoo is covered well outside during the healing process. Too much sun exposure will cause damage to your tattoo during the healing process, remember it’s an open wound and you don’t have the same small amount of natural protection from the top layers of skin. You cannot sunblock your tattoo until it’s healed to the point where all of the flaky skin has fallen off on its own. Until then, you have to keep it covered when in the sun. After your tattoo is healed, continued use of sunblock (SPF 70 minimum, SPF 100+ is ideal - we recommend Neutrogena Ultra-Sheer Spray) will help keep your ink looking fantastic for many years to come. 

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DAY 1:

 

After your tattoo session, your artist likely wrapped you up with a dry lock pad (the absorbent pad that is usually found in the packaging under meat products). For the first few hours, this plastic & gauze padding helps to absorb excess ink and plasma that leaks out. Do NOT remove this pad until you have the appropriate supplies to wash your tattoo. ALWAYS wash your hands before touching your tattoo. 

 

Within the first 6 hours, you want to remove the bandage and start caring for your tattoo. When you’re ready, gather your supplies (clean paper towels or unused clean towel, ointment, & antibacterial soap), wash your hands thoroughly, and gently remove the bandage. If the bandage sticks, use water to help gently loosen it.

 

Using lukewarm water and antibacterial soap, gently wash your tattoo with your hand using medium pressure moving in a circular motion. You’re finished washing once you no longer feel the slimy layer on your tattoo. After you’ve rinsed the soapy water off, pat dry your tattoo with a clean paper towel, DO NOT rub or wipe your tattoo to dry it and ALWAYS use a fresh, unused towel or paper towel on your tattoo.  Once completely dry, apply a thin, evenly spread layer of ointment (all natural, petroleum free is preferred) to your tattoo. 

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If your tattoo or the skin around it begins to feel tight, hot, burning or dry, it’s time to wash and lubricate your tattoo as soon as possible. If you don’t, your tattoo can crack, become red and irritated, and scab as opposed to flake. This can cause infection, imperfections in the appearance and can even result in scarring. Everyone’s body and tattoos are different thus having different healing experiences, some people will need to wash more often than others. 

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DAYS 2 - 4:

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Your tattoo is still an open wound. Keep it clean by following the same washing routine as above at least 3-4 times per day (e.g. wake-up, lunch, after work/school, before bed) and follow with the application of a thin, consistent layer of ointment. 

 

Depending on your job or the placement of the tattoo, your artist may tell you it’s okay to re-cover your tattoo while at work or when you’re in bed. When able, try to wear loose clothing that doesn’t suffocate the area and allow the tattoo to breath.

 

 

DAYS 5 - 14:

 

Continue washing and lubricating your tattoo at least 2-3 times per day using the methods above.

 

When your tattoo begins to flake, you can switch from ointment to a fragrance-free lotion. Note: lotion tends to need more frequent applications than ointment to keep the tattoo properly moisturized.

 

After a few days, your tattoo will begin to peel. It is essential that you do not help it peel; DO NOT pick, scratch, peel or rub your tattoo. Doing so can cause your tattoo to not heal perfectly, and we will know when this happens.

 

Continue to keep your tattoo covered in the sun until it’s healed enough for sunblock.

 

If it’s very itchy, it’s okay to gently smack/tap your tattoo; this way works in that it isn’t helping the flakes fall off before they’re ready. It may sound funny, but it will stop you from picking or scratching at it. Alternatively, you can apply a cool compress to the area. If your tattoo is also dry the itchiness is a sure sign that you need more lotion.

 

 

A FEW THINGS TO REMEMBER:

 

ALWAYS wash your hands before touching your tattoo.

 

Use only paper towels or clean, unused towels on your tattoo, pat dry don’t wipe.

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ALWAYS cover your fresh tattoo from the sun until it is healed enough for sunblock (fully peeled or the film has been removed).

 

Never scratch, peel, pick at, or otherwise help your tattoo peel faster.

 

Make sure your tattoo is completely dry before applying ointment.