Aftercare Instructions

Just got that new tattoo huh? Let’s go over the aftercare process stage by stage!

The First Stage is Day 1-4. During this time, it’s normal for your tattoo to “weep” excess ink, blood, and plasma. Swelling and warmth are also common, as it’s an open wound. Keeping your tattoo clean during this stage is crucial for its healing, as it’s most susceptible to germs and infection.

To keep your tattoo clean you want to:

• Wash it with only a non-scented soap (We highly recommend Dial Gold for it’s antibacterial qualities) under lukewarm water.

• Only use a clean hand to wash it, no wash cloth, loofa, or brush, as they harbor bacteria.

• Pat dry only with clean paper towel.

• Finish with a pea sized amount of aftercare or unscented lotion ( it does not need to be super moisturized in the first few days).

• Let air dry, no need to re-wrap.

Keep your tattoo clean and breathable for the first few days and the rest of the process will be a breeze!

The Second Stage is Day 4-7. During this time, it’s normal for your tattoo to become itchy, start peeling, scabbing, and even be slightly painful to touch. This happens because the top layer of your skin is dying (due to trauma from the initial tattoo process) and shedding away to make way for a new layer. It’s crucial to keep your tattoo clean and lightly moisturized during this period. Avoid picking, scratching, or peeling your skin, as this can lead to ink loss, infection, scarring, blistering, and swelling. Remember, it’s still in the healing process, so treat it with care.

The Third Stage is Day 7-14. During this time, it’s normal for your tattoo to start peeling heavily. It may still be itchy and have a “milky” dull and “shiny” appearance. Your top layer of skin is regenerating, and this look will fade as it continues to heal. Keep it clean and moisturize as needed. Be careful not to over-moisturize, as this can cause pimples due to product build up and infection if the tattoo isn’t clean.

Remember: everyone heals at a different pace and differently. Some people’s skin may reject pigment, some people’s skin may hold it perfectly. It greatly varies. But if you ever need anything please let your artist know.

Second Skin Option

If you’ve been given Derm Shield or Saniderm, also known as “Second Skin,” you’ll skip the aftercare for the First Stage. All the fluid will collect under the Second Skin and reabsorb into your body. Avoid removing the Second Skin and reapplying it, as this can cause unnecessary irritation. When you remove the Second Skin, do so in the shower where the warm water can loosen the adhesive and peel it off like a 3M strip (slowly and pull one bottom corner straight out). After removing it, continue with the aftercare regimen mentioned above, and you’ll have a beautifully healed tattoo!

Here are some things to watch out for when using Second Skin:

• If any area has lifted to expose the tattoo, remove it immediately and wash the area thoroughly. Bacteria can get trapped under the remaining wrap, causing an infection.

• Bubbles filled with liquid or “Ink Sack” should be left alone, never pop them. That is excess ink, blood, and plasma that your body will reabsorb.

• You’ll notice your tattoo feels slimy upon removal, that is just plasma residue that should be washed off in the shower.

• Typically within the first 12 hours you may notice redness, itching, burning or pain around the boarder. This is a sign of allergic reaction (people with very sensitive skin might have this occur) remove immediately if you notice this, wash thoroughly, and take a Benadryl. Follow up with your artist.

• If removed improperly, you may notice ink loss, follow up with your artist if this happens.

Do’s & Don’t’s

During the first 2-4weeks of your tattoo journey these are some of the most important do’s and dont’s:

• Do wash your tattoo 2x daily

• Do moisturize 2x daily

• Do keep pets away from it

• Do wear clean clothing

• Do use clean bedding

• Do protect it from the sun

• Do clean it asap if it gets dirty

• Do light workouts (if need be) at home

• Do wash it immediately if you get sweaty

• Don’t submerge (pool, bath, ocean, etc.

• Don’t let people touch it

• Don’t use sunscreen on it

• Don’t use perfume or cologne

• Don’t use scented washes on it

• Don’t shave it

• Don’t exfoliate it

• Don’t peel, itch, pick, or slap it

• Don’t get it dirty

• Don’t over moisturize

• Don’t apply moisturizer and wrap it

• Don’t keep it wrapped (sauna effect grows bacteria)

• Don’t let pets touch it

• Don’t use gym equipment in the first 2 weeks, (Staph and infections)

• Don’t use hot tubs (ew)

• Don’t use any medicated cream on them (unless prescribed by a healthcare professional in the event of infection)

Again, your tattoo is an open wound, so treat it as such.

Touch Ups

Since everyone heals differently, ink and pigment absorption varies. Certain areas, like scars, stretch marks, or specific body parts, may be prone to ink rejection. Sometimes, mistakes occur during or after healing. We want to ensure your satisfaction with our work.

You’re entitled to one free touch-up within the first 8 months of getting your tattoo. After that, the artist will decide on the pricing.

However, if you’ve deliberately neglected your tattoo by picking, peeling, scratching, sunbathing, using scented products or any of the Dont’s mentioned above (yes, we can tell just by looking at it), you’ll forfeit your free touch-up.

Artist Approved Products

We love unscented lotions and aftercare products like Aveeno Sensitive Skin lotion, Dove Sensitive Skin lotion, Tattoo Goo, Crybaby Aftercare (which we sell in the studio), CeraVe unscented lotion, and Hustle Butter.

However, we’re a bit cautious about using Aquaphor and A and D ointment due to user error. These products are heavy, and a little goes a long way. While you can definitely use them, be very careful not to overdo it.

On the other hand, we don’t recommend using coconut oil, baby oil, raw milk, tallow, anything medicated or containing menthol, Vaseline, or petroleum jelly, and lard. ( yeah we’ve heard and seen some shit…)