Information About Your Tattoo

Aftercare Instructions

STEP 1

Wash the plasma (clear slimy fluid) off of the new tattoo at least 2 times per day for the first 2 days using a lather of antibacterial soap. Making a lather is important to dilute the liquid soap, putting the gel directly onto the tattoo is too concentrated and can dry it out. Rinse for 30 seconds to 1 minute under cold running water and gently pat dry with a clean towel or paper towel. With adequate cold water rinses you should not need any lotion for the first day.

STEP 2

On the second day, if needed for comfort, begin to apply a small amount of Curel Original Formula or Fragrance Free Lotion. Use only once or twice per day. Gently rub the lotion in completely. Use cold water rinses as an alternative to more lotion. You can rinse right after applying lotion. Do not use Curel "Ultra Healing" lotion, (it has citric acid in the formula, it will sting.)

After a week or so, when the tattoo has almost entirely flaked or peeled (if it does at all) it will have a shiny, tissue paper look. At this stage the tattoo may look lighter and/or not as crisp and bold. This is when you start massaging the Curel lotion into the tissue 2 – 3 times a day. The act of massage stimulates the regeneration of the skin cells. Do not just smother the tattoo in a layer of lotion. Always allow the skin to absorb the lotion and breathe for a few hours before putting more on.

STEP 3

Do not pick or scratch the tattoo. Leave any scabs or dry skin flakes alone. Wash them gently and when applying lotion; dab the lotion on them and carefully massage around them to prevent tearing them off.

Never wear tight clothes on a healing tattoo, they can chafe the ink away and prevent the skin from breathing.

Moisturizing a healing tattoo is a delicate art. Do not over moisten the tattoo or neglect it until it is super dry. Read your skin. Tight, dry, cracking skin is over dry. Gooey, oily skin and/ or a halo of pimples around the tattoo indicates over moisture. Remember cold water rinses for 30 seconds are a great hydrating alternative to too much lotion.

Usually day 1 – 2 the tattoo looks great and just needs washing and rinsing. Day 3 – 5 it will dull over, crust a little, or scab. After about 5-9 days the scab or dry skin will begin to flake off leaving the shiny, foggy, tissue paper look. (Flakes or scabs have ink in them when they come off so don't be alarmed.) After days 10 – 21 of massaging with lotion, the tattoo should look solid, bold, bright and beautiful. The average total healing time is 2 – 4 weeks. Healing times can be significantly longer for some people who still heal well. If you have any questions, call or come into the shop.

“Second Skin” style bandages aftercare:

- After we apply the first bandage, we recommend leaving it on your new tattoo until the NEXT MORNING. Do not remove the bandage before the next morning. If there is leaking from the edges of the bandage (usually a clear slimy fluid called plasma), you can simply wipe it off with a clean paper towel. The bandage may be peeling up a little from the liquid. Leave it on until morning if possible.
- The next morning after you were tattooed, carefully and slowly remove the first bandage. It helps to remove while running warm water over the bandage and peel along the skin. Try not to pull directly away from the skin for your comfort. The bandage should come off the tattoo easily, but it may be more adhered to the bare skin around the tattoo. Peel gently.
- After removing the bandage, wash the tattooed area with warm water and a lather of LIQUID ANTI-BACTERIAL SOAP. We recommend Dial Foaming soap. If using a liquid gel soap that does not foam up out of the bottle on its own, make a lather in your hands to dilute it before washing the tattoo with it. Then rinse the tattoo with cold water for 30 seconds to a minute. Let the area dry for 10-15 minutes. After letting it dry put on a clean pair of gloves. Pat the tattoo with a clean dry paper towel to ensure it is completely dry.
- While wearing the clean gloves, carefully apply the new “Second Skin” style bandage we provided. First crack and peel the paper side off. DO NOT let the sticky side touch itself! Press the sticky bandage onto the tattoo from the center and rub it from middle to the outer edges to flatten out any air bubbles. If it does have some air bubbles still, it is ok. Peel the top plastic layer off at the marked seams. If you need multiple pieces, overlap them by about 1/2 inch to 1 inch. The new bandage may be left on the tattoo for 5-7 days! It is breathable and waterproof. You should be able to shower and be normally active with it. If you exercise intensely or for any other reason sweat profusely enough that sweat builds up in pockets under the bandage, remove it. Either come get another one from us or go to the reverse side of this sheet and use the “Original Aftercare” method.
- After the 5-7 days remove the bandage and wash the tattoo clean with the same steps above.
- Apply lotion (we recommend Curel Original or Fragrance Free) 2-3 times a day for the 2nd-4th week. Rub the lotion in gently but thoroughly with clean hands. Usually the shiny or foggy look will go away within these weeks to reveal the fully solid, healed tattoo look.
- IF THE BANDAGE CAUSES SEVERE IRRITATION, REMOVE IT IMMEDIATELY! Wash the tattoo as instructed and follow the aftercare instructions on the back of this sheet. Severe irritation would include: blistering around the edges of the bandage, persistent redness and serious discomfort. Pinkness and slight swelling during the first couple days is normal from the tattoo process but usually subsides. Blistering means remove it and do not re apply. Go to the “Original Aftercare” method found on the reverse side of this form in that case.

Deposit Policy

We require a $100 deposit per person for all tattoo appointments. This deposit is non-refundable, but not additional. The deposit comes off of the total tattoo cost or the last sitting on larger tattoos. If you cancel your appointment, you will forfeit your deposit. Repeating this process will require you to prepay for future appointments.

YOU MUST MAKE IT TO YOUR SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT IN ORDER TO USE YOUR DEPOSIT.