Your tattoo is an open wound and will scab and heal as any other superficial wound would. You have healed many, many wounds in your life and this is no different. Use the exact same mentality as you would with a cut or scrape. Keep it clean, be very gentle, leave it the hell alone.

Second Skin Bandage : (I use Tegaderm & Recovery Derm Shield)

Leave the bandage on for 3-5 days. Second skin bandages are a waterproof barrier and you are able to shower normally, just be sure to avoid scrubbing, exfoliating and lathering soap in the area. I don’t recommend using a sauna or sweating excessively but light exercise can be okay, especially with smaller tattoos. If an edge or corner of the bandage begins to peel off it can be trimmed but if its peeling off of the actual tattoo you should remove it immediately

To remove the bandage : get in the shower and run warm (not hot) water over your bandaged tattoo for a minute to allow the adhesive to warm. Slowly stretch one corner of the bandage parallel to your skin while lifting slightly upwards. Continue like this around the entire bandage until it’s completely removed. Discard the bandage. It’s normal for there to be some sort of an impression of your tattoo on the inside of the second skin bandage

Saran Wrap Bandage :

Leave tattoo wrapped for 4-6 hours or overnight if it’s already late

To remove, use clean hands to gently unwrap and untape the Saran Wrap. Discard and then follow all of the remaining directions

With clean hands, gently wash away any plasma, excess ink or blood with an unscented soap like Dr Bronners castile “baby” soap , which is the light blue label. Do not scrub, exfoliate or use anything abrasive on your tattoo for 2-3 weeks, your tattoo is a fresh and open wound so remember to be gentle. Pat your tattoo dry with a clean paper towel or allow it to air dry

For the first few days a very thin layer of aquaphor or a&d ointment can be gently massaged into your tattoo with clean hands to promote healing. 3-4 days later, switch to moisturizing your tattoo daily with a medium weight unscented lotion such as Eucerin, Lubriderm, or Cetaphil. Staying hydrated, eating well, avoiding alcohol, and moisturizing the tattoo will all be very beneficial to your skin health during the process of healing a tattoo.

Change your bedsheets and wear clean, loose, soft clothing for the weeks following your appointment and especially for the first few days after removing your bandage. Wash your tattoo with unscented soap at any point that you think you could have introduced bacteria to the wound.

Your tattoo might be itchy during the healing process and it may form a scab or some slight flakiness during the first week of healing. Try not to scratch and never pick or purposefully disturb any of the scabbing as this can cause scarring or ink fall-out. Moisturizing can help with some of the itchiness

Avoid swimming and all water submersion as well as sunbathing and direct sun in the general area of your tattoo.

Working out is usually okay as long as your skin feels comfortable and you are careful to keep it clean and gently wash afterwards. Pain level can be used as an indicator of your ability to carry on in daily activities while your tattoo is healing. Be cautious, listen to your own body and do what feels comfortable for you.

After 7-12 days the itching and scabbing should be subsiding but it is important to still be gentle and maintain the same level of cleanliness as you did in the first week of healing

After about 3-4 weeks your tattoo should be fully healed :)

Wear SPF on your healed tattoos before prolonged sun exposure to prevent ink fading over time

PLZ text or email me healed photos of your tattoo after a month or so <3 Seeing how my work has settled into your skin helps me to learn and grow as an artist

Xoxo