Caring For Your New Tattoo

All artists have their own opinions on how a new tattoo should be cared for.  Everyone is different, and not everything below might be best suited for you.  If you have a method you’ve used before that works well for you, by all means continue using it!  If something I’ve suggested doesn’t seem to work for you, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me for possible alternatives.

Day 1-2

Leave your new tattoo covered for 1-2 hours.  Wash your hands before removing the wrap.  Using your fingertips and warm soapy water (fragrance-free liquid hand soap is best, you might also try Dr. Bronners baby soap diluted with plenty of water), wash the entire tattoo, removing all traces of plasma, vaseline and/or ink.  Pat dry with a fresh paper towel and apply a VERY thin layer of Bacitracin (first aid ointment).  Rub it in really well and dab any excess off with a paper towel.  If you can see it or feel it, you’ve used too much!  Repeat 2-3x per day.

Note: Bacitracin is an ingredient in Neosporin, however, please don’t use Neosporin, as it has other agents that might affect the ink.  Bacitracin can be found in the same location at the drug store as all other first aid ointments.

Use old but freshly-laundered sheets on your bed and avoid letting fabrics touch your new tattoo as much as possible.  Treat it as you would any other abrasion wound - don’t submerge in water (shower is okay), and avoid lakes, rivers and hot tubs.  Keep pets away from it, but do NOT rebandage it.

Day 3-5

At this point your tattoo may begin to roughen up as the scabs begin forming.  Loose, clean cotton may now be worn over the tattoo.  Continue washing 2-3x per day, followed with a thin layer of Bacitracin.

Day 6 and On

Scabs may begin to fall off, often in the shower, and the tattoo will begin peeling.  Areas of the tattoo might feel tight and pull on the edges, but don’t try to help the scabs along by picking at them - let your skin shed them on it’s own, or you risk pulling the ink out and scarring.  Continue to avoid submerging in water until all scabs have healed.  At this point, switch the Bacitracin out for a light lotion, such as Aveeno, Jergens, Curel or Eucerin.

If your tattoo is still red and painful after a week, please have it checked out by a medical professional.  Watch for swelling and warmth from the area, or any redness radiating away from the tattoo edges.  While uncommon, occasionally infections can occur, and should be treated by a doctor as early as possible.

Your tattoo will take a full month to heal completely, but you’ll see the final result after 10-14 days.  Sometimes things happen - scabs get knocked off, the tattoo gets scratched, or an area had a harder time healing, and an area might lose ink or not heal consistently.  My work is guaranteed for 6 months from the date of the tattoo appointment, so if you see anything unsatisfactory, please reach out and we’ll get you scheduled for a touch-up at no charge!  Past 6 months, I will have to charge the $50 shop minimum.

Remember, everyone is different and tattoos can heal differently from one body to the next, so if you have any questions at all about your healing, please ask!