Tattoo Aftercare
WHEN IN STOCK, I give the majority of my client projects an after-care bag at the end of the first appointment, and it includes a travel size bottle of unscented antibacterial soap, a small tube of curel lotion, and a few travel sized packets of aquaphor when necessary. It also includes an info card with aftercare instructions.
Taking care of your artwork is extremely important, and it’s your responsibility to take care of the artwork outside of the tattoo studio. The outcome of your tattoo’s healing process is greatly influenced by how well you take care of it in the days following your appointment.
I highly recommend that you CHILL
Do not go camping or travel right after you get tattooed.
Do not sit in direct sunlight, use saunas, use hot packs on the tattoo, sit in sweat lodge, do hot yoga, or exercise heavily until your tattoo is healed, but especially within the first week.
Here are some of the products I have used and recommend, besides what will be available in your aftercare bag. It is not an exhaustive list. Use my Amazon affiliate link to pre-purchase your aftercare essentials.
The Basics of Aftercare:
WHAT IS THE HEALING PROCESS LIKE
It’s actually very easy and requires minimal effort! The first 3-4 days are the most vulnerable, when it feels the most like an open wound. Then it may begin to shed off dead skin and become itchy.
It is important to clean your tattoo 1-2 times a day with unscented antibacterial soap ideally from a pump bottle (one of these sessions can be your daily shower).
I like to use a clean, wet, paper towel with the soap, and then rinse with water.
Let the tattoo dry; be gentle with it. You may pat it dry with a clean towel or paper towel, but don’t rub or wipe it vigorously.
Moisturize your tattoo, 1-2 x a day, or as needed. It can become quite itchy. The moisturization helps.
Do not pick at the dead skin, let it fall off on it’s own and say “goodbye old self”.
Optional: You may have received “Saniderm” - a “second” skin. It is hypoallergenic, and waterproof. But, I have been offering it less post-tattoo because the tattoo is still weeping when I apply it, so it gets wet underneath and has to be removed prematurely.Some people have an allergy to it, so I wouldn’t recommend it for those individuals.
If you are going to use Saniderm, I recommend that you pick up a box and apply it at home after the first 24-36 hours after your tattoo appointment. Make sure you clean the tattoo, removing all residue, and let it be completely dry. Then your fresh bandage can stay on longer, and provide you much needed protection and peace of mind. You won’t need to do anything to it as long as the bandage is on. If it gets loose, or bacteria is able to get inside, take it off and revert to the normal protocol of cleaning and moisturizing. If you have an allergy, you may feel some pain or see poison-oak-like bumps form. Take it off, and proceed to treat it as above – clean it and moisturize it. As for “how long can it stay on?” — follow the instructions on the box! After you’re done with saniderm, please begin to care for your tattoo by washing and moisturizing it.
My preference is to use nourishing ingredients that hydrate and feed your skin, and have found shea butter to work perfectly for that need. It is the main ingredient in the products I listed below. You will notice that you have to moisturize more frequently, because your body absorbs it.
Recommended Products
The links below will take you away from this website. You do not need all of these products. You need soap and balm.
They are connected to an amazon affiliate link in my name, and I do appreciate it so much if you utilize my links.
Smol Hustle Butter Deluxe - $14.99
Convenient package of Hustle Butter Soap and Balm - $38.95
Dial Soap - $4.99
Whipped Shea Butter $8.39
Other Tips & Suggestions
Wash & Clean your towels, sheets, and bedding (especially if you have pets)
If you have pets, take extra care to keep their hair off of your healing tattoo, and avoid scratches to your artwork.
Do NOT: Sauna, Sweat Lodge, Hot Tub, Swim, Submerge in Bodies of Water, Sweat Excessively, Scratch at the tattoo, Go to the gym, No hot yoga!
Don’t go to the gym or workout hard for about a 7 days.
Sweat is not good for your ink. It can lighten and decrease the crispness of your tattoo. Also gyms and yoga studios are places where staph and MRSA are present. Do not go there with an open wound. If you must, take some walks, stretch, light cardio, but make sure to wash your tattoo after you sweat, while it’s healing.
Avoid direct sunlight on your tattoo during the initial healing process, but as much as possible within that first 6-12 months as well. After the initial healing process, you may wear sunscreen. This can drastically improve the quality of your tattoo.
