1. Leave the bandage on after receiving the tattoo for a minimum of 1 hour. It can stay on for up to 6 hours. Clean your hands thoroughly with fragrance free soap before removing the bandage. Remove the bandage and take the hottest shower you can handle. (Shower, not bath)

2. Lightly wash the tattoo with your hands and scent free soft soap, avoiding any exfoliating soaps as they can and will damage a fresh tattoo. Do NOT use a loofa, brush, towel, etc to clean the tattoo. Use the pads of your fingers to gently scrub the tattoo. Make sure the tattoo is thoroughly washed and rinsed off.

3. Air dry the tattoo or pat dry with a clean sterile towel.

4. Let the tattoo completely dry (usually takes about 10 minutes.)

5. Once it’s dry, apply a small amount of unscented water-based lotion to it (Aquaphor, Eucerin, Cetaphil etc.) a little goes a long way. The first night you have the fresh tattoo it may ooze clear fluid or ink, this is normal. Cover it with a sterile, nonstick gauze pad or equivalent. Ensure you have clean sheets and blankets to sleep on, avoiding any irritants.

1. It’s important to wash and moisturize the tattoo at least 3 times a day. This should be done in four easy steps.

a. Wash your hands (extremely important)

b. Wash the tattoo

c. Air dry/pat it dry (do not scrub)

d. Apply lotion

2. Once the tattoo begins to peel (should be around day 2-3), it helps to switch to a lighter lotion to spread onto the tattoo. So far, we have found the best product to be Aveeno Baby lotion, Eucerin, or Care One moisturizing lotion.

Most tattoo aftercare is knowing what to avoid. Here’s a list of what to avoid for 6-12 days after receiving a tattoo

1. Avoid submerging it in any communal body of fresh water. This includes, but is not limited to:

a. Pools

b. Bathtubs (showers are fine)

c. Lakes

d. Rivers

e. Hot tubs

f. Saunas

2. Avoid going to a gym for at least a week. Bacterial infections are bad, even worse are fungal infections, which are commonly contracted at places where many people go to sweat.

a. Important note: Your own sweat won’t hurt it, so working out is still okay, what’s harmful to the tattoo (which is an open wound) is the gym environment.

3. Avoid animals. We all love our pets, but they aren’t exactly sterile creatures. Cats in particular are very good at spreading bacterial infections to open wounds. If you have Cats, keep the tattoo (which is technically an open wound) covered.

4. Avoid Scratching your tattoo. Tattoos itch. This is normal, don’t scratch it. Avoid picking, pulling, poking, prodding, smacking, tapping or touching it. It itches because it’s dry, so the best way to get it to stop itching is to follow the Day 2-6 four step process listed above.

5. Avoid direct sunlight. Sunburn can damage the tattoo, if you want them to remain looking nice, it’s important to avoid sunlight for 6 days. If you’re going to be out in the sun when it heals, remember to apply sunscreen.

6. Avoid rough clothing. Wool and fleece, for example, will irritate the tattoo. Cotton, polyester, spandex, and rash guards (like under armor shirts) are all perfectly okay to cover it.

If the tattoo is infected, it will typically be bright red around the perimeter, painful to the touch. In these cases, it is best to seek medical help from your doctor. If you have any concerns, please reach out to us.