Tattoo Aftercare

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Aftercare Instructions

The Bandage: 
A sterile piece of Plastic wrap is placed over your new tattoo. This is to help protect the wound from any dust or germs you might encounter throughout the rest of your day and also gives your pores a chance to close up a little.. Your artist will give you a suggested time to remove the bandage. Anywhere from 3 to 24 hours.

Once you have removed the plastic wrap, wash your tattoo with mild soap and warm water, use your finger tips to gently massage

any excess Vaseline or ink off the skin.. There may also be some dry blood or water excretions, this is completely normal. Once you have rinsed off all the soap, pat your tattoo dry using a paper towel..Cloth towels can hold bacteria.

NEVER RE-WRAP YOUR TATTOO! 

Apply Ointment: Now that your new tattoo is cleaned up and your pores are settling down, it is time to take care of your skin and help it heal as quickly as possible.

Apply a thin layer of tattoo ointment 3-4 times a day.. This is a personal preference and differs from person to person. You want to promote healing! Too much ointment will clog pores and could also collect bacteria, too little ointment and your skin will get very dry.

**Remember to wash your hands before applying the lotion.

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There are many different products you can use to help your skin to heal. They range from high tech ointments to simple hand lotions.. It is all just personal preference. Just be sure that what ever you use that it DOES NOT Contain Antibiotics. These could fade the ink in your new tattoo.. Human Kanvas  recommends H2Ocean Aftercare.

You are going to have friends tell you to use Neosporin, Polysporin or Bacitracin. Don't do it!. They are antibiotics, and they have no healing value unless there is infection present. You will need them if you introduce dirt or germs into the tattoo, but for normal healing you want a moisturizer.

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Rules Rules Rules!

During healing your tattoo will flake and peel (Similar to a sun burn). This flaking is normal. Allow the dry skin to fall off naturally. Do not pick or pull it off.

No direct sunlight for 2-3 weeks. The sun is a major cause of new tattoos looking blurred. Use Sunblock!

No soaking in water, no swimming, hot tubs, or direct shower water beating on it for 2-3 weeks. Of course you can keep clean, but if the healing bit soaks up water it will be like going swimming when you were a kid and had a scab. Remember how the waterlogged scab would float away.......there goes your new tattoo! Seriously!

If it does get wet in the shower, gently pat it dry , don't rub at it with a towel. Then immediately after getting dried off re-moisturize it.

If you work out, or do contact sports, give it a bit of a break. Contact abrasions could knock off the healing skin, or in a gym worry about over-straining delicate perforated tissue and getting a stretch mark, or touching a piece of sweat-contaminated workout equipment with an open raw area..... wait a couple of weeks.

If your tattoo is itchy apply ointment or cream.Do not scratch or pick at it as you could tear the new skin which is protecting your ink!

Do your best to restrict clothing on your fresh ink. Contact abrasions could knock off the healing skin, It is up to you to protect your investment!

**For information purposes only. This does not provide or replace medical advice**