THE STUDIO
Old East Durham
Tattoo Aftercare
Expect - Discomfort, soreness, and swelling on or near the tattoo. Symptoms increase for tattoos below the knee.
-
To aid healing, hydrate by drinking recommended amount of daily water.
-
Healing time ranges 2-4 weeks.
Avoid:
-
Contact with pets
-
Contact with unclean surfaces
-
Shaving over the tattooed area
-
Contact with unclean blankets/sheets
-
Petroleum-based ointments
-
Dirt and dust
-
Picking
-
Scratching
-
Touching your new tattoo with unwashed hands, or allowing others to touch.
-
Shared gym equipment and shared exercise mats
-
Sweat from others
-
Friction
-
Constricting clothing
-
Sun exposure
-
When your tattoo is healed, please apply sunblock as a normal routine to maintain rich blacks and bright colors in your tattoo
-
Any kind of swimming or soaking
-
Heavily scented soaps, loofahs, washcloths; Wash with hands only
STANDARD AFTERCARE: Recommended for smaller tattoos or people without contact with pets and unclean environments.
-
Remove bandage after one hour
-
Wash tattoo with warm water, clean hands, and unscented and gentle soap. Let it air dry.
-
Apply raw coconut oil, or other approved ointments (see below).
twice a day for two weeks.
-
If a moisture rash occurs (sometimes resembling pimples or whiteheads),
discontinue any use of any lotion or oil.
-
In 3-4 days the tattoo will scab, peel, and itch. Do not pick, scratch, or over-moisturize.
WET HEALING: This method is advised for people who live with pets, and/or work in unclean environments. Wrapping the tattoo in plastic wrap consistently for 3-4 days will protect it from infection-causing elements, decreases scabs, and promotes healing for a better tattoo result.
-
Remove bandage after one hour and wash the tattoo with warm water, clean hands, and an unscented gentle soap. Let air dry for about an hour.
-
Wrap tattoo in plastic wrap. Expect blood, lymph fluid, and traces of ink to collect under plastic wrap for the first day or two.
-
6-8 hours later, unwrap and clean the tattoo with warm water and let it air dry.
-
Apply a small amount of raw coconut oil
-
Re-wrap with plastic wrap and repeat every 6-8 hours for 3-4 days.
-
After 3-4 days of wrapping, your tattoo will flake and peel. Continue lightly applying oil or unscented lotion twice a day.
-
If moisture rashes occur (often resembling pimples or whiteheads)
discontinue any use of all lotions or oil.
RECOVERY DERMSHEILD: a similar product to tegaderm and saniderm. Your artist may choose to apply this.
-ideally, your initial bandage may stay on for 3-7 days
-change your dermsheild if lymph fluid starts to seep out, that means bacteria can enter
-wash with clean hands, warm water and unscented antibacterial or castllle soap, then let your tattoo dry completely before-reapplying second bandage. Do not apply moisturizer between bandages.
-remove bandage immediately if you have a reaction to the adhesives
-after the life of your bandage (3-7) days continue to wash and moisturize your tattoo at least once daily.
Please contact us immediately if you are experiencing redness, sorness and inflammation after the first 7 days.
Recommended ointments:
- Raw coconut oil
- After Inked
- Lubriderm unscented
- Burts Bees Waxelene
-Burts Bees rescue ointment
- All Good Goop
- Tattoo Goo
- Hustle Butter
-Little homestead farm healing balm (sold at The Studio)