Proper aftercare for your new tattoo is essential to the tattoo’s health. Our artists will provide you with aftercare instructions the day of your tattoo, but in case you’re curious before hand or forgetful after, here’s what we recommend:
• Instruction for aftercare with Saniderm plastic bandage ONLY
Remove bandage after 3 days. This is the best time for MOST people but everyones skin is different. If you try to remove it and it doesn’t come off easily - leave it on another day and try again. If the bandage leaks or slips off before the 3 days - take it off sooner.
• Wash hands well with liquid antibacterial soap (i.e. Dial)
To remove Saniderm wrap, find a corner or an edge of the bandage and ROLL the wrap down about a 1/2 inch with your thumb or fingers, soap up underneath where you just rolled and roll it down another 1/2 inch, soap up underneath and repeat and repeat until the bandage is past the tattoo area and you can lift off the rolled wrap and throw it away. DO NOT stretch or pull the bandage as it can pull out ink.
• Wash tattoo well with liquid antibacterial (Dial) soap, pat dry with a clean paper towel - let tattoo air dry for 5 minutes. This is very important - you do not want to trap moisture under the ointment.
• After air-drying freshly washed tattoo, apply a VERY THIN layer of Aquaphor or A&D ointment. Please use a NEW tube that you can squeeze out, not a tub that you have to put your fingers in, as you can transfer bacteria that way. Repeat this process twice a day for 2 or 3 days then leave it alone and let it dry heal the rest of the way.
• Tattoo should NEVER be sticky or shiny - ointment should never be thick and globby - treat it like lotion, rub it into the tattoo always with CLEAN HANDS.
• If itching occurs, use Lubriderm or another fragrance-free gentle lotion once wound is healed and there are no scabs.
• Should it be necessary, there will be a nominal touch-up fee for any face, hand, finger, toe, elbow or knee tattoos as these are areas which do not hold ink well and therefore are not guaranteed.
• Keep tattoo out of direct sunlight
• NO pool, ocean or hot tub for 2 weeks
• NO scratching, picking or peeling
• Make sure any clothing in contact with your fresh tattoo is clean, soft and loose
While healing, make sure that when you shower you do not put the tattoo directly under a strong showerhead. Wash and rinse hair to the side, safely away from your tattoo so there is no dirty water in contact with it.