Tattoo aftercare:
  1. Remove bandage after 1-2 hours, wash your hands, and then wash your tattoo with warm soapy water. Use your fingers, not a washcloth or sponge, as these harbor outside bacteria that you don't want in your tattoo. Lightly pat dry with a clean paper towel, and then allow it to get some air for a few minutes.

  2. Apply a VERY THIN layer of A&D ointment, and lightly blot off any excess ointment with a paper towel. You want to use just enough for it to stay moist... it should be just barely shiny. It is very importnat that you do not put on too much ointment, as it can easily smother your tattoo, and this will cause scabbing and color loss. You want it to stay protected and moist, but allow it to breath as well.

  3. Re-apply a new layer of ointment 3 or 4 times a day for the next 3 days. Make sure to wash off the old ointment(after washing your hands!), and give it a few mintues the dry before putting on a new layer.

  4. After 3 days of using ointment, switch to a white, unscented hand lotion and use that for another 2 weeks... Lubriderm, Vaseline Intensive Care, and Curel are good choices. Simpler is generally better when it comes to lotion... try to stay away from anything scented or with oatmeal, etc. These additives are unnecessary and can irritate your tattoo.

  5. Around the time you start using lotion, your tattoo will start to peel like a sunburn, except in color. This is normal... it is just dead skin flaking off, not your tattoo. DO NOT PICK, SCRATCH OR RUB YOUR TATTOO at this stage. Keep using lotion to help with any itching. If you did not take care of your tattoo well enough for the first few days, there may be some scabbing at this stage as well. In this case make EXTRA sure not to puck or scratch or really touch it in any way other than washing it off or putting lotion on.

  6. Once your tattoo is done flaking, it is mostly healed and you can go in water and the sun again (with sunblock.). HOWEVER, you will want to allow another 1-2 weeks for the skin to return to normal. Sometimes a tattoo looks a little "hazy" at this stage... That just means the skin has not returned to normal yet. Give it some time and the colors should brighten and settle in a little more.

  7. Even after your tattoo has completely healed, you will want to put a high s.p.f sunblock on your tattoo before going into a tanning booth, or into the sun for more than 15-20 mintues. The sun is by far the #1 worst enemy of tattoos, and WILL fade colors over time. A sunburn can be disastrous.

Things to remember:
  • Always, always, always wash your hands before you touch your healing tattoo. Handwashing by itself reduces the chance of infection by 70%.
  • DO NOT expose your tattoo to direct sunlight or soak it in water for at least 10 days. This will cause complications in healing, almost always resulting in color loss.
  • DO NOT re-bandage your tattoo. It needs air to heal correctly, and bandages can smother it if left on for too long... However, for the first night or two, you may want to put a piece of saran wrap over it before going to bed, as it is common for a fresh tattoo to "ooze" a little the first few days. Just make sure to wash it thoroughly and put a little ointment on it just before you go to bed, and also as soon as you wake up.
  • Different areas of the body sometimes require a little extra care... feet and pubic/inner hip areas are two that are both highly prone to friction from clothes and shoes. Try to wear looser fitting clothes or go barefoot for the first few days, or you can put a piece a saran wrap over for a few hours if changing your clothes isn't an option. You just don't want anything to rub up against it.
  • If are unsure if your tattoo is healing correctly, please do not hesitate to call us and we will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have. DO NOT take medical/healing advice from your friends.