Aftercare

Caring for a fresh tattoo should be approached with the comparison in mind, that a fresh tattoo is an open physical injury similar to having cut, but very shallow in the skin unlike most cuts. Taking care of a fresh tattoo is therefore similar, and is somewhat relative to how you personally care for open wounds on your body that achieves the most success in speed and minimal scarring. But my recommendations that I give people are this...

1. Wash the tattoo at least twice a day with antibacterial soap for the first week or until fully healed (the shower obviously being the easiest way).

2. Lightly apply H2Ocean (available in the shop) or a white or clear, non-scented and alcohol-free lotion for the first 5 days after getting the tattoo, 1-2 times a day or as needed to keep the skin lightly moisturized, but not so much that excess lotion remains on the skin.

3. Never use Neosporin on a tattoo that is healing, nor do you want to keep it bandaged much longer than the time it takes to get home from the shop.

4. After the first 5 days are over, continue to apply H2Ocean or the same white or clear, non-scented, alcohol-free lotion to the tattoo in the same minimal quantities as before, but 2-3 times a day for 2 more weeks.

5. To insure best long term results, because since a tattoo is in your skin and therefore can be altered with injuries to the skin, at least for the first 2 weeks sun tanning and swimming should be avoided. Excessive sun tanning will have, over time, a drastic effect on the overall quality of a tattoo. Finally, just do your best not to scratch or pick at the fresh tattoo while it heals at all.

 

• DO NOT LET IT GET SATURATED IN SHOWER OR BATH TUB!!

• Always wash your hands before applying lotion to your tattoo.

• Do not use Vaseline, Neosporin, A&D Ointment, or any other petroleum based products to heal the tattoo.

• Keep tattoo out of direct sunlight or tanning beds until tattoo is completely healed! If your tattoo is going to be exposed to any UV rays, you need to put sun block on it.

• Do not soak tattoo in hot tubs, bubble baths, etc. until it is healed and at least a month has gone by. Do not pick scabs, poke, rub or otherwise mess with the tattoo until healed!!