Introduction
These are general guidelines we learned from working with many of our artists. We understand that every artist has different aftercare routines, so they may not match what we're about to tell you below. If your artist has shared specific steps for pre-care or aftercare, follow what your artist told you and only use our tattoo care as a reference.
Preparing for your appointment (aka pre-care)
The idea is to make sure you're well rested, fed, and feeling great. After all, your skin is about to be pricked many times for at least an hour. Here are some common recommendations to make sure you're comfortable throughout your appointment:
- Eat a full meal prior to the tattoo appointment.
- Bring all the needed food, water, and medication you would need during the duration of the tattoo.
- Be well rested.
- Shower and wear deodorant before your tattoo.
- Shave areas with very dense body hair (chest, pubic, head) if needed for tattoo.
- Fully charge your phone and bring headphones if needed.
- Do not take or consume blood thinners like Advil, alcohol, or high amounts of caffeine. A single cup is ok if you usually have one in the morning.
Taking care of your new tattoo (aka aftercare)
Every artist has their own tried and true aftercare routine. Here's some of what we've seen combined into one place. The general rule is avoid direct sun on your tattoo and make sure you rest because your body is healing:
- Avoid exposing your tattoo to direct sun for at least the first month.
- Avoid alcohol for 24 hours after the tattoo.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Eat and rest well, especially after longer sessions to avoid tattoo flu.
When not wearing second skin products
- Wear the bandage for no more than 6 to 8 hours.
- Wash with warm to hot water and antibacterial soap, never using bar soap, and using one without fragrance. Recommended soaps include: Dial, Hibiclens, Cetaphil.
- Allow to air dry fully before applying moisturizer. This takes around 40 minutes and can be felt when the skin begins to feel tight. Avoid contact with towels or clothing during this time.
- Apply a thin layer of moisturizer to the tattoo.
- Then dress with a thin cotton clothing item to protect the tattoo overnight. Gauze can be used to prevent chaffing in high contact areas ONLY when the tattoo is no longer weeping and scab is fully formed.
- Wash the tattoo twice a day at least, or when the area has become dirty (after work, exercise, through unclean contact with foreign items) and follow the steps above.
- Do not swim or soak the tattoo until fully healed, at LEAST 4 weeks.
- Wait at least a month before direct, longer sun exposure and apply sunscreen generously. Unprotected sun should always be avoided for best results.
When wearing second skin:
- Wear the bandage for 2-5 days
- Remove immediately if the bandage if the plasma/blood seeps through the barrier
- Remove immediately if the tattoo becomes exposed in any part.
- Remove immediately if the bandage if the barrier is damaged (the bandage is scratched or punctured)
- Remove immediately if you notice signs of an allergic reaction to the adhesive (redness around the border of the adhesive, small red dots, etc.) Wash, allow to air dry, use moisturizer sparingly, then take an ORAL antihistamine.
- Remove the bandage in the shower by pulling parallel to the skin, rather than up and away from it
- Once removed, follow the same steps above.
