AFTERCARE

Your piece is done — now it's time to take care of it! A fresh tattoo is an open wound, and how you treat it over the next few weeks makes a big difference in how it heals and how good it looks for years to come.

    • Leave the bandage on for at least four hours.

    • Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before touching anything.

    • Gently remove the bandage and wash the tattoo with warm water and a mild, unscented liquid soap — no perfumes, no oils.

    • Pat dry with a clean towel. Don't rub.

    • Keep the tattoo away from pets, and avoid touching it except to clean it.

    • Wash the tattoo twice a day with soap and water.

    • Apply a small amount of plain, unscented white lotion (Lubriderm works great). Avoid perfumes and oils, and don't drown your tattoo in lotion — just a dab will do ya!

    • Around this point your tattoo will start to get scaly and peel. That's normal.

    • It will also get itchy. Do not scratch. Slap or pat it instead.

    • Keep moisturizing.

    • Keep the tattoo out of the sun. UV light ages a tattoo quickly, especially while it's still healing.

    • Once it's fully healed, wear sunscreen over the tattoo whenever it's exposed to keep it looking sharp.

    • No soaking — skip pools, baths, hot tubs, and lakes.

    • No picking or peeling flakes.

    • No tight or abrasive clothing rubbing on the area.

    • No sun exposure.

  • Some redness, swelling, and tenderness are normal in the first few days. If you notice spreading redness, excessive swelling, pus, or a fever, contact your doctor. And if you have any questions about how your tattoo is healing, call or message the shop — we're happy to take a look.