TATTOO AFTERCARE

There are two ways that I recommend healing your tattoo. If you have another way to heal your tattoos that works for you, check in with me, but that should be fine.

Tegaderm/Second Skin

• If you don’t have an allergy to second skin, this is the way that I recommend healing your tattoo.
• After the tattoo, I will place the second skin.
• Keep it on for 4-5 days.
• Remove it in the shower under running water, pulling it parallel to the skin (not like a bandaid)
• Gently clean with unscented soap and pat dry with a clean paper towel and put a thin layer of unscented lotion.
• For three days clean your tattoo morning and night with unscented soap and put a thin layer of unscented lotion. 
• Then, clean and lotion your tattoo once a day for the following three weeks. 
• Ideally, you will be lotioning your tattoos every day for the rest of your life to keep the tattoo looking bold and fresh.

*If ink oozes out of the second skin before the end of the 5 days, remove the second skin and heal as described below. If plasma, blood, and ink can ooze out, germs can get in which can cause an infection.

Alternative (dry healing)

If you are allergic to second skin or your piece does not work with Tegaderm, follow these instructions.

Dry Heal

• You will leave your session with a thin layer of glide on your tattoo and wrapped in plastic wrap to prevent blood and ink from oozing too much.
• After 1-2 hours/when you get home, remove the wrap and clean your tattoo with unscented soap and pat it dry with a clean paper towel.
• Let your tattoo breathe overnight. Please sleep on clean sheets and wear clean pajamas. 
• Clean your tattoo the morning and night the following day with unscented soap and pat dry with a clean paper towel.
• Starting the following day, clean your tattoo morning and night with unscented soap, pat dry, and put a thin layer of unscented lotion for seven days. 
• After that week, you should clean and lotion your tattoo once a day.
• You generally should be lotioning your tattoo everyday for the rest of your life to keep it looking bold, but the first month is the most crucial.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out!

Avoid exercising for the first 3 days after your tattoo since sweating can cause irritation, and if you wear second skin, the trapped sweat can cause an infection.

Avoid swimming and baths for the first three weeks after your tattoo.

Avoid direct sun on your tattoo for the first three weeks minimum. 

Once your tattoo is healed, wear sunscreen on your tattoo as the sun will break down the ink