Tattoo After Care
The care you give your tattoo after you get it is as important as any of the other processes
leading up to your big day in the chair. Your tattoo is an investment and a
piece of you. It's your personal statement to the world. Wear it with pride and treat it with
respect and it will last you a lifetime. There are many theories about aftercare. Some seem conflicting
in meathod. The best thing you can do for your tattoo is Know Your Own Body and Follow Your Artist's
Instructions.
Wait two hours before removing the bandage.
After removing the bandage, wash the area with warm soapy water using only your finger tips (do not use
a wash cloth or sponge).
Rinse the area well.
Pat the area dry using a soft, clean towel. Do not drag anything across the tattoo.
Apply a THIN coat of A&D Ointment, Ink Well or H2Ocean Foam over the area. If using A&D you
should only use enough to barely make the tattoo shine. Using too much A&D will smother the tattoo, not allowing it to get
the air it needs causing it to become "spongy " and wet which will prolong healing and cause loss of color. Over use of A&D can
plug pores and cause a rash. This rash is not an infection, it is a reaction to the ointment. If this should happen, wash
the ointment off, pat dry and go to just a good lotion (Curel, Lubriderm, Aveno or Ink Well).
We recommend that you DO Not use Neosporin or triple antibiotic ointments. More people have reactions to these ointments than A&D.
There is a theory that antibiotics applied to tattoos do not mix well with ink because the antibiotic's job is to rib the
body of foreign objects which includes ink pigments. The primary reason though is the percentage of people who have reactions to the
ointments and end up rashes that can be severe.
If you are using A&D only use it for two days, applying it 2 to 3 times a day. Ink Well and H2Ocean Foam can be used through the
whole healing process. After two days switch from the A&D to a good hand lotion without dyes or fragrances such as Lubriderm or Curel.
When you shower gently wash the area, do not use a cloth. Wash it, rinse it and get it away from the water. You do not want to let the water run on it for a long time
or soak it as that can make the "scabs" soft and come off prematurely leading to loss of ink.
If you want to take a tub bath, keep the tattoo above the water. Pat dry with a clean towel and avoid rubbing off "scabs".
Try to keep the tattoo out of the sun and out of tanning beds. No swimming for two weeks. Chlorine is a bleach and during the first
stages of healing will cause damage to the tattoo.
Use common sense and baby your tattoo until it heals.
As your tattoo heals, within a few days it will likely itch as the excess ink and dried body fluids sluff off. DO NOT Scratch it!
Apply a little bit of hand lotion, Ink Well or H2Ocean Foam to help releave the itch.
After your tattoo has healed protect it from the sun and tanning beds with a sunblock with SPF of at least 45 or higher.
We recommend a sunblock stick because they are "Site Specific" and stay on better than sunlotions. You can purchase
sunblock sticks that are water proof, sweat proof, hypoallergenic and fragrance free. They will protect your tattoo while you are active in the sun.