So you went to your appointment, got the tattoo, and now you're at home and can't remember what that weird tattoo artist said as you were walking out the door... we've all been there.
That's why this guide exists!
This is your tattoo aftercare guide for dummies
Adhesive Tattoo Bandage
You're probably wondering what this plastic-looking stuff that I put on you is. This is an adhesive tattoo bandage. It's meant to protect your fresh tattoo (your open wound) from whatever may happen after you leave the shop.
After 24-48 hours of wearing your adhesive bandage, go ahead and take it off underneath a warm shower or you are more than welcome to come into the shop and I can remove it for you for free.
After a few hours of having the adhesive bandage, you may notice that ink bubbles are beginning to appear. Don't worry, that's normal! It's the extra blood and plasma from the open tattoo leaking out. Very gross, but do not panic if you see this. Just continue to go about your day as normal.
However, if your plasma begins to leak out, go ahead and remove the adhesive bandage. If plasma can get out of the bandage, bacteria can get in.
If you notice any red markings or rash in or around the adhesive bandage, remove the bandage immediately. Everyone's skin is different and some people may not realize they're allergic to the bandage and have an allergic reaction.
It's important to take this very seriously and remove your bandage quickly after noticing these signs of rash or irritation. After removing the bandage, also be sure to speak with your tattoo artist about it so they can make sure you and your tattoo are okay.
When you go to remove your bandage, please do not just rip it off like a bandaid. You will risk your new ink coming with it!
I put a video below showing you how to properly remove your adhesive bandage at home.
After bandage removal
After your adhesive bandage has been removed, you're going to want to wash your tattoo with antibacterial soap. I recomment Dial Gold Antibacterial Soap for this practice. You can get this soap at your local grocery story, Publix, Walmart, CVS, etc.
You're going to want to lather your tattoo in this soap and gently rub it to clean it. So this underneath warm water until all the soap has washed off. Then you're going to pat it dry with a clean paper towel. I don't recommend using house towels as they can be very rough and carry bacteria on them.
Repeat this 2x per day for two weeks.
Then you're going to put a tattoo balm on your clean tattoo. Do not use any petroleum based oil, cream, or serum on your new tattoo. Petroleum not only suffocates your tattoo that ruins the life and vibrancy of your ink, but it also traps bacteria and dirt underneath itself and gives your tattoo a higher risk to infection.
So do not use any Vasoline or Aquaphor products on your tattoo!
Tattoo balm recommendations (Petroleum free)
RX Tattoo Care Butter - $5.99
Hustle Butter Tattoo Aftercare - $23.99
Tattoo Goo Care Kit - $22.99
Scab and itch
You may notice that after a few days to a week of getting your tattoo, your tattoo is looking a little funky with scabs. Like a regular wound, your skin scabs over to protect your body from bacteria. It'll be ugly and itchy in this phase but it is super important to not itch or pick at your skin.
I recommend gently rubbing or tapping your tattoo if the itch is too great, but other than that just keep putting your tattoo cream on it and leave it alone.
For a tattoo that needs continued work, it's best not to continue your piece until the scabs are completely gone. Usually, this is 3 - 4 weeks, but the healing process may vary depending on how much work you got. If more than 4 weeks have gone by and your tattoo is still scabbed/healing, consult with your tattoo artist about it immediately.