Tattoo Aftercare
1. IF YOU ARE USING SECOND SKIN
Leave your bandage on for the first 24 to 48 hours. Once it’s time to remove the second skin, start to remove it in the shower, gently, under cool running water, pulling the bandage with your skin, not away from it. Once removed, using only CLEAN hands, wash the tattoo thoroughly with Dr. Bronner‘s unscented baby soap or a mild unscented soap.
*Remove your second skin immediately if you notice any leaking or the bandage starts to peel off before the original timeframe.
2. IF YOU ARE NOT USING SECOND SKIN
When you get home, using only CLEAN hands, thoroughly wash your tattoo with Dr Bronners unscented baby soap or a mild unscented soap under cool running water.
3. Apply a thin layer of an unscented lotion (Lubriderm, Eucerin, Aveno, etc.) to your clean tattoo.
4. Begin washing and moisturizing your tattoo 2-3 times a day. Please use only clean hands to wash and apply lotion, and avoid using washcloths, loofahs, or any abrasive materials to wash your tattoo during the healing process.
5. Your tattoo should be fully healed within a month! Please contact me with healed photos after the first month if you feel you may need a touchup! I offer touchups for free within the first year of receiving your tattoo, and want to make sure your piece looks as great as when you left the shop!
Please avoid any of the following during the first 3 weeks minimum while healing your tattoo:
Re-wrapping Your Tattoo With Plastic
Whether you are sent home with second skin or with plastic wrap, please never wrap the tattoo a second time once removing the initial wrap! As your tattoo is healing, it needs to breathe, covering the wound can trap bacteria against your tattoo and cause a bigger risk for infection .
Pools, Open Bodies Of Water, Baths
Soaking your tattoo in ANY type of water can lead to a big risk for infection! Chemicals in a pool can greatly damage your piece, any open bodies of water could have bacteria that can cause infections, even soaking in a bath with your tattoo exposed to any dirt or germs that may be present. Be extra mindful to avoid putting your fresh tattoo in any of those scenarios!
Direct Sunlight
It’s best to keep your fresh tattoo covered by clothing and out of the sun while still in the healing process!
Tanning Beds
These can affect not only the skin while healing, but the ink as well!
Scratching Or Picking
Your tattoo may become itchy a few days into the healing process, please take care NOT to ever scratch your tattoo while it’s healing! If you are itchy, you can very lightly slap your tattoo to help the itch, or wash and apply a thin layer of lotion again. If you happen to develop any scabs on your tattoo, PLEASE do not pick at them! They will fall off naturally over the course of healing. Picking the scabs will pull ink out and can scar your skin or damage areas of the tattoo. Leave them alone and your tattoo should heal as normal even with scabbing.
Tips for keeping your tattoo vibrant once healed:
Sunscreen
The sun is the #1 culprit to fading tattoos. Once your tattoo is fully healed, using sunscreen and keeping your tattoo out of direct sunlight will be vital in helping your piece stay fresh!
Moisturize & Hydrate
Keeping your skin hydrated which includes drinking plenty of water and using lotion regularly. This will make a big difference in how your tattoo holds up over time! Your skin is your canvas, so taking care of it will only benefit your art over the years.
Exfoliate
Exfoliating regularly can keep your your healed piece fresh by removing the dead skin cells that can dull the appearance of your tattoo.
If you have any questions or concerns during the healing process, please do not hesitate to reach out to me through instagram @idkdananicole for the fastest response and I’ll be happy to help you out! Thank you so much for your support, I hope to work with you again in the future!