Congrats on your new tattoo! Think the tattoo process is over now? Think again. Optimum care for your tattoo is integral to its healing. Follow these aftercare steps to ensure your tattoo heals well.
There are two ways you go about your aftercare..
Your artist will most likely wrap your new tattoo in a second skin product. We highly recommend healing your tattoo this way and have seen great results from our clients. We stock and sell Saniderm in the studio so we do hope you bought yourself a roll.
If your liking this way to heal your new tattoo, here are some links to the product’s website and YouTube tutorials. This will give you a better understanding on how to use the product. The website has a lot of info that you can look back too if you have any concerns regarding the healing process.
Visit Saniderm website here
Watch the YouTube video here, here and here
If you’re more into the old fashion way of healing your tattoos, then we recommend the following:
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Leave your bandage on for a minimum of 1 hour and no longer than 4 or 5 hours (we would rather you left it on longer as opposed to washing it in a dirty bar bathroom). DO NOT REBANDAGE unless previously recommended by us.
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After removal of bandage wash thoroughly with hot water and preferably a mild, liquid, UNSCENTED, antibacterial soap (e.g. dial, equate, etc...).
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Pat dry with a clean paper towel and let air dry for one hour or more before applying aftercare.
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Apply a THIN layer of product aftercare cream (Bepanthan, Paw paw cream, etc) and massage into the skin to the point where it just barely looks moist. Do not apply A&D ointment. If using lotion, make sure the product is labelled “FRAGRANCE FREE”, otherwise there may be a small amount of chemical additive to make it smell just a little better and that is what will irritate the tattoo.
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THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF HEALING YOUR TATTOO IS KEEPING IT CLEAN WITH SOAP AND WATER! It is a mere matter of common sense. If you are out and about, working, or getting dirty, wash it more than if you are sitting on the couch watching Scooby Doo re-runs.
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Repeat this process for a week or two depending on the how the tattoo looks. It will peel like sunburn after a few days (it is totally normal to see colored flakes of skin shedding). If it does scab in a few areas this is nothing to worry about, just let them fall off on their own.
DO NOT SCRATCH OR PICK AT SCABS and do NOT over-saturate in the shower. This could soften them up too much and cause them to come off prematurely which will leave blank spots that will need touching up.
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During the healing process.... NO SUN, NO SWIMMING POOLS, NO JACUZZIS, NO OCEAN, NO SOAKING IN WATER OF ANY KIND!
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Once your tattoo has healed, use sunblock as this will keep it looking like new for longer.
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Think of it this way, you are looking THROUGH the skin at the ink underneath much like a picture in a frame with glass over it. The better you take care of the glass/skin the better the picture/tattoo looks underneath.
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After you are all healed (usually about 2 weeks) swing by and say hi to your artist! That way we can give it a good looking over and get a nice healed portfolio picture.
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