Hey there! Now that you are freshly inked, you want to take good care of it. From this point on, your artist is not responsible for any infection or problems you may have with your tattoo if you don't take proper care. It's very important that you follow these guidelines:
Leave That Bandage Alone:
Your artist took the care to cover up your new tattoo for a very good reason - to keep airborne bacteria from entering your wound (yes, freshly done tattoos are wounds, and are a breeding ground for bacteria and infection). Leave the bandage on for a minimum of three hours.
*The only exception to this rule is if your artist covered your tattoo with Saran Wrap. This suffocates the new tattoo and causes all sorts of problems, so remove it immediately. It's better to not having any covering than to be covering it with plastic wrap.
Wash and Treat:
After you remove the bandage, you will want to wash your tattoo. Use lukewarm water and mild unscented soap (from a pump is better because it won't be contaminated from contact with dirty hands), to carefully wash any ointment, blood and/or plasma and to completely clean the area. Just use your free hand, not a washcloth. You may feel slipperiness, which is plasma pushing itself out, so be sure to wash all of it off or it may cause a scab to form.
Then pat (do not rub) with a clean towel or paper towel so it is completely dry. Then cover it very lightly with your choice of antibacterial ointment, (but not Neosporin because it has caused problems for people in the past). You can also use specialty products like H2Ocean or Tattoo Goo. Use the products as directed for 3-5 days.
After that, continue to keep it clean, but you can use lotion when needed instead of ointment, to keep the skin soft. Whatever lotion you use, it should be dye and fragrance free. I like to use vegan unscented creams (just go to a health food store), because they tend to have less chemicals that might sting your sensitive tattooed skin.
Bathing:
You can shower with a new tattoo, just don't soak it. Having a hot bath can really mess a new tattoo up, so avoid it for 2-3 weeks. If you get soap or shampoo on your tattoo, just remove it quickly with water. Don't swim in a pool, freshwater or saltwater for at least 2 weeks.
Scabbing and Peeling:
After a few days, there will be some peeling and probably a little scabbing this is normal, so don't freak out. If you have really serious scabbing then perhaps you didn't follow the previous directions properly, or your artist has a very heavy hand. Apply a warm, moist washcloth over the scabs for about 5 minutes 2-3 times a day (do not scrub!), to soften them and they will eventually come off on their own. Don't apply ointment or lotion to a softened scab - be patient and wait for it to dry).
The new tattoo will start to itch, but don't pick or scratch it. If the skin itches, slap it. If it is peeling, put lotion on it. And if it is scabbing, just leave it alone. Your tattoo healing, and if you pick at it you can actually pull the ink with it, leaving colourless areas.
Sun Protection:
After your tattoo is healed, you always want to protect it from the sun's ultraviolet rays with a natural sunscreen lotion, or you may notice your gorgeous tattoo fading.
Okay, so now you're off to a good start! Tattoos are a beautiful form of self-expression, so spreading good guidelines makes everyone happy, and dispels fear on the subject. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me and I will get back to you as soon as I can!
Have an awesome day :)
Joshua Rose
