After Care

 Pre-care is also important for your tattoo experience. It also plays a vital role in the healing process of your new piece of artwork. Here are some guidelines and tips to help you get started.

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• Hydrate & Moisturize - Making sure you are well hydrated (but not excessively hydrated) plays a major role in the healing process, several factors with your skin, and assists your body in being able to withstand longer tattooing sessions. Making sure to lightly exfoliate and moisturize your skin with a good quality moisturizing lotion/cocoa butter/recommended balm 1-2 weeks leading up to your appointment will also ensure a better outcome for your healing process. 
• Avoid Skin Damage - Use caution a couple weeks prior to your appointment when encountering anything that can potentially damage your skin. For example - sunburns, artificial tanning, chemical peels, etc. Do not shave the area that will be getting tattooed. Your artist will do that for you at your appointment. Doing so prior can result in a rash or irritation. If your skin is burned, damaged, etc. then your artist will be required to reschedule you or turn you away. 
• Do Not Show Up Intoxicated Or Under The Influence - Legally your artist will not be able to tattoo you per state law and they do not want to risk tattooing someone intoxicated for several reasons. Alcohol has a tendency to thin your blood and can cause you to bleed excessively during the tattooing process which is frustrating for the artist and not beneficial to you. 
• Eat Prior To Your Appointment & Bring Snacks - Your body needs food to help fuel your body for the stress receiving a tattoo can put on it. Also, if you are hungry during your appointment, it makes pain management more difficult. If you expect to be there for a long session then it is very beneficial to bring snacks with you, but please be considerate with the type of snacks you bring (nothing overly messy, excessively strong odors, etc.). 
• Choose Proper Attire - Your artist wants you to be as comfortable as possible during your appointment, but some areas of the body require more access during the procedure than areas like your forearm, foot, etc. If you are unsure what would be appropriate for the body part you are getting tattooed then please reach out to your artist and get their guidance on what they suggest for attire for your session. For example - skintight denim jeans would not be ideal for getting a thigh piece done, layers of tight shirts for a back piece, etc. 
• Proper Hygiene - You and your artist will be in close proximity to one another for an extended period of time during your appointment so proper hygiene is definitely appreciated. It plays a huge role in the healing process as well. A tattoo is essentially a large wound, so you want to keep the area as clean as possible so having a freshly showered and cleaned body is ideal for that process. 
• Prepare Ahead Of Time For After-Care - By discussing or reading about after care with your artist ahead of time it ensures you have everything you need for proper after care after your appointment. Generally, after your session you will return home and need to begin your part of the aftercare within an hour or two if you are using the traditional method for caring for your tattoo. Making sure you have the proper supplies on hand is crucial. 

Don't submerge or soak your tattoo for at least 2 weeks. Meaning - do not swim in the lake/ocean/swimming pool/etc., do not soak in the bathtub, do not submerge your arms in a sink full of water, etc. 

Don't pick at the tattoo, especially when it reaches the flakey/scabby stage in the healing process. Doing so can result in losing pigment in those areas, leaving your tattoo looking blotchy. 

Don't rip clothing, bedding, etc. off of your tattoo if they get stuck to it. The safest option is to run it under warm water to help loosen things up so you can carefully remove whatever is stuck to your tattoo without ripping any sections off your tattoo preventing any or further damage. Then you can wash your tattoo immediately to help prevent potential infections. 

Don't wear tight fitting clothing or tight straps over tattoos for at least 2 weeks. The skin becomes temporarily sensitive until the area is fully healed so tight straps or clothing can irritate the area if it isn't healed enough. 

Do use sunscreen! Once your tattoo is about 2 weeks old you can begin using sunscreen on it which is recommended. We encourage you to keep your new tattoo covered from direct sun exposure for at least 1 month. Wearing loose fitting clothing or covers over it helps immensely. 

Do shower regularly. Proper hygiene is crucial for a healthy healing process. Just make sure you thoroughly rinse off any shampoos or soaps to avoid irritation on your healing tattoo. 

 If you and your artist chose this route for aftercare, then they will more than likely send you home with a temporary wrap/cover over your tattoo with instruction to leave it on for a designated amount of time. When that designated amount of time is up then you will do the following to begin your traditional aftercare for the next 3-5 days, depending on your skin and healing time. 

Step 1 - Make sure whenever you are going to be doing any care with your tattoo that you thoroughly wash your hands with an antibacterial soap and dry your hands with a clean, fresh paper towel. Keeping things as clean as possible will help prevent poor healing and/or an infection. 

Step 2 - Wash the tattoo and slightly into the surrounding areas around the tattoo gently with unscented liquid antibacterial soap and cool water. Do not scrub your tattoo. Rinse all the soap off with cool water.

Step 3 - Pat dry with a clean, fresh paper towel. Do not use fabric towels or re-use paper towels. You need a fresh paper towel for each new step requiring a paper towel. 

Step 4 - Apply a small amount of cocoa butter or your directed balm to your tattoo. You only need a small amount, just enough to very lightly coat the tattoo. Less is more and you do not want to over coat it. That can cause unwanted things to get trapped in the tattoo easier. Things such as pet hair, dust particles, dirt, etc. 

We do not recommend petroleum products. Aquaphor, Vaseline, etc. Petroleum products cannot be absorbed into the skin properly and make it easier for things to become trapped causing a breeding ground for unwanted bacteria on your tattoo. 

Step 5 - Repeat the above steps at least 3 times a day for at least 3 days. If needed you can extend this out to 4-5 days, but generally that isn't necessary. Usually after the 3 days you can switch to an unscented moisturizing lotion/cocoa butter/recommended balm. Apply the unscented moisturizing lotion/cocoa butter/recommended balm 3 times a day or as needed to keep the skin flexible. 

At around 2 weeks post tattoo appointment you can begin applying sunscreen to your tattoo. Sunscreen is highly recommended to keep your tattoos looking crisp and beautiful for a longer period of time. Sun can be extremely damaging to tattoos, especially some ink colors more than others. 

Second skin (it can be called other things such as recovery, derm shield, etc. depending on the brand or artist's preference) is a clear adhesive bandage that allows your body to heal itself with its own chemistry. Sometimes it is not an option if you have adhesive allergies, the tattoo is in a location that doesn't allow for the second skin to adhere properly, etc. 

If you and your artist chose this route for aftercare, then they will have applied the second skin to your tattoo. This piece of second skin will stay on your tattoo for 24 to 48 hours. You will be given a second sheet of second skin to apply at home by yourself after you take the first sheet off once the first 24 to 48 hours are completed. 

Step 1 - Make sure whenever you are going to be doing any care with your tattoo that you thoroughly wash your hands with an antibacterial soap and dry your hands with a clean, fresh paper towel. Keeping things as clean as possible will help prevent poor healing and/or an infection. 

Step 2 - You'll need to remove the first sheet that is already applied on your tattoo. Generally, it is recommended you do this in the shower towards the end after you've done everything else in the shower to help make the removal process easier. Clean your tattoo with unscented liquid soap while in the shower and rinse it thoroughly. 

Step 4 - You'll need to cut the second sheet of second skin to the appropriate size to cover your tattoo with about a 1" margin around the edge of the tattoo. 

Step 5 - Once out of the shower, with clean hands and a fresh, clean paper towel, you will gently wipe the whole area down with witch hazel where the second skin will be applied. This helps ensure everything is removed from the skin before applying the bandage so you can avoid any potential reactions between any leftover soap residue and the adhesive or any potential unwanted bacteria from hiding under the second skin. 

Step 6 - Once the witch hazel has air dried and there is no excess moisture left on the skin, you can remove the paper backing from the second skin and apply it over your tattoo. 

Step 7 - Remove the top plastic film from the second skin. From this point you can carefully smooth out the second skin over your tattoo. If there are any air pockets or creases, gently work them towards the edge of the second skin until it is smooth.  

Step 8 - You will leave this piece of second skin on for 3 days. Once the 3 days are completed then you will repeat step 2 for the removal process. From that point on you can begin using unscented moisturizing lotion/cocoa butter/recommended balm on your tattoo. 

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At around 2 weeks post tattoo appointment you can begin applying sunscreen to your tattoo. Sunscreen is highly recommended to keep your tattoos looking crisp and beautiful for a longer period of time. Sun can be extremely damaging to tattoos, especially some ink colors more than others. 

 Here you will product recommendations to help you with your aftercare needs. Under each category will be the brand name of the product and the general locations where it can be purchased in this area. If you have any issues finding any of these products and need additional help locating them or an alternative product, please contact your artist.  

Antibacterial Unscented Liquid Soaps - 

Soft Soap - Most big box stores (Wal-Mart, Fred Meyer, Rite-Aid, etc.), Amazon

Dial - Most big box stores (Wal-Mart, Fred Meyer, Rite-Aid, etc.), Amazon

Unscented Lotions - 

Lubriderm - Most big box stores (Wal-Mart, Fred Meyer, Rite-Aid, etc.), Amazon

Curel - Most big box stores (Wal-Mart, Fred Meyer, Rite-Aid, etc.), Amazon

CeraVe - Most big box stores (Wal-Mart, Fred Meyer, Rite-Aid, etc.), Amazon

Cocoa Butter/Balms - 

Palmer's Cocoa Butter - Most big box stores (Wal-Mart, Fred Meyer, Rite-Aid, etc.), Amazon

Hustle Butter - Directly from manufacturer website, Amazon, select locations around the state, or you can speak with your artist about ordering one for you.