NOTE - Every artist has their own aftercare recommendations. Your artist will provide you with instructions and an aftercare card the day of your appointment. 

HERE ARE THE GENERAL AFTERCARE INSTRUCTIONS

First, determine what wrap your artist used: 

SECOND SKIN: If you are sent home with an aftercare bandage like Saniderm, Recovery, etc. (clear plastic sticker thing) then leave it on for a few days (3-5). This type of wrap is water resistant so you can shower with it on but still avoid baths, hot tubs, or bodies of water until your tattoo is healed.  You may get a goopy black/brown substance under the wrap.. this is the excess plasma and ink that normally oozes out in the first few days. It looks a little gross but ignore it, it won’t hurt your tattoo. 

Take off early if: water or sweat gets trapped under or if it peels up over the tattoo.  When removing, it is recommended to take it off in a warm shower. Continue to next steps when it has been removed.

CLING WRAP/NO WRAP: – If you are sent home with cling wrap on your tattoo take it off in 2-4 hours – or before you go to bed (if not sweaty or sliding off) do not rewrap. 

AFTER BANDAGE REMOVAL:

1. Wash the tattoo gently with your hands – do not scrub with anything, no loofas.

2. Use unscented mild soap (if wanted not required, lukewarm water is just fine).

3. Pat dry with a clean towel- don’t rub.

4. Let tattoo breathe for a few hours (meaning don’t moisturize). If you removed the bandage at night, just go to bed.

5. Clean one more time after letting it breathe with lukewarm water.

6. Use an unscented full body lotion – Hustle Butter or mad rabbit soothing gel is great, or shea/cocoa butter.

   1. NO FACE/HAND/FOOT CREAMS OR SERUMS. NO RAW OILS. PLAIN UNSCENTED FULL BODY LOTION, OR PURCHASE AFTERCARE FROM US DIRECTLY.

   Continued Care:

   -Clean 1-2 times a day, or as needed (if you get sweaty, dirty, etc. use common sense please).

   -Moisturize 2-3 times daily or as needed if you get dry/itchy.

   Avoid until healed: Pools, baths, hot tubs, any standing water – showers are fine. Also avoid wearing abrasive clothing or jewelry on tattoo. Avoid scratching, picking, or touching your tattoo with unclean hands.. picking and scratching WILL cause healing issues and ink loss. Avoid sun tanning, burning, or even exposing a fresh tattoo to sun (when healed use a high SPF sunblock!!}) Remember, a tattoo is an open wound, treat it as so, be careful with touching it on anything, if so wash immediately. 

The scabs will fall off on their own in 1.5-2 weeks.. let them fall off on their own! The tattoo may go through a scabby/ ashy phase. This goes away when fully healed. Once scabs fully fall off (EVERY SINGLE ONE) you don’t need to worry about cleaning it daily, but KEEP MOISTURIZING AS NORMAL.

Tattoos usually take anywhere from 6-8 weeks to fully heal.

Fresh tattoos cannot be touched up, it is recommended to wait 2+ months to touch up a tattoo. Minimum of 1 month required. *Please reach out to your artist about their personal touch up policies*.

​***Each artist has different aftercare preferences based on their tattoo style/method.

PLEASE follow your specific artist’s directions. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to reach out to your artist.. googling aftercare info is not recommended – there’s a lot of misinformation on the internet, and every artist heals their work differently!