Bandage Aftercare Instructions
When you first get a new tattoo, it will feel like a sunburn for the first 24-48 hours. Redness, puffiness, swelling, and some discomfort is normal for the first 24-78 hours as the healing process begins. As with any healing with the body, maintain proper nutrition and stay hydrated!
First, ALWAYS wash your hands prior to cleaning or touching your tattoo!
Keep bandage on for 2-6 hours. Take the bandage off, and gently wash tattooed area by hand with lukewarm water and unscented anti-bacterial soap (I prefer unscented SoftSoap or a gentle bar soap like Dove). Only gently clean the tattoo with your hand, and do not scrub it with anything abrasive! No rags, loofahs, etc.
Gently pat the excess water off with CLEAN, new paper towels and then dispose of those - do not reuse them. Do not wipe or scrub. Let the tattoo air dry til it no longer feels damp. Then add a very light layer of aftercare ointment (Aquafor or a tattoo ointment is great at this stage).
Repeat and wash tattoo 2-3 times a day. Be mindful of what you are wearing that will have contact with the tattoo. Wear something loose fitting and preferably soft that won’t scrape the tattoo.
After 2 days, wash the tattoo once per day and apply a paper-thin layer of fragrance-free sensitive-skin lotion a few times a day. Remember, less is more. Too much lotion with have negative results for healing.
Continue this process for 2 weeks and DO NOT picks at or scratch the scabs. If the scabs are itchy or if the skin feels tight from dryness, just a thin layer of lotion to rehydrate the skin.
Unscented lotions are great - I prefer brands like Aquafor, Cerave, or Aveeno. There’s also tons of tattoo aftercare products to choose from. Just be sure to purchase them from the company, not on Amazon since third party companies will sell knock offs!