Aftercare and healing

Your new tattoo needs gentle care while it heals. Follow the instructions for the option you chose at your appointment.

Standard Bandage

1. Leave the bandage on until the removal time we gave you.

2. Wash your hands, then gently remove it. If it sticks, wet it with lukewarm water and ease it off.

3. Wash the tattoo with lukewarm water and mild, fragrance-free soap. Gently rub with your fingertips to remove leftover blood, plasma, ink, and ointment. Don’t use a washcloth or scrub hard.

4. Pat it dry with a clean paper towel. Let the tattoo dry out for 1 to 3 days before applying an aftercare product. We’ll help you decide when to start based on your skin and how the tattoo is healing.

Do not put the used bandage back on.

Tegaderm

1. Leave Tegaderm on for 3 to 5 days. Some fluid or ink collecting beneath the film can be normal.

2. If it leaks, peels back enough to expose the tattoo, or causes a significant skin reaction, remove it early. Text us if you’re unsure what to do.

3. To remove it, wash your hands and gently stretch the film along your skin as you peel it back slowly. A warm shower can help loosen the adhesive.

4. Wash the tattoo with lukewarm water and mild, fragrance-free soap. Gently use your fingertips to remove any remaining fluid or ink, then pat it dry with a clean paper towel.

5. We’ll tell you whether your skin needs any dry time before you start your chosen aftercare product.

Do not put lotion or ointment under Tegaderm.

No Bandage

Keep the tattoo away from dirty surfaces and unnecessary touching on your way home. Wash your hands, then gently wash the tattoo with your fingertips when you get home. Pat it dry with a clean paper towel. Let it dry out for 1 to 3 days, as discussed at your appointment, before applying an aftercare product.

Regular Care While Healing

● Wash the tattoo with mild, fragrance-free soap and lukewarm water about twice a day. Use your fingertips to gently remove any buildup so it doesn’t dry onto the tattoo. Pat it dry with a clean paper towel.

● After the dry period, apply a thin layer of the aftercare product you choose. Don’t leave the tattoo coated or greasy.

● Wear clean, loose clothing that won’t rub the area.

● Don’t pick, scratch, or peel flaking skin.

● Avoid baths, pools, hot tubs, and lakes until the tattoo has healed. Keep it out of direct sun while healing.

What’s Normal—and When to Get Help

Some tenderness, mild redness, light oozing, itching, and flaking can be normal. These should improve over time.

Contact a healthcare professional if redness spreads, pain or swelling gets worse, the area feels increasingly hot, you notice pus or a bad odor, or you develop a fever or red streaks. For questions about your bandage or healing,