You got your awesome
new tattoo ..... now what?
Apply ice or a cold compress over your freshly covered tattoo.
This will immensely help close your pores, reduce swelling and bodily fluids.
Taking ibuprofen will also help reduce swelling, but that's not required.
Keep second skin on for at least 3-4 days.
It is normal for your tattoo to look a little crazy, as blood and ink are collected underneath the second skin.
Do not freak out. "Ink pouches" are normal and will usually dry up underneath after the first 24 hours.
YES! You can shower with the second skin on,
but scrubbing the area or fully submerging it. It is water resistant, not water proof.
Remove second skin after 3-4 days under warm water in the shower.
Slowly pull sticker up and away from you until it is fully removed.
Lightly wash with unscented antibacterial soap, and pat dry with a clean paper towel or air dry.
Any remaining adhesive will come off on its own. Do not attempt to scrub off.
Click here for recommended soap.
Do not use bar soap, or your usual bathroom towel.
Body towels usually hang out in your bathroom sitting with moisture and hold a world of bacteria.
Using said towel to dry your wound, could lead to potential infection.
Once dry, apply a THIN layer of unscented lotion to moisturize.
Do not use any petroleum based products, such as vaseline or aquaphor.
My personal go to is unscented Lubriderm.
Wash your tattoo before reapplying lotion.
As your skin is healing,
keep your fresh tattoo covered with clean and loose clothing.
You may notice some flakiness or "scabs" appear. DO NOT pick, scratch, pr peel them off.
They will naturally fall off and picking them off will harm your skin and new tattoo.
The healing process will feel very itchy, but it is essential to leave it alone.
If you absolutely cannot stand the itching, my personal favorite product is the Mad Rabbit Soothing Gel.
The pea sized amount goes a long way, and I swear by this product. Use this instead of the lotion, only on freshly cleaned skin.
Wash your tattoo before reapplying gel.
Avoid direct sunlight, and absolutely no pool, gym, beach (aka highly infectious locations) for at least 2 weeks.
Avoid soaking your tattoo for extended period of time. Showers are okay, but no baths if body part gets submerged.
Avoid your pets from licking or rubbing up against the area.
Most of all... REST!!
Taking it easy for the next few days is important for your body to heal itself!!
If you absolutely must work the next day, avoid strenuous tasks or hey, maybe call off.
Your body will thank you.
Once you walk out the studio door, I cannot control what happens to your tattoo.
I will do my best to help and advise as best as I can, however, it is your job as a client to also take care of your fresh tattoo until it heals.
It is easy to forget that your sweet new tattoo is a wound, but make no mistake, all fresh tattoos are open wounds on your body and require a lot of care on your end for the first 2 weeks.
If something doesn't look or feel right within the first week, it is important that you reach out immediately.
Not sure if something what classifies as normal? That's okay, email me.
You think you have a weird question? It's not, email me.
Second guessing something? I promise it's okay to ask, just email me down below.