Tattoo Aftercare
Follow the instructions of your tattoo artist and these instructions to heal your tattoo successfully. Please contact your artist if you have any questions about the healing process.
Traditional Healing
Your fresh tattoo will be bandaged and should remain that way for 2 hours (minimum) to 8 hours (maximum).
Don’t remove or peel back your bandage to show anyone; the bandage is there to keep your tattoo clean and minimize the risk of infection. Unbandaging your tattoo in public is unsanitary and can affect healing negatively.
- Before removing the bandage, clean your hands, sink, and surrounding area.
- Carefully remove the bandage.
- Wash the tattoo using your fingertips in a gentle circular motion with cool/lukewarm water and antibacterial, unscented soap (like Dial). This will help remove dried ink and blood.
- DO NOT PICK ANYTHING OFF YOUR TATTOO
- Gently pat the tattoo dry with a clean paper towel.
- Apply a small amount of a rich, UNSCENTED lotion (Hustle Butter, A&D Ointment, Lubriderm, Eucerin, etc.).
- Use a small enough amount to give a slight shine to your tattoo, don’t goop it on.
- Clean and lotion your tattoo a minimum of 2 times a day for the next 2 weeks.
- Apply lotion as needed throughout the day (no more than 10 times a day).
While your tattoo is healing it’s common to have irritation because it’s an open wound with a high risk of infection if not treated properly. Some redness and irritation are to be expected and it’s important to know the difference between irritation and infection.
IRRITATION includes slight redness around the tattoo site, soreness, and weeping blood or plasma (red or clear mixed with ink colors from the tattoo). As long as you’re keeping your tattoo clean and hydrated, the healing process should go smoothly.
INFECTION comes with symptoms such as fever, viscus pus (green or yellow), and extreme redness spreading far beyond the tattoo area. If you have any questions or concerns, please visit our shop or email your artist with photos so we can advise further steps. If you have an extreme or prolonged reaction to the tattoo procedure and have an indication of infection of the skin or tissue, consult a health care professional.
Tips to protect your tattoo during the healing process
- Avoid pools and/or hot tubs
- Don’t go tanning or use a sauna
- No baths or swimming in lakes
- Avoid sun exposure
- Don’t pick or scratch (slap the area lightly if the tattoo gets itchy)
Keep your tattoo as clean as possible and use common sense. If you have any questions, please reach out to your artist. If they’re unavailable, feel free to email us, info@weirdink.com
Some medical professionals are not familiar with the tattoo healing process. The goal is to heal the tattoo as gently as possible to keep it looking good. If you have any questions, contact your artist first!
2nd-Skin Healing
2nd skin products (Recovery Derm Shield, Saniderm, View-Gaurd, Tatu-Derm, etc.) are medical-grade, breathable, waterproof tattoo bandages that can stay on the tattoo for more of the healing process than traditional bandages.
Keep the first bandage on from 3 to 24 hours, depending on how much the wound is weeping.
Replace within 24 hours (Optional).
- Some fluid buildup (plasma/blood/lymph fluid) is fine during the healing process.
- Remove the first bandage if there’s excessive fluid buildup (leaking or if it looks like it might pop).
- If you remove the first bandage after approximately 24 hours, you may apply a second bandage or follow the Traditional Healing steps.
Keep the second bandage on for 2-6 days – the full 6 days is ideal. If the skin appears irritated, has excessive fluid buildup, or the bandage is coming off, it’s okay to remove the bandage sooner than 6 days.
Do not reapply any more bandages after the scabbing/flaking phase of tattoo healing has begun. If your bandage is off during this phase, make sure to keep the area thoroughly (but lightly) moisturized. To remove adhesive residue from the skin, coconut oil and baby oil are helpful.
Removing 2nd Skin
- Find an edge of the bandage and pull it back over itself in the direction of hair growth.
- The shower is the ideal place to remove 2nd skin.
- Running water and soap will help loosen the adhesive and relax the skin, making the removal much more comfortable.
- Use coconut oil or baby oil if the adhesive is doesn’t loosen enough with water.
- Dry removal of Saniderm may cause discomfort and added trauma to the skin.
- Discard the used bandage and gently wash the tattoo with a mild unscented soap (like Dial). Allow the tattoo to air dry or pat dry with a clean towel. apply a thin layer of unscented aftercare product to your tattoo (Hustle Butter, Lubriderm, Eucerin, etc).
- Once the final bandage has been removed, continue caring for the tattoo by washing and moisturizing as needed, until the tattoo is fully healed.
While your tattoo is healing it’s common to have irritation because it’s an open wound with a high risk of infection if not treated properly. Some redness and irritation are to be expected and it’s important to know the difference between irritation and infection.
IRRITATION includes slight redness around the tattoo site, soreness, and weeping blood or plasma (red or clear mixed with ink colors from the tattoo). As long as you’re keeping your tattoo clean and hydrated, the healing process should go smoothly.
INFECTION comes with symptoms such as fever, viscus pus (green or yellow), and extreme redness spreading far beyond the tattoo area. If you have any questions or concerns, please visit our shop or email your artist with photos so we can advise further steps. If you have an extreme or prolonged reaction to the tattoo procedure and have an indication of infection of the skin or tissue, consult a health care professional.
Tips to protect your tattoo during the healing process
- Avoid pools and/or hot tubs
- Don’t go tanning or use a sauna
- No baths or swimming in lakes
- Avoid sun exposure
- Don’t pick or scratch (slap the area lightly if the tattoo gets itchy)
Keep your tattoo as clean as possible and use common sense. If you have any questions, please reach out to your artist. If they’re unavailable, feel free to email us, info@weirdink.com
Some medical professionals are not familiar with the tattoo healing process. The goal is to heal the tattoo as gently as possible to keep it looking good. If you have any questions, contact your artist first!