Caring For Your New Tattoo the Traditional Way

• After the first two hours, gently wash your tattoo with warm water, your hand, and antibacterial soap. Wet the area that was tattooed, pump soap into your hand and lather it up in your hands, lightly rub the soap over the tattoo about 5 times, gently rinse the soap off, pat dry with a CLEAN paper towel (NO BATH TOWELS!!!! Even after your shower), let the tattoo air dry for approx 5-10 min then apply a very, very THIN layer of Aquaphor. You want it to look moist and shiny not wet and goopy. Excess ointment can be removed with a new, CLEAN, paper towel.

• DO NOT use anything abrasive to wash the tattoo, this includes washcloths, loofahs, paper towels, basically anything other than your hand, until it has finished peeling as this could cause the top layer to come off prematurely and cause scabbing and excess pigment loss.

• Wash the tattoo at least twice a day unless you get it dirty or rub it up against something dirty, then wash it a third time (your shower counts as one washing).

• Keep all pets away from your tattoo until it is fully healed, should they come into contact with it, wash the tattoo again. Do this until peeling occurs, approx 2-5 days after the initial tattooing.

• Let it peel on its own, DO NOT PICK, DO NOT SCRUB, DO NOT SCRATCH!!! Allow the flakes to come off on their own. Picking, scrubbing and/or scratching could cause the top layer to drop off prematurely and cause scabbing and excess pigment loss.

• Once peeling starts, you will continue to gently wash it as you have been but replace the Aquaphor with an unscented lotion. We recommend Aveeno Skin Relief Intense Moisture Repair lotion. 

• Rub the lotion in thoroughly until it is all but absorbed. Continue to apply lotion at least twice a day, especially if it starts itching, after the tattoo has fully peeled, to aid in skin repair while the top layer of skin gets back to normal.

• Excess lotion can be removed with a CLEAN paper towel.

• If unusual redness or swelling occurs at any point during the healing process and you have questions, either stop back in the shop or send us a picture of what is going on so that we can help advise you what to do.

• You may apply ice and take an anti inflammatory, to help cut down on the swelling, if you choose. If you do apply ice, DO NOT put it directly on the tattoo, put the ice in a zip lock bag (or use a bag of frozen veggies) and place 2 CLEAN paper towels in-between the ice and the tattoo.

​

IMPORTANT   -  DO NOT:

DO NOT Submerge your tattoo, this means no baths, no hot tubs, no pools until fully peeled! Fully submerging a fresh tattoo will cause the top layer to become engorged with water and peel off before it is ready to come off leading to scabbing and excess ink/pigment loss. Yes, you can still shower as normal.

​

DO NOT Go tanning, no laying out, tanning beds, or spray tans until the tattoo is fully healed. Even after healing, sunscreen is recommended if you want to help keep your tattoo looking new. Sunlight is harsh and will fade and age your tattoo faster than anything else.

​

DO NOT Visit the beach until your tattoo is fully healed. The beach is full of many different germs that could cause an infection.

​

DO NOT Over do it with excess movement in the area that the tattoo was done. No working out the first 2-4 days after the tattoo is done to prevent severe excess swelling.

​

If you have any other questions or you need a touch up, simply contact us, and we’ll get it taken care of. We like to wait at least 2-3 months to do touch ups after the initial tattoo was done to allow the tattoo to fully heal before going back into it. You get one free touch up within the first 6 months of the tattoo being done. Touch ups are for any light spots that may happen to occur during the healing process. Not all tattoos will need a touch up, ideally you shouldn’t need a touch up but sometimes life happens.

​

Enjoy Your New Tattoo!