Caring for Your Tattoo
The life of your tattoo is dependent upon the care it receives within the first few days. It takes, on average, 10 days to two weeks to heal.
Day 1—When we finish your tattoo, we will apply an antibiotic ointment with a bandage. Keep your tattoo bandaged from 2 to 4 hours. Remove bandage and wash tattoo gently with your fingertips using a mild, fragrance-free soap. Rinse thoroughly and lightly pat dry with a clean towel. Activities that cause you to sweat may over-moisten, irritate or even infect your tattoo so, keep such activities to a minimum.
Day 2—Is an easy one. Take a quick shower and let it dry out for the rest of the day.
Day 3—You should notice a tightening of the skin. This is your scab beginning to form. (The scab is a thin, light, dry layer similar to a peeling sunburn.) At this point you will begin to lubricate it. Shower in the morning, pat dry, then let air dry for 10-15 minutes before applying a fragrance free lubricant such as Lubriderm Fragrance Free, Aquaphor, Vitamin A & D Ointment, Tattoo Goo, etc. Apply a THIN layer and wait for it to dry before applying another layer. DO NOT over-lubricate your tattoo. But don’t let it dry out either - i.e., at the beginning your tattoo may be rather moist so two or three applications a day is about average. Each day as it dries out more, you may need to apply lotion more often. Continue use of lubricant until scab falls off naturally (no picking).
- DO NOT re-bandage your tattoo
- DO NOT use Vaseline, petroleum jelly or antibiotic ointments
- DO NOT use products containing alcohol, fragrance or peroxide
- DO NOT pick, peel or scratch the tattoo
- DO NOT soak tattoo in tub or shower
- Stay out of pools, hot tubs, standing water, etc. for two weeks
- Keep your tattoo out of direct sunlight and/or tanning beds.
After your tattoo is healed, use sunblock SPF30+ to protect it from harmful UV rays.