Tattoo Aftercare

Congratulations on your new tattoo

Every tattoo will heal differently. Black and grey may heal faster than full colour tattoos. Linework will heal faster than shading or colour, and also since we are all unique people, some people heal faster than others. Some locations bend and move more than others, while some are in areas that don’t see much light, and other spots are exposed to the environment.

Also, each tattooer has a slightly different way they like to heal their tattoos. This process is built on the aftercare process that was passed down to me, improved on, and personally tested. I have seen the best results using this process, and will continue updating throughout the years, striving for the best tattoos possible.

Day Zero

You've just been tattooed. At this point you may feel tired, and ready for a nap.

• Have a snack

• Take your time getting home

• When you get home, have a good meal, and avoid alcohol.

• Elevate your limb and/or putting some ice wrapped in plastic and a towel can help bring the swelling down.

Day One & Two

In the morning, make sure you have a bit extra time for yourself. It's best to have a day off today if possible. Head to the bathroom, and run a warm shower, but not hot. Wash your hands first.

• Take your bandage off and throw it away. If you have a clear adhesive bandage such as Saniderm, taking this off in the shower is sometimes easier.

• Spray some Bactine on the tattoo before washing. This antiseptic spray has Lidocaine in it. The Lidocaine will reduce pain, and make washing the tattoo more comfortable.

• Get a good lather of unscented soap on both hands and avoid applying soap directly to the tattoo.

• Wash your tattoo with your hands, your goal being to remove any blood or plasma thats on the surface of the tattoo. Whatever is on the surface should dissolve away with the warm soapy water, but spots that have dried a bit, just need to continue to be gently massaged until they dissolve away as well. My best comparison is like washing dried ketchup on a plate, if you just let it absorb some moisture it will dissolve away easily.

Don't spend a long time in the shower, you do not want to soak the tattoo. The shower is meant for a good, but quick wash. Soaking in the shower or bath with a fresh tattoo is not what the skin needs right now, it needs to dry out.

• When you get out of the shower, pat the tattoo dry with a fresh clean towel.

• If you are super keen to heal your tattoo like a champion, take a blow drier set to cold, or a fan, and dry your tattoo with the blowing air. The idea behind this is that it helps dry the skin, improve clotting thus reducing how much the tattoo might seep, and speed up the healing process. I've noticed a faster heal with this extra tidbit, and also returned to normal feeling skin faster. Generally from here, I plan on spending as much time of my first day with the tattoo exposed to the air so it can dry out. If you do need to go out, wear clean loose fitting clothing.

It’s normal to have red inflamed skin, to see bruising, and for the tattoo to be very sensitive.

Day Three To Finish (Up to Day 14)

On the third day, things change in the healing process a bit. I still wash the tattoo in the shower, but at this point, if I have been diligent about washing any blood or plasma off on day one and two, I shouldn't have anything left on the surface. However, if I do, I no longer want to try to dissolve that spot with warm soapy water, and just let the tattoo heal the way it would like to heal. It's important not to pick at the tattoo as things will start to really dry out at this point.

You can now start to moisturize your tattoo. I use an all natural baby moisturizer, as its designed for really sensitive skin, and will allow the tattoo to breathe. I avoid using vaseline/petroleum jelly. A small amount goes a really long way, if anything most people over moisturize. So I mostly only use moisturizer once a day after my shower. The tattoo will continue to dry out, and the start flaking like a sunburn. It will be itchy, but make the effort to not scratch it. Once it's completely flaked off, you'll have new skin that is still healing but is at the point where you can return to sports, swimming, and longer showers.

Do’s & Don’ts

Do's

• Take time off after getting tattooed.

• Cover your tattoo in the sun, use sunscreen if you can’t. I use SPF 50 or more.

• Plan vacations around healing times, avoid getting tattooed right before your vacation.

Don'ts

• Go swimming at all. Pools, hot tubs, baths, saunas, steam rooms, all will oversaturate your tattoo while it's healing, and expose it to infection. Soaking a tattoo won’t be good.

• Go to the gym and get sweaty, or plan on playing hockey or sports until at least the first layer of skin has flaked off. (Around a week). Sweat, and bacteria, will affect how the tattoo heals.