General Information

• When washing your tattoo, use an unscented, antibacterial liquid (not bar) soap.

• Always wash your hands before and after touching your tattoo while it’s healing.

• It’s best to use fresh bed sheets and towels while your tattoo is healing. Paper towels are great for drying your tattoo.

• During and after showering, remember “wash last, dry first.” This will make sure no dirty water is running over your tattoo after it’s been cleaned.

• Use a simple, unscented lotion or tattoo ointment for tattoo healing. Apply a thin layer with clean hands multiple times a day. It is important that you keep the skin moisturized, but don’t suffocate the tattoo under a thick layer of lotion or ointment. The tattoo needs to breathe! Avoid products that contain petroleum (such as aquaphor), alcohol, fragrance, or sulfates.

• Do not let anything rub directly on your tattoo while it’s healing. Wear loose clothes, and avoid wearing jewerly or accessories that could cause friction against your tattoo.

• Do not pick, or scratch your tattoo. Peeling and itching are normal and to be expected, keeping the tattoo properly moisturized helps. You can slap it to help relieve some of the itching if it’s really bothering you!

• Avoid direct sunlight on your tattoo, and do not submerge your tattoo in water, such as in the bath or swimming.

• Do not apply sunscreen, perfume, or any other products aside from your tattoo aftercare until the tattoo is healed.

• It is best to avoid sweating excessively or engaging in activities that will cause a lot of friction or bending of the tattoo area. If you get sweaty, be sure to wash your tattoo, and apply your lotion or ointment afterwards.

With Adhesive Bandage

• After the first 24 hours, if you have been instructed to do so, or if there is any fluid (sweat, blood, plasma, ink) buildup under the bandage, remove your bandage, wash the tattoo, and replace it with the second one provided.

• When removing the bandage, do so dry, not under running water. Pull it away from your skin and let it release slowly, like removing a Command strip. You can use a little coconut oil or tattoo ointment worked into the seam as you pull it away from your skin to help the adhesive release. Once the bandage is removed, wash the tattoo with warm water and liquid antibacterial soap.

• The bandage can typically stay on for around 5 days. Take it off sooner if the wrap starts lifting and showing the tattoo, if sweat or fluid builds up under the wrap and doesn’t reabsorb within a few hours, or if it starts to feel dry, itchy, or uncomfortable. If none of these things occur and the bandage is still comfortable, you can leave it on for up to 7 days.

• If you take the wrap off within the first 3 days, wash 2-3 times a day, until the 4th day. Apply a thin layer of ointment/lotion after each wash, and continue to moisturize it multiple times a day until the tattoo has healed.

• Allergies to adhesive bandages are common. I advise to avoid using it if you have had adhesive allergies in the past to avoid potential skin irritation. If you do notice signs of allergy, such as redness, itching, or rash, remove the bandage, clean the tattoo, apply your lotion or ointment, and take an antihistamine. Please reach out to me to let me know if this happens!

• If you have been wrapped with saran wrap, take it off 1-3 hours after leaving the shop. Wash your tattoo, and apply your lotion/ointment. Do NOT wrap it with saran wrap again.

• If you have been wrapped with tattoo armor, take the wrap off after 6-8 hours, wash your tattoo, apply your lotion/ ointment, and put on your second bandage. You can leave it on until the next morning. If you go to bed within 6 hours of getting your tattoo, wear the bandage applied at the shop to bed, and change it in the morning instead. That one can stay on for another 6-8 hours. Afterwards remove it, wash the tattoo, and apply your tattoo lotion/ointment.

• Wash your tattoo 2-3 times a day (more if anything touches or gets on it). Apply lotion/ointment after each wash, and then multiple throughout the day as well.

• If you have concerns about your tattoo being covered for work, but are unable to wear an adhesive bandage, you can use more tattoo armor, or place gauze over the tattoo while you are working. Wash and apply ointment/lotion before and after using the gauze.

Product Reccomendations:

• For drug store soaps, Dial gold hand soap, or Castile soap diluted 1 part soap to 3 parts water, work well.

• For drug store lotions, Eucerin, Cetaphil, and Cerave are good options.

• My favorite drugstore product is sold at Natural Grocers and Good Earth, it’s called Egyptian Gold Butter!

• Our local tattoo supply store here in Ogden has a great range of tattoo aftercare products to browse as well!

• Great ingredients to keep an eye out for when looking at balms include: shea butter, cocoa butter, jojoba oil, vitamin e, honey, beeswax, bee propolis, royal jelly, and coconut oil. Bonus if they include herbs like yarrow, calendula, comfrey, lavender, and chamomile, which are great for wound healing.