After Care Instructions

Getting a tattoo is easy, whilst some times taking care of it after the procedure is the difficult task at hand. Regardless if it’s your first or your 50th tattoo, aftercare is ever changing with new updates in technique, applications, and materials. Please read carefully through the instructions below to ensure the best heal for your new tattoo.

Film Bandage Aftercare

  1. Leave your Saniderm Bandage for five days, or as long as it remains FULLY adhered to the procedure area. Saniderm is a water RESISTANT bandage, do not submerge in water (No tubs, hot tubs, pools, or anything else that submerges the procedure area. Showering is fine.) It is common to have fluid build up underneath the surface. This looks unsettling to see, but trust that this is normal and your body will absorb the remaining plasma and pigment in a few days!

  2. After 4-5 days, your bandage is ready to be removed! I recommend highly that you remove it in the shower, let the warm water run over it and lift the BOTTOM edge to get a starting point. DO NOT JUST PEEL IT OFF!!! Gently pull the point you had lifted away from the skin downward, stretching the bandage as if you are removing a command strip from a wall. This is important so that you do not dislodge any remaining scabs, and result in a loss of pigment.

  3. Once your bandage is removed, you will want to wash your tattoo with mild, antibacterial soap. Soft soap has a great plain, unscented soap that can be purchased at most stores. I recommend the clear, or the orange soap. Making sure your hands are clean prior to touching your tattoo, make a lather in your hands with your soap and apply; gently massaging the tattoo and surrounding area. LET AIR DRY, DO NOT USE A TOWEL OR PAPER TOWEL TO DRY IT! Allowing the air drying will let the body absorb that moisture.

  4. Finally, you are at the end of your healing cycle, you may notice your tattoo is seemingly healed, but not yet. It takes around 3-4 weeks for a tattoo to fully settle and heal. Your skin will still be sensitive during this time. When you notice you are dry, apply PLAIN, UNSCENTED WHITE LOTION any time you notice it’s dry. Be sure to stay out of sun, and after 2 weeks you can begin applying sunscreen to your tattoo (wait longer if you notice any abrasions still, this just means you need more healing time.)

Open Air Healing (no covering

  1. Once your tattoo has been completed, you were given a temporary bandage. This bandage is to stay on no longer than an hour. Once this bandage is removed DO NOT RE-COVER YOUR TATTOO. From here out you will leave it in the open air. Covering the tattoo once this beginning bandage is removed you are risking; irritation, tattoo damage, possible infection, and cross contamination. DO NOT COVER AGAIN, of you have a concern and not sure what to do please reach out I’ll be happy to help you!

  2. Once you removed your temporary bandage that was covering you when you left the studio, you can wash it for the first time with antibacterial soap that is dye and fragrance- free.

  3. Let your tattoo AIR DRY for 30-40 minutes, don’t use a towel or anything to dry it let your skin absorb that moisture!

  4. For the first 3-5 days you may or may not experience scabbing, peeling, dry skin. Whilst you still are scabbing, use Aquaphor or similar products. Rub in an EXTREMELY thin layer of the ointment over the tattoo until there is no shine. If you have excess ointment on the surface you applied too much.

  5. After that first week you a switch to Plain, Unscented White lotion. Do this until your tattoo is healed and even after there is no signs of being an open wound!

  6. SUNSCREEEEEEEEEN. Aftercare does not stop after it’s healed and settled you will not be taking care of it for your whole life! The more love into caring for your skin the longer your tattoo will stay bold and vibrant!