LEAVE it ALONE

Your artist took the care to cover up your new tattoo for a very good reason - to keep air-born bacteria from invading your wound. Yes, your body considers your new tattoo as a wound

Open flesh is a breeding ground for bacteria and infection. Leave the bandage on for a minimum of two hours.

Remove Bandage

After 2 hours, remove the bandage, If you want to wash your tattoo. Use lukewarm water and mild, liquid antibacterial or antimicrobial soap. Do not use a washcloth or anything abrasive. Your hand is your best tool in this case.

Pat (do not rub) the area firmly with a CLEAN towel or paper towel to get it completely dry.

You MAY see some blood or fluid oozing from the tattoo site. If so Gently wipe it clean with a tissue.

Reapply antibiotic ointment (We recommend using Auquphor), and wait 10-15 minutes to see if more fluid appears. Repeat the blotting and reapply ointment until the oozing stops.

APPLY Aquaphor

Continue to apply THIN coats of Aquaphor 3 times a day for 1-3 days.

Apply a thin layer of aquaphor after the oozing has stopped. Do not bandage your tattoo.

Wear loose cotton clothing over the tattoo site when you go to bed to prevent your new tattoo from sticking to the sheets while you sleep.

Do not re-bandage. Your tattoo needs to breathe now.

Scabbing and Peeling

After a few days, you will notice some peeling and possibly a little scabbing which is normal and there is no need to panic.

Apply warm moist compresses to the scabs for about 5 minutes 2-3 times a day to soften them and they will eventually come off on their own. Don't pick, and don't scratch! If it's peeling, put lotion on it, and if it's scabbing, just leave it alone. Your tattoo is almost healed, and now is not the time to ruin it!.

Apply moisturizing lotion

Apply any unscented moisturizing lotion to the tattoo area after washing. Use lotion frequently but sparingly to keep the area moisturized. Do this for two to three weeks for normal healing.

Avoid Sun and Water

Protect your tattoo from the sun's ultraviolet rays. These can fade and damage a tattoo quickly.

Submerging your tattoo in a bath or hot tub or swimming can cause serious damage, so avoid those for 2-3 weeks, but showering is perfectly fine as long as you don't saturate your tattoo.