How you care for your tattoo now will last for years. Aftercare is a crucial step in the healing process of your new tattoo. The better you care for your tattoo in the first two weeks, the longer and more vibrant your tattoo will be years from now.

 

1. Remove the bandage applied by your tattoo artist in 4 hours.

2. Wash with hot water and liquid antibacterial hand soap, getting a good lather with your hand, not a sponge. Rinse thoroughly and let it air dry.

3. When the tattoo is completely dry, apply a thin layer of Aquaphor and apply a bandage exactly as your artist had done using plastic wrap and tape.

4. Repeat steps 1 through 3 every 4-6 hours for the next 48 hours. This process might be slightly uncomfortable and inconvenient but it’s a necessary step to help your tattoo heal properly.

5. After 48 hours of the wash and wrap process, wash it again thoroughly and let it air dry. This concludes the wash and wrap process. From this point forward, do not apply any more Aquaphor or bandages to your tattoo. The next 7-10 days will be dry heal.

6. DO NOT GET YOUR TATTOO WET FOR THE NEXT 7 TO 10 DAYS. Your tattoo will peel and flake. This is completely normal. When the peeling and flaking stops, your tattoo is fully healed. DO NOT PICK AT YOUR TATTOO. Let it heal on its own.

7. DO NOT exercise, swim, or get your tattoo wet in the shower during those 7 to 10 days. Sweat can cause an infection and potentially damage your tattoo.

8. If there are no scabs, you can begin using unscented lotion on your tattoo after it is fully healed.

9. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience pain, extreme redness, swelling or pus-like drainage.  

10. When your tattoo is fully healed, be sure to apply plenty of sunblock when going outside. Sun exposure is the most common cause of faded tattoos.

11. If you have any questions or concerns about the way your tattoo is healing, please give us a call at 480-382-9219.

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SecondSkin Aftercare

1. Your artist will place SecondSkin™ on your fresh tattoo at the tattoo studio. In the first 24 hours, there may be a build-up of plasma under the SecondSkin™. This is completely normal.

2. Leave the SecondSkin™ bandage on for at least three days. DO NOT exercise or engage in activity that would make you sweat more than usual during those 3 days. Sweat can cause an infection and potentially damage your tattoo.

3. After at least three days, you can remove the SecondSkin™ bandage. To remove, peel up an edge or corner of SecondSkin™. If this proves difficult, you can attach medical tape to the corner of the film to help lift it. Slowly pull the film off. Do not pull it straight up away from the skin. Instead, pull the film back and across the skin while holding your skin taut. You may experience some redness around the tattoo where SecondSkin™ was applied to the un-tattooed skin. This is also completely normal and may occur with any type of medical adhesive. If you do develop an adverse reaction on the tattoo, discontinue use immediately.

4. Wash with hot water and liquid antibacterial hand soap, getting a good lather with your hand, not a sponge. Rinse thoroughly and let it air dry.

5. When the tattoo is completely dry, apply a thin layer of unscented lotion. Although your tattoo is not fully healed, it's ok to get your tattoo wet at this point. You can apply a thin layer of unscented lotion ONCE A DAY for the next 7 days when healing your tattoo with SecondSkin™.

6. Your tattoo will be fully healed 14 days after removing SecondSkin™.

7. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience pain, extreme redness, swelling or pus-like drainage.  

8. When your tattoo is fully healed, be sure to apply plenty of sunblock when going outside. Sun exposure is the most common cause of faded tattoos.

9. If you have any questions or concerns about the way your tattoo is healing, please give us a call at 480-382-9219.

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