Aftercare for your new tattoo

Please follow these instructions closely in regards to the care of your new tattoo! If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please don't hesitate to call or email me! If I did not tattoo you, but you're looking to use my aftercare methods anyhow, please do! Just remember that everyone's skin is a little different and if something is not working for you, you may want to make sure you've got the instructions right, and if all else fails, try an alternate method! All products I recommend are most likely available at a local drugstore. If you need help finding the items on your list, please ask someone!

Before you start, you'll need:

1. a clean bathroom with a shower and sink with hot running water
2. Liquid antibacterial soap
3. Clean Paper towels
4. Aquaphor healing ointment and/ or non-scented lotion
5. About 30-45 minutes of free time
6. these instructions (print them out if you can)
7. a helper (if you cannot safely see or reach your tattoo)

Two to Six Hours after tattoo:

1. With CLEAN hands, remove and discard your bandage. NEVER re-wrap your tattoo. Just wear loose, clean clothing.
2. Wash your tattoo with clean, warm to hot water and Liquid Antibacterial Soap.
3. Use only your fingertips in a gentle, circular motion to clean off any blood, excess pigment, and ointment.
4. BE CAREFUL ! If the water is too hot you can burn your skin.Your skin is extra sensitive in this area right now, and should be treated with patience and care.
5. MAKE TIME to clean your tattoo properly every morning when you shower.
6. Rinse your tattoo with clean, warm water.
7. Gently pat the area with clean, dry paper towels.
8. Let your tattoo air dry for 10-15 minutes.
9. Rub a small amount of Aquaphor Healing Ointment into the tattoo.
10. After about a minute, gently pat and wipe ALL of the ointment off of the tattoo.

Daily Care

1. Wash, rinse, and dry once per day as described.
2. Use Aquaphor Healing Ointment 5 to 6 times per day, being sure to wipe it off after a minute.
3. UNCOMFORTABLE? you may lightly mist clean water from a clean spray bottle onto a dry paper towel to help with the wiping.
4. After six days, slowly taper off Aquaphor applications.
5. Substitute Aquaphor applications with 3-5 daily applications of lotion.
6. LOTION must be non-scented and water-based. ex: Lubriderm/ Curél/ Eucerin

Tips

Helpers
If you can't see or reach your tattoo to apply Aquaphor and lotion, ask for help! Just make sure that your helper understands the aftercare and washes their hands before and after touching your tattoo.

Hair products and scented lotion
Please keep hair products and scented lotions and sprays away from your tattoo. The fragrance and high alcohol content will burn your new tattoo!

Pets
Keep animals away from your tattoo to prevent accidental scratching, slobbering or touching. Hair, dead skin, and germs from animals getting on your tattoo can mean bacterial trouble!

Towels and sheets
Please use paper towels while healing, and sleep on clean sheets. Lint, bacteria, sweat, dead skin, and germs again!

Sun
Baby sunblock Rocks! Keep your tattoo out of the sun whether it's healed or not! The sun can cause premature aging and drastic fading. Sun damage voids your guaranteed touchups.

YES
Drink lots of water, eat well, get plenty of rest, take ibuprofen if you're sore.

NO
Aspirin, swimming, hot tubs, scratching or picking, soaking in a bath or any large body of water, tanning, touching the tattoo with dirty hands, foreign bodily fluids, sleeping with pets, and NO ADVICE FROM FRIENDS!

Your new tattoo will feel like a sunburn, itchy, warm to the touch, slightly irritated, peely, possible scabbing AND VERY SENSITIVE! After 2-3 weeks your tattoo will have a milky, shiny layer over it. Keep taking care of your tattoo, lotion everyday, etc. After this shiny layer has exfoliated and your skin is back to normal, please call or stop by so I can see your healing progress and see if you need any touchup. Most tattoos look better with a little touchup after it's through healing. Touchup usually takes a very short amount of time, and less healing time than your initial tattoo session.

Your tattoo is guaranteed and your touchup is free of charge, provided that you follow these care instructions, and do not neglect the care of your tattoo.