Tattoo aftercare

HOW TO CARE FOR A NEW TATTOO

We will always provide detailed instructions on how to care for your new tattoo, which you should follow carefully. Every tattoo artist will have a slightly different opinion on the best way to care for a new tattoo, but don’t worry, Robin has had years of experience in caring for new tattoos, so his methods have been tried and tested.

Awesome, you have a tattoo! Be Proud! Follow these instructions:

When the tattoo is complete, we will clean the area, apply an anti-bacterial ointment and cover the tattoo with a protective wrap. Once you have left the tattoo studio, try to resist the temptation to open the wrap to take a peak or show off your new tattoo to your friends. The wrap is there to protect your tattoo from airborne bacteria, which can penetrate through your broken skin. Leave the protective wrap on for up to 2-4 days.

Then carefully remove the protective wrap and gently wash the tattoo.

We recommend washing with lukewarm water and mild, unscented liquid antibacterial or antimicrobial soap. Use your hands to gently rub the tattoo, removing all traces of blood, plasma, or leaked ink. This will help to prevent the tattoo from scabbing too soon. Do not use a wash cloth, loofah or any type of sponge to clean the tattoo, as these may harbor bacteria.

DO NOT! hold the tattoo directly under the water. Wash it indirectly by splashing the water over the tattoo with your hands. The stream of water from the faucet may be too harsh on your new tattoo. If your new tattoo is covering a large area of skin, it may be easiest to wash the tattoo in the shower.

Once you have thoroughly washed the tattoo, you should gently pat it dry with a little paper towel or let it air dry. Do not rub the tattoo, as this may cause irritation. Once the excess moisture has been removed, you should leave the tattoo uncovered for 20 minutes to an hour. This will allow the tattoo to breath and any excess moisture to evaporate. You should allow your tattoo to breathe like this after each time you wash it.

Apply ointment. Once your tattoo is fully dry and the skin begins to feel tight you can apply a little ointment, such as Tattoo Defender After Ink or Hustle Butter, to the tattoo. Make sure to apply only a very thin layer that’s just enough to make the tattoo shine and rub it in gently until it’s absorbed by the skin. It’s very important that you don’t apply too much ointment or else you’ll suffocate the tattoo and encourage the growth of bacteria. You should continue applying the ointment after each time you wash the tattoo for about 3 to 5 days, or until the tattoo starts to peel. At that point, you can switch to a regular lotion, but avoid lotions that contain colors, fragrances or glitter.

Peeling is a normal part of the healing process. After the skin peels, your tattoo will look glossy and feel tight. Itching in the tattooed area at this point is also normal, but remember not tot scratch the tattoo. There may be cloudy or white patches of skin that you will be tempted to peel off, but try to resist so not to damage you new tattoo.

Continue to wash and moisturize your tattoo 3 to 5 times a day, though you should wash more often if the tattoo is on your hand, wrist, foot, or any other area which is more exposed to germs. You should continue to wash your tattoo with anti-bacterial soap and water until it is fully healed.

Remember: We want your tattoo to heal perfectly and look good just as much as you do, so we don’t give you any poor advice. Don’t use petroleum based products, such as Vaseline, as these are too heavy and may clog the pores, causing breakouts on the tattoo. They also draw the ink from the tattoo to the surface of the skin, causing the tattoo to fade before it’s even fully healed. You can find good aftercare ointments at our studio. These ointments have been developed specially for tattoos, and are very effective at moisturizing and healing the skin. The ointments we sell can seem a little pricey, but they work wonders for healing tattoos.

For the first 4 weeks you should avoid swimming, bathing in tubs or saunas, and exposing the tattoo to direct sunlight or tanning beds. Also an healed tattoo is still sensitive to sun exposure, so make sure to always wear high quality sunblock. Please note that you can not apply sunblock to a healing tattoo!

If you have taken proper care of your new tattoo, you can expect your tattoo to be healed and your skin to have fully regenerated in about 4 to 6 weeks.