TATTOO AFTERCARE INSTRUCTIONS
HOW TO LOOK AFTER YOUR NEW TATTOO
This page contains the following:
General Aftercare Instructions
Second Skin Aftercare Instructions
Recommend Aftercare Creams
GENERAL AFTERCARE INSTRUCTIONS
Your tattoo is most fresh and vulnerable right after your appointment, I would recommend keeping the rest of your day free to rest and relax.
At the end of your appointment I will wrap your tattoo up with glad wrap. Keep the wrap on for 1 to 2 hours if you are going straight home. If you are not going straight home, keep the wrap on until you can safely remove it at home.
Once the wrap is removed, wash the tattoo with warm soapy water in the shower. I would recommend a gentle, fragrance free soap.
A fresh tattoo takes around 3 weeks to heal. Please repeat the following instructions for 3 weeks.
Wash the tattoo twice a day with warm soapy water.
Do not scratch or pick at your tattoo.
Do not soak your tattoo for 3 weeks. Soaking your tattoo includes baths, spas or swimming in the ocean / pool. Showers are fine!
Apply a thin layer of aftercare cream 2 to 3 times a day.
Keep your healing tattoo away from hash sunlight. Do not apply sunscreen until the tattoo is healed.
Do not shave or apply fake tan / makeup over the tattooed area until it is healed.
SECOND SKIN AFTERCARE INSTRUCTIONS
If you have chosen to heal your tattoo with Second Skin, at the end of our appointment I will apply the first Second Skin bandage for you before you leave the studio.
Please note: If I haven’t given you a spare piece of Second Skin disregard the below steps and remove the Second Skin bandage 3 - 7 days after your appointment and continue general aftercare for another 2 - 3 weeks. Remove the Second Skin bandage under warm running water, do not rip it off dry!
Remove the first piece of Second Skin 24 - 48 hours after getting your tattoo. This time varies with how much plasma your body produces. For easy removal, I would recommend removing the Second Skin bandage in the shower under running water. Do not rip it off dry!
Gently wash the tattoo with soap. Once you are out of the shower pat the tattoo down with a clean towel / paper towel then allow the area to air dry for 10 - 15 minutes.
Make sure the skin is in a neutral and natural position. If the tattoo is in a hard to reach area, you might need to find someone to help you apply the bandage.
Remove the white backing and gently apply the Second Skin bandage to the centre of the tattoo. Using a light pressure, apply outwards to the edges of the tattoo. Apply the bandage flat to avoid air bubbles.
Slowly remove the plastic backing while ensuring all of the edges are stuck to the skin.
Your tattoo might look dark or ‘muddy’ during the time where the Second Skin bandage is applied to your tattoo, this is due to the body producing plasma and the excess ink from your tattoo caught under the bandage - this is normal!
After 3 -7 days, remove the Second Skin bandage the same way you removed the first piece. Sometimes it might seem like your tattoo design has ‘transferred’ onto the bandage however it is just staining, and it is nothing to be worried about.
Continue with general aftercare (instructions listed above) for another 2 - 3 weeks.
MY RECOMMENDED AFTERCARE CREAMS
You can purchase an aftercare package at the end of your tattoo appointment. My aftercare packages are $15 and contain Inky Salve tattoo aftercare cream.