After care

 

What to do:

  1. Keep the tattoo bandaged until you get home. Keeping your tattoo bandaged until you get home ensures that it is in a clean environment. Your tattoo will ooze for several hours so keeping it wrapped allows it a safe place to do so and reduces its chances of exposure to bacteria. You may keep the bandage on until the following morning at most but is recommended to remove after 3 hours minimum.

  2. Once home, clean your hands with soap and water and remove the bandage. Next wash your tattoo using warm water and an alcohol-free, unscented and dye-free soap. This is to remove any blood, plasma and vaseline from your tattoo.

  3. Once your tattoo has been washed, pat dry using a clean paper towel. Make sure to be gentle and do not rub. Avoid using towels as they can harbour bacteria.

  4. Repeat twice a day for the next three days.

  5. On the 4th day you can reduce the cleaning process to once daily or when taking a shower. Additionally on the 4th day you can begin to moisturize your tattoo if you feel it will provide comfort. The moisturizer should be alcohol-free, unscented and dye-free. Please be sure to only apply in thin layers (you should see the tattoo through the cream) and at maximum 3 times a day. Do not over saturate your tattoo with cream as it needs time to breath and dry out.

  6. Continue monitoring your tattoo until it has fully healed. This typically takes 2 to 3 weeks.

What not to do:

  1. Do not pick and pull at the flaking/scabbing skin. Picking at your fresh tattoo can delay healing, cause fading/loss of ink, and increase the chances of infection. It can also cause scaring.

  2. Stay out of direct sunlight. Do not expose your new tattoo to any direct sunlight as this can cause burning and irritation. As well, make sure not to apply any sunscreen or suntan lotion to the newly tattooed area until it has fully healed.

  3. Stay out of bodies of water. All bodies of water can contain bacteria that may cause an infection if not careful. This includes pools, lakes, ponds, oceans etc. Do not submerge your tattoo in water (including baths) and only wet briefly as needed in the shower or under the tap.

  4. Keep your fresh tattoo away from animals. If any fur has touched your tattoo make sure to wash immediately. Replace your bed sheets if your pet freqents that area.

Do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns!