INTRO

There are many differences in aftercare suggested to clients out there. This information is for your
personal benefit and may be used, modified, or discarded accordingly to your specific needs. These
aftercare suggestions are not written in stone and are guidelines, not a prescribed course of care. I
cannot be responsible for your actions, nor are these guidelines a sure fire way of avoiding trouble
during your healing period. I make no guarantees written or implied, you are free to do with this
information as you wish at your own risk. You are responsible for your own tattoo
aftercare.

Please keep in mind that healing time and degrees of trauma recovery vary greatly depending on
many factors. Examples are an individual person’s skin type and immune system, the tattoo
applied, the artist applying the tattoo, equipment and inks used, and of course degree of aftercare.
Remember, what works for someone else, may not work for you. Use common sense and
good hygiene and you’ll be OK.

TATTOO CARE INSTRUCTIONS

1. Remove bandage before going to bed the day of your tattoo and begin aftercare. If your
session is late in the evening, you can leave the bandage on until morning.
2. a: Wash 3 times per day with a mild soap (Provon, Dial Antibacterial, nothing with
perfume) and warm water. Dry around the tattoo with a paper towel and let the tattoo air dry.
b: Once the tattoo is dry, use the cream provided in a small amount and rub it in like you
would lotion. A little goes a long way. Make sure to not apply cream too thick and greasy. Too
much ointment is not good. Pores will suffocate and may cause skin to breakout. Too much
grease will trap dust and bacteria which may cause a skin infection. I prefer Bepanthen
Ointment from England. Bacitracin or Neosporin Cream (not ointment) or Emu Oil.
c: Cover with plastic wrap fairly tightly and secure with stretch tape ( you can find at any
pharmacy) for 3 days. If the skin appears open or raw, continue to wrap it until that goes away.
Remove wrap 3 times per day to wash, apply cream and then re-wrap.
3. If you have pets that sleep with you, you may want to wrap the tattoo before bed 1-2 weeks.
 THINGS TO AVOID

1. Avoid soaking the tattoo. Until your tattoo is fully healed, you should avoid swimming
in a pool, in the sea, or even soaking in the bathtub. There are two reasons for this. Firstly,
exposing your tattoo to too much water may draw ink out of your skin and damage the
tattoo’s appearance. Secondly, the water in swimming pools, the sea and the bathtub may
be carrying dirt, bacteria, chemicals and other impurities that could cause your tattoo to
become infected.

It will be completely safe to resume these activities once your tattoo is healed, but for now
you should stick to rinsing your tattoo in the sink or shower.

2. Do not expose your new tattoo to direct sunlight. The harsh rays of the sun may
irritate your skin. For this reason, it is best to keep your tattoo covered and away from the
sun for at least 3 to 4 weeks, until the initial healing is complete (Do not wear sunscreen
until wound is completely healed).

After that, you will still need to protect your tattoo by wearing a minimum of SPF 30. This
will prevent your tattoo from fading in the sun, keeping the colors true for longer.

3. Do not scratch or pick at your tattoo. As it heals, your tattoo will begin to scab. This
is normal, and the scabs should be allowed to dry out and fall off by themselves. Do not try
to help the process along by picking at the scabs. This may cause the scabs to fall off
prematurely, leaving holes or light spots on your tattoo.

If your hands or nails are unclean, you may also cause the tattoo to become infected. You
should always wash your hands with anti-bacterial soap before touching your tattoo and
you should never allow anyone else to touch it while it heals.

Dry, scabbing, or peeling skin can become very itchy, but scratching at your tattoo may also
cause scabs to fall off. You can relive itching by slapping the tattoo with the flat of your
hand, or by rubbing in a little lotion.

4. After you are done with the plastic barrier, avoid wearing tight or restrictive
clothing on the area with your new tattoo.. As your tattoo heals, it will seep plasma and
excess ink, which may cause the clothing to stick to the tattoo. The clothing will then be
painful to remove and may rip off any freshly formed scabs.
 In addition, tight clothing will prevent enough oxygen from getting to your tattoo, and
oxygen is essential for the healing process. Tight clothing may rub on your tattoo and will
cause your body to protect itself and form scar tissue.

Avoid fluffy clothing as the fluff can get into your tattoo and cause infection.

5. Avoid working out. Tattoos covering large surface areas, or those that are near joints
(such as elbows and knees), may take longer to heal if the skin is forced to move around too
much during intense workouts or other physical activity. The movement will cause the skin
to crack and become irritated, prolonging the tattoos healing process. Also, exposure to
bacteria at gyms and exercise classes can be a risk with an open wound. For these reasons,
you should avoid unnecessary workouts for at least a few days after getting a new tattoo.

If you're involved in a self-defense class like karate or kickboxing, you may want to warn
your classmates so they can avoid hitting you in the wrong place.

If you work in a job that involves physical activity, such as construction or dance, you may
want to consider having your new tattoo done on a Friday, so it will have the whole
weekend to heal before your go back to work.

6. Avoid swelling. Swelling may occur with new tattoos on your feet, ankles or calves,
especially if you have been standing for long periods of time. If this happens, you can
reduce swelling by taking on Ibuprofen, applying an ice pack to the swollen area and
elevating your feet and legs.

TIPS
• Don't shave the tattoo until it's fully healed. If you shave around it, don't let the shaving
cream or hair irritate or infect the tattoo.
• Avoid using saunas and steam rooms while your tattoo is healing, as the moisture may
draw pigment from the skin.
• Beware of your Pets. Pets bring many potential dangers to tattoo aftercare. Hair, dander,
drool, urine and feces all present very real dangers to your home environment while
healing any injury. Things can go sour very fast, infections are real. Be aware of your
surroundings. Clean and disinfect all potential areas you may come in contact with pet
hair and waste. Minimize direct contact with your pet for at least 1 week after getting
tattooed.
• Ice down your poor injured skin while your tattoo is still bandaged. This will bring down
swelling, soreness and over all discomfort. Your skin will thank you for it. You can also ice
 down the tattoo the following days when you have some down time. Just wrap your tattoo
with clean saran wrap and ice over protective film. Wash tattoo afterward.
• Avoid alcoholic beverages. The rumors are true. Alcohol does thin your blood and raise your
heart rate. It may be possible to start bleeding again days after being tattooed due to
alcohol consumption. For best results, it is advised to abstain from alcohol days before, day
of, and days after being tattooed to ensure your immune system is strong and your blood
will be healthy to do its job of healing your skin.
• A healthy diet and plenty of water. Your tattoo is now a part of your skin and a part of you.
Health starts from within. Proper nutrition and hydration are key to recovering quickly
and with less chances of something going wrong..

WARNINGS

• Even after your tattoo has healed, it may feel a little bumpy. This is because the ink still
needs to "settle." This varies with the individual and can be anywhere from a few weeks to a
few months.