aftercare
second skin or wrap
Second skin should be kept on for 2-4 days. To remove, run the film under lukewarm water to loosen the adhesive, then slowly pull it back parallel to the surface of the skin.
You may experience a bit of redness around the tattoo where the second skin was applied – this is completely normal so don’t worry!
If used, wrap should be left on for 3 to 6 hours. Do not re-wrap once it’s been removed.
wash and moisturise
After removal, gently wash the tattoo with lukewarm water and mild liquid soap, like Carex, Dr Bronner’s Pure Castile, or green soap. Pat with a paper towel and apply a thin layer of unscented moisturiser. A few great options are CeraVe Healing Ointment, Aveeno daily moisturising lotion, Egyptian magic cream, or Aquaphor. You can also opt for specialist tattoo healing creams like Tattoo Goo.
Keep up this routine for 7-10 days.
healing
You may experience some peeling and itching. To prevent infection and preserve the ink, don’t scratch or pick at the area – try gently tapping it instead.
Healing times vary, but the longer you follow all of the above steps, the better your tattoo will look.
clothing
Keeping your tattoo exposed to air is crucial to the healing process, so try to wear loose-fitting clothing that won’t rub against it, especially during the first couple of days.
things to avoid during the first few weeks
Leaving the bandage on for too long
Shaving over the tattoo before it’s healed
Direct sunlight without SPF50
Direct contact with pets
Submerging your tattoo in water (swimming, baths, hot tubs, etc) for 2 weeks
touch-ups
After about 6 weeks, any areas which need retouching will become apparent. If this is the case, or for whatever reason you feel like your tattoo needs a bit of love, drop me an email and we can arrange a session free of charge. I want you to be completely happy with the final result so please don’t think twice before doing so!
healed photos
The 6-week mark is also a great time to send me some snaps of your new tattoo. These don’t have to be fancy, just clear enough for me to see how your piece is healing.
Without healed pictures I can’t do my job, so please remember to send them!