Aftercare

Cling Wrap

Step 1: Keep the cling wrap on for least 2-4 hours. 

Step 2: When you remove it, do so in the shower or under running water in a sink.  

Step 3: Soap up the area with unscented, antibacterial pump soap.  Unscented because scented soaps could irritate the skin and cause unnecessary discomfort.  Pump soap because bar soap may have bacteria on it even if it’s new. 

Step 4: Rinse the area of all soap and pat dry with a clean paper towel or let it air dry.  Do your best to avoid direct contact with bath towels. 

Step 5: Apply a thin layer of moisturizer.  I will supply you with Vitamin A/D ointment at the end of each session if you want it.  It is the most readily available across common stores and does a good job at healing and maintaining an appropriate amount of moisture for an extended period of time.  

  • Repeat steps 3 thru 5 two times a day.  Once in the morning, then again before bed.  

Keep the area as clean as you can for 2-3 weeks while the wound closes and begins to shed/flake. Watch out for contact with your pets! I love animals more than humans so I get it, but we all know where their mouths have been.

SaniDerm (Second Skin)

Step 1: Leave the bandage on for 2-5 days.  Do not go over 5 days.  If it falls off, or has to come off early, that’s totally okay.  There are 3 common instances where I’d take it off before the fifth day. 

  • If it starts leaking

  • If foreign liquid gets into the bandage

  • If it begins to peel and expose fresh ink to the air.  Slight peeling or fraying around the edges of the bandage is okay - but if it peels further and exposes fresh ink to the air, remove it as soon as you can.

Step 2: When removing, do so under running water.  It could really hurt and damage the skin if peeled off dry. 

Step 3: Soap up the area with unscented, antibacterial pump soap. 

Step 4: Rinse the area of all soap and pat dry with a clean paper towel or let it air dry.  Do your best to avoid direct contact with bath towels. 

Step 5: Apply a thin layer of moisturizer.  I will supply you with Vitamin A/D ointment at the end of each session if you want it.  It is the most readily available across common stores and does a good job at maintaining an appropriate amount of moisture for an extended period of time.  

  • Repeat steps 3-5 for about a week after the second skin is removed.  If it lasted the full 5 days, you’ll notice that it may be pretty much healed.  But if you had to take it off early, you can refer to the Cling Wrap method for how to take care of your tattoo for the next few weeks.

Hard-to-Wrap Areas

Some areas of the body simply cannot be bandaged at the end of the session. Necks, hands, feet, armpits to name a few.

For the aftercare of these places,leave the area uncovered and do not apply any bandages. As soon as you can, rinse the area in the shower or sink with clean water. Use water that is slightly warmer than lukewarm - it will be uncomfortable but will help the area feel better just after it’s rinsed.

Refer to steps 3-5 of the Cling Wrap method to maintain the cleanliness of your new tattoo for the next few weeks.

Products I Use

For the unscented pump soap, I use DIAL. But any brand will do!

For moisturizers, I use Vitamin A/D for the first few weeks and switch to unscented Lubiderm lotion after about a month. VitaliTree is a vegan salve that I love using as well! It keeps the skin moisturized throughout the day really well but isn’t readily available at local drug or department stores.

Blue Lizard Sunscreen SPF 50 is my sunscreen lotion of choice. The best way to protect your tattoos from sun exposure is not to expose them to the sun :) But I understand not everyone is nocturnal like me, so for larger tattoos or sleeves that are at risk for sunburns I always recommend breathable, long sleeve UPF shirts. Amazon has them! If those aren’t an option, any sunscreen above SPF 50 will do just fine with Blue Lizard being the best brand I’ve found so far.