TATTOO AFTERCARE

 

For aftercare moisturiser I recommend Palmer’s cocoa butter or coconut oil, it’s the cheapest and easy to find! Or Hustle Butter is good if you want a tattoo specific balm. 

 

Please make sure you are applying a thin layer, whilst it is important to keep your tattoo moisturised, it is also important not to overdo it! Moisturising twice a day is fine, even once will do sometimes if it’s not looking too dry. You can wash your tattoo daily as normal in the shower with unscented soap. Healing time is generally around 2 weeks.

 

SECOND SKIN

Your artist will apply a second skin bandage for you straight after the tattoo. You can leave this on for 3-5 days. It’s normal for it to look a little blurry or have fluid underneath the plaster so don’t worry if that happens! If the second skin comes off sooner than 3 days and exposes the tattoo or it leaks you can take it off early but try to keep it on for at least 3 days.

 

When you take it off, do so in a warm shower which will ease the adhesive and peel it off like a command strip rather than a plaster (pull down rather than peel back). Wash with unscented soap (Sanex, Carex antibacterial etc.), air dry or use a clean paper towel to dab dry. Then apply some moisturiser.

 

From this point - Wash once a day and apply aftercare to your tattoo in the morning and the evening for the next two weeks/until it’s healed. 

 

CLINGFILM

Your fresh tattoo will be wrapped in clingfilm, you should keep this on for 3-4 hours before taking it off with clean hands in a clean environment. Wash with unscented soap (Sanex, Carex antibacterial etc.), then air dry or use a clean paper towel to dab dry. Rewrap your tattoo again with some fresh cling film. No moisturiser is needed the first day.

 

If it’s been another few hours until you go to bed, repeat the wash and rewrap process so you have a fresh cling film bandage on overnight. The clingfilm for the first sleep will protect your tattoo from irritation and transferring the blood/ink to your clothes/bedsheets.

 

When you wake up, remove the clingfilm, repeat the wash and dry. You do not need to wrap the tattoo again, just wear clean clothing that doesn’t cling to the area. 

 

From this point - Wash once a day and apply aftercare to your tattoo in the morning and the evening for the next two weeks/until it’s healed. 

 

WHAT NOT TO DO WHILST YOUR TATTOO HEALS

• Try avoid exercising for the first few days as it can get sweat in the tattoo and irritate it

• Do not submerge your tattoo in water, e.g. baths/going swimming (showers are okay)

• Do not pick/scratch any scabs or flaking. (Sometimes whilst healing, the tattoo could become slightly itchy, this is normal, if you need to relieve it, try patting it!)

• Do not touch your tattoo with dirty hands or dry with dirty towels.

• Do not expose your tattoo to the sun or apply suncream until it’s healed

 

Any questions or concerns feel free to contact me!