Tattoo Care Instructions
Right after getting tattooed: Your body needs protein to replenish the energy and plasma and blood cells that it spent while getting tattooed. If you eat red meat, a good quality (grass fed) burger or steak would be a great replenisher.
when you get home:
- Leave your bandage on overnight.
- After taking off the bandage, wash your tattoo thoroughly with a mild soap. Dr. Bronner's "baby unscented" is a great choice. Wash well. All of the goo, plasma, blood should be washed off. Pat it dry with a clean towel, or let air dry.
- Apply a small amount of ointment to your tattoo. I do like Aquafor. It comes in a plastic tub(14oz), a tube(7oz), or an aerosol spray(6.2oz). It protects well and helps skin retain moisture. Rub it in lightly but thoroughly. Or spray on. Don't use a lot, as long as you lightly coat the whole area and it's tacky to the touch, you are good. It shouldn't sit on your skin in a thick layer.
- If you do not want to use aquafor, a petroleum/petrolatum-based product, you can use a whipped shea butter such as this one by Evan Healy. It comes in a glass jar, but you only get 1.9oz. It's pricy but wonderful. Or this Alaffia Shea Butter (11oz), (choose unscented please) which is way less pricy, that I love for all sorts of skin needs, including new tattoo care.
First 2 days:
- wash your tattoo 3 times a day
- ointment afterwards
Third day - 2 weeks:
- wash 1-2 times a day
- ointment 2-4 times a day (whenever it feels dry and/or itchy)
Please do not:
- Do not use products containing aloe vera, perfumed soaps, antibacterial anything, or chemically scented/flavored lotions.
- Do not scratch or pick at your healing tattoo. Slapping to relieve itching is fine.
- Do not soak your brand new tattoo. Examples of soaking: swimming, hot tubbing, taking baths, bikram yoga. Showering is fine.
- Do not get your freshly healing tattoo dirty, such as by gardening, or having contact with animals. Your new tattoo is a healing wound, and must be treated as such to avoid infection.
- Do not sun your new tattoo. After you are completely healed, use sunscreen.
Other suggestions:
- Stay hydrated.
- Limit or avoid alcohol.
- Keep your tattoo clean.
- Give your new tattoo plenty of air.
Seek medical help if your experience signs and symptoms of infection which include but are not limited to: red streaks going from the procedure site towards the heart, elevated body temperature, or purulent drainage from the procedure site.
If you have any questions, please e-mail me. If you need a quick response and have my number, text
me.