This is a step-by-step guide to help with the process of healing your new Tattoo. Please follow these instructions thoroughly, to ensure your tattoo will heal free of pain with minimal chances of infection.

The Five Core Rules of Tattoo Aftercare

1. Keep it Clean

2. Keep it Hydrated

3. Don’t Pick or Scratch at it

4. Keep out of the sun

5. Keep out of standing water

Hours 1-12: Keeping it Clean

When your Tattoo appointment is complete, you will most likely leave the shop with your Tattoo wrapped in a plastic recovery film. How long the recovery wrap stays depends on multiple factors, including the client’s skin complexion and oiliness, the amount of plasma the client’s skin excretes, possible skin irritation, etc. Attempt to keep the recovery wrap on between 2 to 4 days. Leaving the wrap gives your body the time it needs to begin the healing process.

Your Tattoo’s most vital healing process is within the first 12-hour period. It will bleed, ooze, swell, and hurt. Do not be alarmed by what’s happening; you’ve technically undergone a medical procedure and your skin has sustained a lot of trauma. What is happening at this time is that your body is responding to the wound on your skin. Your body will send plasma and white blood cells to the wound to create a scab. The scab is your body’s natural defense against infection, and the plasma will be clear but may have a reddish tint like blood. There is no need for alarm, this is a normal part of the process and the plasma will subside within a few days.

Hours 12-24: Keeping it Hydrated

It is normal for your Tattoo to possibly leak out of the recovery wrap while you sleep. There is no need for concern, as your plasma drains where it finds an opening in the recovery wrap. It is highly recommended to take Tylenol and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated as you may feel fatigued or get headaches. Some people refer to this as ‘Tattoo Flu’. This is a completely normal process as your body heals itself.

Days 2-4: Beginning Aftercare Routine

The goal is to keep your Tattoo clean and hydrated. Get into a routine to ensure you stay infection-free to heal as quickly as possible with minimal ink loss. This may feel excessive, but it is imperative to help your Tattoo heal. How the Tattoo heals can have a dramatic impact on the longevity of your piece. Your Tattoo is not fully healed at this point and still needs to avoid sun, standing water, and abrasion to the skin.

While the Tattoo is still healing, prolonged exposure to the sun will result in a loss of ink… it will burn more painfully than other parts of your skin. Avoid standing water as it leads to bacterial and yeast infections in your Tattoo while it is still healing.

Please conduct regular personal hygiene ONLY by shower…do NOT take baths.

Removing the Recovery Wrap

The recovery wrap should stay on between 2 to 4 days; the longer it stays on your skin, the better the Tattoo will heal. To remove the wrap, peel slowly in a downwards position under running water. Immediately after removal, wash your Tattoo and the area around it with an antibacterial soap. It is normal for your skin to feel tight and dry when you take the wrap off, as your Tattoo is raw skin and needs to be treated as an open wound. Do not touch your Tattoo with dirty hands. Wash your hands first, then wash your Tattoo with an unscented fragrance-free antibacterial soap. When washing your Tattoo, use gentle circular motions with a light touch. Use caution and delicacy; you’re not trying to scrub dirt and grime off, just cleanse the surface of the skin.

After the Tattoo has been washed, pat it with a dry, clean paper towel. Apply a thin coat of fragrance-free hydrating balm/lotion to your Tattoo. Do not use petroleum-based balms/lotions, due to the fact that they smother your Tattoo and don’t allow it to breathe. Tattoos need oxygen to heal once the wrap is off, and petroleum balms trap moisture and bacteria inside, leading to a higher risk of infection, scarring, and ink loss. Natural fragrance-free balms and lotions hydrate and sink deep into the skin to help with the healing process to ease pain.

Days 5-14: Resist the urge to touch your Tattoo

At this point, you should be conducting a Tattoo Aftercare routine 2-3 times daily. It is suggested you wash your Tattoo and apply lotion 2-3 times a day for 2 weeks. Always wash your hands first before re-cleaning your Tattoo. Pat it dry with a paper towel and apply a thin layer of lotion directly on the Tattoo. Repeat this step whenever your Tattoo feels dry or if you have been exposed to dirt/sweat/etc.

Depending on how quickly your body heals, you may see dry skin around the edges and finer lines of your Tattoo. Colored pieces will flake off, resembling a sunburn. Do NOT under any circumstances pick at your Tattoo or pull on the flakes. Let the skin flakes shed on their own, and resist every urge to pull at them, as you will remove ink out of your Tattoo. You’ll see skin flakes with ink color, which is normal. The needle has to go through the top layer of skin (epidermis). As the needle travels, it leaves ink in every layer it penetrates. As your skin heals, it sheds the dead skin on the surface (epidermis) that contains trace amounts of ink. The vast majority of the ink stays in the dermis, which is the layer of skin where your Tattoo rests.

Reasons not to pick or scratch your Tattoo:

• Fingernails hold dirt and bacteria, which causes infection

• Picking and pulling at scabs causes ink loss

• Scarring can occur

• Prolongs the healing process

If clothes are irritating your skin, wear loose-fitting clothing. Avoid wearing clothing that rubs repeatedly or constricts the Tattoo as this will also scrape off the scabbing and will remove ink. Wear comfortable baggy clothing until your Tattoo is past the peeling process. Shortly after the recovery wrap is removed the Tattoo will start to itch; do not scratch the Tattoo.

Drinking lots of water throughout the whole Tattoo process can make a huge difference on how it heals, as water helps your skin maintain elasticity.

IMPORTANT

Proper aftercare for your Tattoo is essential for avoiding health complications. Getting a Tattoo is a serious medical procedure. Your skin and body are very vulnerable to infection during this time, because it is receiving significant trauma in a specific area. A Tattoo should be approached responsibly, and doing so will protect your health and the longevity of your Tattoo. Most clients stop caring for your Tattoos after the initial healing is done. Most of these aftercare instructions are essential for keeping your Tattoo healthy during the healing process and preventing infection. Keeping up an aftercare routine after the Tattoo is healed will help it maintain it’s vibrancy for years to come. Well-executed Tattoos will deteriorate and look worse over the years if they are not properly cared for.

Is my Tattoo Infected?

Every day throughout the healing process, inspect your Tattoo to see if there are any significant changes. Look for unhealthy discoloration, or bright redness that resembles inflammation. Look for thick scabs or any signs of pus. If you do see anything like this you’ll need to thoroughly clean your Tattoo with the antibacterial soap. If you do see signs of infection you’ll need to pour alcohol on the Tattoo and clean it immediately with the antibacterial soap.

Examples of infected Tattoos: