Aftercare
Our bodies are amazing! While every person and area of the body reacts differently, most tattoos will heal beautifully with very little interference. Your artist will guide you through your aftercare instructions, how to keep your tattoo clean, alternatives if you have any adhesive allergies, and tips for keeping your tattoo extremely crisp for the long haul. Congratulations on your new ink!
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The First Day
You will leave the studio with Recovery Derm covering your new tattoo. This is a breathable but protective clear covering that acts as a second skin for fast and easy healing (let your artist know if you have any adhesive allergies). Please leave this on until the next morning if you can. It's very tempting to peel it off and have a look but please resist!
Healing Process
Your clear bandage may or may not have a some blood and ink / lymph fluid collecting beneath the surface. This is normal on the first day! You will want to remove the film after this point and gently wash your tattoo with liquid, non-fragranced antibacterial soap (Dial is great, and in most cases will be provided for you). FOR THE FIRST 10 DAYS wash your new tattoo 3x daily and finish with a very thin (just enough to be shiny) layer of healing aftercare balm 3x a day! Your tattoo shouldn't be dry, but it must breath, so do not overdo the aftercare ointment.
TIP: When you dry off your tattoo out of the shower or after washing at the sink, gently dab with a CLEAN towel that is ONLY for your tattoo. Your regular bath and hand towels hold a ton of bacteria that may give you an infection.
Peeling and flaking is very normal after a few days - scabbing is not. If you are scabbing, you are using too much ointment OR you are not washing enough. You will be itchy! Do NOT scratch or pick at your new tattoo!
NO WATER SUBMERSION (pools, bathtubs, lakes, ocean, hot tubs, etc.) other than your shower for 2 weeks!
Special Attention
Dirt, UV rays, unclean hands/towels and water submersion are the worst enemies of your new tattoo. While your tattoo is healing in the first 2 weeks keep all pets out of your bed, do NOT submerge your tattoo in water (baths, pools, saunas, swimming, etc), and keep them completely covered from the sun! You may (and should!) wear SPF Protection after 2 weeks.
For best results once your new tattoo is healed, continue to keep your ink out of the sun as much as possible. Especially for the first year! That being said, UV in tanning beds and sunlight will destroy both new and old tattoos. If you cannot cover your ink with clothing then use a high SPF sunscreen to protect it. It makes a HUGE difference!
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