actest

Caring For Your Tattoo

is verrrry important!

Please review our notes on caring for your fresh tattoo here or refer to the card given to you at your tattoo appointment. You can also download a PDF version here in English or in Spanish to save for later or print

Aftercare Instructions (English)

When you leave our shop your tattoo will be bandaged. Leave the bandage on for about an hour as it will stop the initial bleeding and also prevent contamination.
When you get home, wash your hands with an unscented antibacterial soap like liquid Gold Dial Antibacterial Hand Soap® or its generic equivalent and, carefully remove the bandage. Using clean hands (no washcloths), gently wash the tattoo with the same unscented antibacterial soap and rinse with warm water. The warmer the water, the easier it will be to remove the dried blood and plasma. After cleaning your tattoo, gently pat it dry with clean paper towels. DO NOT WIPE IT.
When it’s dry you can use a small amount of antibacterial ointment, such as Aquaphor® or A+D®. Using too much ointment will interfere with the healing process, so if your tattoo is still shiny after 5 minutes of applying ointment, you’ve used too much. Gently pat the area with a clean towel to remove excess.
You will need to repeat this process 3-4 times a day for the first few days. After that, you can switch to an unscented white hand lotion. Brands like Lubriderm®, Aveeno®, Cetaphil®, and Eucerin® are all great. Lotion should be applied (using CLEAN hands) whenever your tattoo feels dry.
For the first 3-4 weeks you will have to avoid the sun, the beach, and swimming pools. Submerging your tattoo in water or exposing it to the sun will destroy it. Showers are fine! Just no soaking.
During the healing process your tattoo may itch as it heals. Do NOT scratch or pick at it. Gently patting at it should alleviate the itching. Allow any scabs to fall off naturally on their own. DO NOT pick or pull at them.
A tattoo heals much like a sunburn so try to wear loose fitting clothing while it’s healing. Anything rubbing against it will irritate it resulting in a longer healing time. If you have pets, you may want to cover your tattoo with a non-stick pad or bandage while you sleep to protect it from getting their fur/hair caught in it.
Click here to download &save the PDF!

Aftercare Instructions (Spanish)

When you leave our shop your tattoo will be bandaged. Leave the bandage on for about an hour as it will stop the initial bleeding and also prevent contamination.
When you get home, wash your hands with an unscented antibacterial soap like liquid Gold Dial Antibacterial Hand Soap® or its generic equivalent and, carefully remove the bandage. Using clean hands (no washcloths), gently wash the tattoo with the same unscented antibacterial soap and rinse with warm water. The warmer the water, the easier it will be to remove the dried blood and plasma. After cleaning your tattoo, gently pat it dry with clean paper towels. DO NOT WIPE IT.
When it’s dry you can use a small amount of antibacterial ointment, such as Aquaphor® or A+D®. Using too much ointment will interfere with the healing process, so if your tattoo is still shiny after 5 minutes of applying ointment, you’ve used too much. Gently pat the area with a clean towel to remove excess.
You will need to repeat this process 3-4 times a day for the first few days. After that, you can switch to an unscented white hand lotion. Brands like Lubriderm®, Aveeno®, Cetaphil®, and Eucerin® are all great. Lotion should be applied (using CLEAN hands) whenever your tattoo feels dry.
For the first 3-4 weeks you will have to avoid the sun, the beach, and swimming pools. Submerging your tattoo in water or exposing it to the sun will destroy it. Showers are fine! Just no soaking.
During the healing process your tattoo may itch as it heals. Do NOT scratch or pick at it. Gently patting at it should alleviate the itching. Allow any scabs to fall off naturally on their own. DO NOT pick or pull at them.
A tattoo heals much like a sunburn so try to wear loose fitting clothing while it’s healing. Anything rubbing against it will irritate it resulting in a longer healing time. If you have pets, you may want to cover your tattoo with a non-stick pad or bandage while you sleep to protect it from getting their fur/hair caught in it.
Click here to download &save the PDF!