Tattoo After-
care
Your tattoo artist will tell you which one of these 3 aftercare instructions to follow
Remove bandage within half an hour to 6 hours of receiving the tattoo unless your artist specifies otherwise.
Wash the tattoo as soon as you remove the bandage:
After removing the bandage, gently hand wash your tattoo with unscented liquid antibacterial soap, such as Provon or dial liquid gold.
Always wash you hands immediately before touching your tattoo.
Avoid bar soaps because they can harbor bacteria.
Avoid soaps with dyes or fragrances as they can be drying and irritating to your tattoo.
Use only your clean fingertips to thoroughly massage soap into tattoo. Do not scrub or use sponges, wash cloths, or loofahs.
Use a single-use paper towel to pat dry your tattoo. Do not use bath towels, as they can harbor bacteria.
You can shower as you normally would, but avoid soaking in any body of water, such as bathtubs, hot tubs, pools, lakes, the ocean, etc.
Apply a thin layer of ointment, never glop it on. If the tattoo looks shiny or goopy, you have too much ointment on.
We recommend Aquatat or Aquaphor for the first 2-3 days of healing; then switch to unscented white lotion (Ex:Aveeno or Lubriderm). Do not use Vaseline, A&D ointment, medicated ointments, or Neosporin.
Wash your tattoo a minimum of twice daily, 3-4 times daily is the maximum. Always wash the tattoo anytime you get sweaty, dirty, or if the area feels tight, dry, or itchy, or if someone touches it.
It will take a minimum of two weeks for your tattoo to fully heal. You will know it is completely healed when all the shininess and flakiness is completely gone. Maintain your aftercare until the tattoo is healed completely.
Tattoos are open wounds and susceptible to infections.
Avoid cross contamination and potential infection risks.
Never touch the tattoo with unwashed hands.
Keep your fresh tattoo away from pets, children, and pet hair.
Make sure your sheets are freshly washed and do not allow pets to sleep with you while your tattoo is healing.
All clothing, sheets, and towels that may encounter the tattoo should be freshly washed and not be reused.
Gyms are a commonplace to pick up staph infections. Use caution when going to the gym with a fresh tattoo. Always wear clothing that will cover the tattoo at the gym, do not wrap it with any bandages or plastic wrap. Wipe down any equipment before and after use, and wash your tattoo immediately after you finish working out.
Never share aftercare products with other people. Tattoos are open wounds and this is a cross contamination risk.
Do not let the tattoo dry out or over moisturize your tattoo.
Do not pick or scratch at the tattoo, allow any flaking or scabbing to come off naturally.
Avoid direct sunlight while tattoo is healing. After it is healed, you may use sunscreen to protect the tattoo.
If you have any questions or concerns do not hesitate to call us at 910-238-2009 or email us at smtattooco@gmail.com. If your tattoo needs a touch up, please contact us after your tattoo has completely healed to schedule an appointment. Thank you so much for choosing us to do your tattoo!
Remove bandage after 24 hours. You may come by the shop to get it changed
- If the bandage peels too close to the tattoo, or leaks, remove it immediately.
- Remove the bandage in the shower, peel a corner first and allow the warm water to help remove the adhesive. Do not rip the bandage off like a bandaid, be gentle your tattoo is still healing.
- After removing the bandage, gently hand wash your tattoo with unscented liquid antibacterial soap, such as Provon or dial liquid gold.
- Always wash you hands immediately before touching your tattoo.
- Avoid bar soaps because they can harbor bacteria.
- Avoid soaps with dyes or fragrances as they can be drying and irritating to your tattoo.
- Use only your clean fingertips to thoroughly massage soap into tattoo. Do not scrub or use sponges, wash cloths, or loofahs.
- Use a single-use paper towel to pat dry your tattoo. Do not use bath towels, as they can harbor bacteria.
- You can shower as you normally would, but avoid soaking in any body of water, such as bathtubs, hot tubs, pools, lakes, the ocean, etc.
- Moisturize your tattoo with unscented white lotion, such as Aveeno or Lubriderm.
- Do not use Vaseline, A&D, medicated ointments, or Neosporin.
- Wash and moisturize your tattoo a minimum of twice a day. Always wash your tattoo before moisturizing.
- It will take a minimum of two weeks for your tattoo to fully heal.
- You will know it is completely healed when all the shininess and flakiness is completely gone. Maintain your aftercare until the tattoo is healed completely.
- Tattoos are open wounds and susceptible to infections.
- Avoid cross contamination and potential infection risks.
- Never touch the tattoo with unwashed hands.
- Keep your fresh tattoo away from pets, children, and pet hair.
- Make sure your sheets are freshly washed and do not allow pets to sleep with you while your tattoo is healing.
- All clothing, sheets, and towels that may encounter the tattoo should be freshly washed and not be reused.
- Gyms are a commonplace to pick up staph infections. Use caution when going to the gym with a fresh tattoo. Always wear clothing that will cover the tattoo at the gym, do not wrap it with any bandages or plastic wrap. Wipe down any equipment before and after use, and wash your tattoo immediately after you finish working out.
- Never share aftercare products with other people. Tattoos are open wounds and this is a cross contamination risk.
- Do not let the tattoo dry out or over moisturize your tattoo.
- Do not pick or scratch at the tattoo, allow any flaking or scabbing to come off naturally.
- Avoid direct sunlight while tattoo is healing. After it is healed, you may use sunscreen to protect the tattoo.
If you have any questions or concerns do not hesitate to call us at 910-238-2009 or email us at smtattooco@gmail.com. If your tattoo needs a touch up, please contact us after your tattoo has completely healed to schedule an appointment. Thank you so much for choosing us to do your tattoo!
- Remove bandage after 3 days. If the bandage peels too close to the tattoo, or leaks, remove it immediately.
- Remove the bandage in the shower, peel a corner first and allow the warm water to help remove the adhesive. Do not rip the bandage off like a bandaid, be gentle your tattoo is still healing.
- After removing the bandage, gently hand wash your tattoo with unscented liquid antibacterial soap, such as Provon or dial liquid gold.
- Always wash you hands immediately before touching your tattoo.
- Avoid bar soaps because they can harbor bacteria.
- Avoid soaps with dyes or fragrances as they can be drying and irritating to your tattoo.
- Use only your clean fingertips to thoroughly massage soap into tattoo. Do not scrub or use sponges, wash cloths, or loofahs.
- Use a single-use paper towel to pat dry your tattoo. Do not use bath towels, as they can harbor bacteria.
- You can shower as you normally would, but avoid soaking in any body of water, such as bathtubs, hot tubs, pools, lakes, the ocean, etc.
- Moisturize your tattoo with unscented white lotion, such as Aveeno or Lubriderm.
- Do not use Vaseline, A&D, medicated ointments, or Neosporin.
- Wash and moisturize your tattoo a minimum of twice a day. Always wash your tattoo before moisturizing.
- It will take a minimum of two weeks for your tattoo to fully heal.
- You will know it is completely healed when all the shininess and flakiness is completely gone. Maintain your aftercare until the tattoo is healed completely.
- Tattoos are open wounds and susceptible to infections.
- Avoid cross contamination and potential infection risks.
- Never touch the tattoo with unwashed hands.
- Keep your fresh tattoo away from pets, children, and pet hair.
- Make sure your sheets are freshly washed and do not allow pets to sleep with you while your tattoo is healing.
- All clothing, sheets, and towels that may encounter the tattoo should be freshly washed and not be reused.
- Gyms are a commonplace to pick up staph infections. Use caution when going to the gym with a fresh tattoo. Always wear clothing that will cover the tattoo at the gym, do not wrap it with any bandages or plastic wrap. Wipe down any equipment before and after use, and wash your tattoo immediately after you finish working out.
- Never share aftercare products with other people. Tattoos are open wounds and this is a cross contamination risk.
- Do not let the tattoo dry out or over moisturize your tattoo.
- Do not pick or scratch at the tattoo, allow any flaking or scabbing to come off naturally.
- Avoid direct sunlight while tattoo is healing. After it is healed, you may use sunscreen to protect the tattoo.
If you have any questions or concerns do not hesitate to call us at 910-238-2009 or email us at smtattooco@gmail.com. If your tattoo needs a touch up, please contact us after your tattoo has completely healed to schedule an appointment. Thank you so much for choosing us to do your tattoo!