Aftercare

Thank you for getting tattooed with me! I hope you enjoy your new piece for many years to come. An important part of enjoying your piece is keeping it beautiful by following the right aftercare. 

Getting tattooed can take a toll on your body and immune system, so grab a good bite to eat and drink plenty of water to recoup your energy! 

 

You may have some tenderness or soreness on the area that got tattooed for the next 1-2 days. If you need to, you may take a Tylenol to help with any residual pain or discomfort. Avoid Advil, as it is a blood thinner and may hinder your healing process.

 

You may notice that your energy levels are low, especially if you had a longer session. Get some rest and take a nap! When you wake up, follow these steps for the perfect heal. :) 

 

I wrap most of my clients’ tattoos with RecoveryDerm, more commonly known as “Second Skin”. 
 

Here’s what to do with a RecoveryDerm bandage:

 

Wear your RecoveryDerm bandage for 1-2 days. You may leave it on for up to 3 days if you got a more intense piece with a lot of solid color or black, and you have experience with using RecoveryDerm. If this is your first time using this bandage, keep a close eye on it.

If you notice any redness or irritation at the edge of the bandage, remove it early. You may have an allergy/sensitivity to this bandage. Any redness should go down within a few days.

If there is any leakage from the edges of the bandage, or if anything can get in via the edges of the bandage, remove it early. The protective barrier has been broken, and it can no longer do its job properly. 

Sometimes, the bandage may come up early on its own, especially if it’s on a more mobile area like a joint. No stress if it’s not sticking- There’s no harm in removing it early.

 

The bandage is water resistant, so you can shower with it on before removing it. Still, do not soak, even with the bandage covering it.

 

Remove your bandage by gently peeling up from the edge, and slowly stretching it, parallel to the skin. I usually liken this to removing a Command Strip from the wall. Do not pull the bandage straight up from the skin. Many people prefer to remove it in the shower, under running water. 

 

It’s not uncommon for clients to notify me of sensitive skin, or an adhesive allergy. In this case, I skip the second skin, and simply wrap your fresh tattoo in plastic wrap.

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Here’s what to do if you were wrapped in plastic wrap:

 

Wear the wrap for 1-6 hours. 

If you got a full color piece, or something with a lot of black packing, you can choose to wear it overnight, mostly for the sake of saving you from sticking to your sheets. 

If you got a fineline piece, or something that has gentle shading in it, just an hour or two with your bandage is fine.

 

After removing your bandage:

 

Remove your wrap, and gently wash your tattoo with unscented soap and lukewarm water. You may see a film of blood, plasma, and excess ink over your tattoo. That’s all normal, and helps your healing process! 

 

Pat dry with a paper towel or air dry. Do not use a cloth towel, as the fibers can get stuck in the fresh tattoo. 

Apply a THIN layer of A&D ointment or Aquaphor. You only need enough to moisturize it. Over moisturizing can produce a soaking effect and draw the ink out of the tattoo. Avoid using Vaseline- it is much too thick.

Repeat washing and aquaphor regimen 2-3 times per day for the following 2-4 days. 

 

When the tattoo begins to scab/flake/peel, switch to a non-scented lotion until the tattoo is healed in 2-3 weeks.

If your tattoo gets itchy, it usually is feeling a little dry. Apply some lotion. 

 

While it's healing:

 

You may apply a second RecoveryDerm bandage for the 2-4 days following the first bandage, instead of the washing & Aquaphor regimen. Never wear the bandage more than 5 days. (I don’t recommend doing this unless you have a tattoo that is heavy on color or solid black. If you’re experiencing wound leakage or seeping after removing the first bandage, you may want to do this. Please be extra vigilant about any adverse reactions to the bandage if you do this.)

 

If you go to the gym, avoid any workouts that hurt your tattoo. If you got a leg tattoo, stick to arm workouts for a few days. Wash your tattoo when you’re done sweating. 

Do not expose your healing tattoo to direct sunlight.

Do not pick or scratch. Leave any flaking/scabbing alone! Removing scabs too early can remove ink and leave your piece looking patchy.

Do not soak in baths, pools, saunas, etc. 

Do not shave or wax.

 

After you’ve finished healing:

 

To keep your tattoo looking beautiful forever, I always recommend wearing SPF 30+ when stepping into the sun. This prevents fading! Just like fabric can be “sun bleached”, so can tattoos. 

I also recommend moisturizing! Taking care of your skin IS taking care of your tattoo. 

 

Following proper aftercare ensures not only a beautiful heal, but also avoids infection. If you’re nervous about signs of infection, here are some things to watch out for:

 

-excess swelling or redness. Swelling or redness usually shouldn’t persist after day 2.

-pus or excess leakage. Leakage is normal for the first few days for tattoos with a lot of color or solid black. Pus is a sign of bacteria, and should not be present while healing.

 

If you notice signs of infection, please seek medical attention.