Traditional Tattoo After Care

Caring for your tattoo is like taking care of an open wound. Basically just keep it clean, keep it hydrated.

For the first week you’ll want to wash your tattoo in warm water with anti bacterial soap. I usually recommend Dial Gold hand soap. After cleaning your tattoo, you’ll let it either air dry or pat dry with clean paper towels.

After the tattoo is dry you’ll apply a small amount of daily moisturizing lotion to the tattoo. Any lotion that’s unscented/unmedicated. No crazy colors or glitter. Just a plain, white, moisturizing lotion. I recommend Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion (or whatever store brand knock off you prefer.)

Do this routine with clearing and moisturizing for the first week, two to three times a day. The second week you’ll just moisturize the tattoo when it feels dry.

During healing, your tattoo may start to peel, scab a little, and become itchy. Do not pick at your tattoo. Do not itch it. Apply lotion and let your tattoo heal.

Tegaderm Tattoo After Care

For Tegaderm aftercare, the directions are a little more simplified. You’ll leave the Tegaderm covering on your tattoo for five to seven days. After that you’ll remove the film while in the shower. Slowly peel the Tegaderm off your skin, and wash the tattoo with anti bacterial soap.

After washing your tattoo pat dry with paper towels or air dry. Apply unscented, unmedicated lotion to the tattoo. Use lotion whenever your tattoo feels dry.

If your tattoo is extra oozy and leaks out of the Tegaderm, remove the film. Even if it hasn’t been the full five to seven days. This means the barrier is broken and germs can get into the tattoo. Remove the Tegaderm and follow traditional tattoo healing method.

DON’T:

• Don’t submerge your new tattoo in water. No swimming. Not baths.

• Do not expose your new tattoo to the sun. When your tattoo is healed use sunscreen!!

• Do not pick at your tattoo while it’s healing. Use lotion whenever it feels dry.

• Do not itch your tattoo!!!! Itching is part of the healing process. If you pick at or itch your healing tattoo and hurt it during the healing process, you negate your free touch up.