Healing your new tattoo:

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• Your tattoo is a permanent change to your body.

 

• If bandaged, leave on for 1 hour; it is just to protect it until you get home.  Your new tattoo will discharge plasma & some ink. When you get home, lightly wash your tattoo with unscented antibacterial soap.

 

• At least twice a day, lightly wash your tattoo wit­h unscented antibacterial soap.  Apply a little soap to your fingers and gently wash your tattoo to remove any excess plasma. When rinsing, don’t put the fresh tattoo under direct water. Your pores remain open for a week or so, and water getting into those open pores can flush ink out.  When rinsing, just splash or trickle a bit of water onto it. Then, either air-dry or pat dry with a clean paper towel.

 

• Use your ointment from a few times a day to 5-6 times a day. (Depending on your skin) Do not over use your ointment; it should be a thin breathable coating, the same way you would apply a lotion or sunscreen. We recommend A&D ointment (not cream) or Aquaphor ointment.

 

• After 2-4 days (depending on your artist's recommendations) you can switch to a lotion. Any lotion is fine as long as it is unscented and is free of dyes and additives that may irritate the tattoo's healing process (Coconut oil, cocobutter, skinfirming lotions, etc.)

 

• Your tattoo will be healed in 2-3 weeks.  After the healing process, be sure to wear a sunscreen on your tattoo to keep your tattoo from fading.

 

• Your tattoo will heal the way a sunburn does; it will flake, peel, and possibly scab. Do not panic! This is a normal part of the healing process.

 

ALSO

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• NO swimming, baths, hot tubs, or saunas.  Avoid excessively long or hot showers as well.  You can shower but avoid getting the tattoo wet. 

 

• Change and use clean bedding, towels, etc while your tattoo is healing. Do not let pets sleep with you as they can carry bacteria with them.

 

• If anything sticks to your tattoo during the oozing phase, do not rip or peel it off, it will promote bleeding and ink will come out with that blood. Instead, lightly wet it until it peels off freely from the tattoo.

 

• DO NOT pick or scratch at your new tattoo, this will cause bleeding and will pull ink out of your skin. Try lightly patting it if it's itchy.

 

• Avoid direct sunlight on a fresh tattoo, this will irritate it and can cause other problems that may prolong healing.

 

• IF YOU SUSPECT INFECTION OR ALLERGIC REACTION, CONSULT YOUR ARTIST OR PHYSICIAN IMMEDIATELY. Improperly caring for your new tattoo may lead to irritation, prolonged healing, color loss/fading, and possible infection. Contact your artist for any questions or concerns you may have.