Full Color Tattoo Aftercare

During Appointment: At the end of our session I will put on an absorbent pad called Tattoo Armor. This should stay on for the first night if you have an evening appointment and for 4 - 6 hours if you have a daytime appointment. 

After Appointment: There are 2 options you can go with for healing your tattoo once you leave the studio. These options are the "Traditional Healing Method" OR healing with a second skin. 

• Traditional Healing: 

• For the next 10-14 days, wash your tattoo 2-4 times per day with an unscented antibacterial soap (depending on what type of environments you are exposed to throughout your day) pat it dry with a CLEAN paper towel and apply a very thin layer of ointment. Remember, less is more. It’s better to put too little ointment than too much. (Once the wound has closed, switch to Lubriderm). For the first 1-2 days, you can spray a little bit of Bactine on the tattoo after washing it to fully sterilize it. 

• ** Never put your finger directly into the tub of ointment. To prevent contamination, use a Q-Tip, Tongue Depressor, or wear a sterile glove.

• I will give you 1 extra sheet of tattoo armor, you should use this for the next night when you go to bed to keep your tattoo protected overnight. 

• Make sure to always wear clean clothing if it will be going over your tattoo. 

• Make sure to clean your sheets before your appointment. 

• If you have pets, make sure to not let them lick, touch, or near your tattoo. If they do, immediately wash the tattoo. 

• Second Skin Healing:

• Once you remove your tattoo armor, clean your tattoo with your unscented antibacterial soap, pat it dry, spray a light layer of Bactine over it and let it air out for a few minutes. Once dry, apply a layer of second skin (RecoveryDerm, Saniderm, etc.) over your tattoo. DO NOT put any ointment on underneath the second skin. Leave this on for 3-5 days afterwards. 

• It is totally normal for ink/fluid to build up underneath your second skin creating an “ink sack”. Do not poke it, cut it, or drain it. If there is no ink leaking out from underneath the second skin, leave it be. In the case there is a leak, you MUST take off the layer of second skin immediately and wash your tattoo with an unscented antibacterial soap.

• If for any reason you have to take off your second skin before at least 3 nights have passed, wash your tattoo after removing it, and pat it dry. At this point, switch to the traditional method of healing.

• You can take a shower with the second skin, it is water resistant, but keep showers to 10 minutes or less and DO NOT use steaming hot water. Absolutely no pool, no sauna, no submerging in water for 14-28 days. 

• For the next 7-10 days wash your tattoo 1-2 times a day with an unscented antibacterial soap (depending on what type of environments you are exposed to throughout your day) pat it dry with a CLEAN paper towel and apply Lubriderm. 

• If your tattoo is in an area that has high movement/stretching of the skin/or high use (i.e. behind the knee, elbow ditch, hands, fingers, etc.) it may not stay on, if you can’t keep the RecoveryDerm on, switch to traditional healing outlined above. 

Things to avoid: 

- Sunlight

- Pets

- Sauna

- Heavy sweating/moisture

- Long showers

- Baths

- Pools

- Beach

Things to keep an eye out for:

-Redness around or on your tattoo 

-Raised skin/swelling lasting longer than 1-3 days 

-Pus/discharge from your tattoo

-Heavy scabbing

It is very important to remember that your tattoo is an OPEN WOUND and should be treated with a high level of care and diligence. Not only for it to age well, but also to avoid infection. 

As previously mentioned, no matter how perfect your aftercare is, some things are out of your control. Just like an open wound, it won’t always heal perfectly and the same. Take it day by day.