Healing Day 1

Your new tattoo will be somewhat tender and will feel like a sunburn. If your new tattoo is on your leg or foot, elevation will help alleviate any swelling.

If using a second skin product like Saniderm or Dermshield:

• Your second skin will fill up with plasma and ink on day 1. This is normal, and your body will reabsorb it. Mmm, juicy!

• Try to leave the second skin on for 2-5 days.

• Remove second skin in the shower, as the water will help it peel off and any remaining bodily fluid or ink will rinse away. When removing, gently and slowly pull it away flat against your skin. Do not rip it off quickly, as that could take peeling skin and ink with it.

• After second skin has been removed, follow the wash and care instructions below for the next 2-10 days.

  *If the area becomes red and irritated, remove second skin immediately. You may have an allergy to second skin products. If it starts to leak, remove immediately. Bacteria can enter when the seal is broken.

Wash and care instructions:

• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before touching your tattoo

• Remove the bandage carefully - in the shower if it seems to stick

• Wash tattoo with warm water and mild antibacterial fragrance free soap, gently lathering with a flat hand

• Rinse tattoo well with warm water until the surface feels squeaky clean. Do not pick off any peeling skin or the color may come out with it. Just let it do it’s thing.

• Pat tattoo dry with a clean, disposable paper towel. Avoid using a cloth towel, as it can harbor bacteria.

• Moisturize tattoo with ointment or lotion

• Blot excess ointment/lotion away with a clean paper towel

• The tattoo should not be greasy - LESS IS MORE!

*If using saran wrap (“the old school method”) do this 1-2 hours after receiving your tattoo, but wait 24 hours before applying ointment.

Healing Days 2-10

Healing tattoos will peel, flake, and sometimes scab, with bits of tattooed skin coming off in the process (this is normal). Your new tattoo may not look as crisp for the first few weeks and will instead look hazy. This is also completely normal and will clear up in 2-3 weeks.

Continue to wash and dry your tattoo twice a day, morning and night, as directed.

Apply a small amount of lotion or ointment as needed 4-6 times per day, but remember LESS IS MORE and your new tattoo needs oxygen to heal. If your skin starts to break out in pimples, you are using too much. Too much aftercare cream will clog pores, slow the healing process, and may harbor bacteria which can lead to infection. This is why it’s best not to use petroleum based products like Vaseline or Aquaphor.

Products I recommend:

Soap: Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castille Soap (baby unscented), unscented Dove or Ivory soap

Aftercare ointment: Lubriderm or Aveeno fragrance-free lotion, Hustle Butter (can purchase at Ulta), Tattoo Goo (can purchase at Walgreen’s)

*There are many other tattoo aftercare products out there that I’m sure are great, but I only recommend ones that I’ve personally used and can vouch for.