How to take care of your new tattoo

Aftercare guide:

Aquaphor, Soap & Lotion

This process should take about 2-3 weeks to heal your tattoo completely. Keep a close eye on progress, and don’t hesitate to get in touch with me about questions.

Planning to use Saniderm instead? Keep scrolling.

Days 1-3

When the tattoo is complete, I will cover the tattoo with a bandage. Don’t remove this bandage for at least 2 hours. It is recommended to keep the bandage on overnight, so that your sheets won’t be stained with ink. After that, you can keep the bandage on for 24 hours at most.

Remove the bandage and wash gently with warm soapy water. A hot shower will also help get excess plasma and residual ink out of your skin.

Recommended: Unscented Dial Gold antibacterial hand soap 

Once clean, pat your tattoo dry with a clean paper towel. Avoid hand or shower towels, because they may hold bacteria and increase the risk of infection. When the tattoo is dry, gently rub a small amount of Aquaphor to the area. For a large tattoo, like 8”x3”, a pea-sized drop is enough. You can tell when enough has been applied if you can see a dull glare over the ink. When the tattoo looks like it’s sweating, then you’ve applied too much.

Recommended: Aquaphor

Repeat the application of the aquaphor about 3-4 times a day, washing off the old layer with soap and drying before applying the new layer. Continue this process for the first 3 days.

Days 4+

For the remaining couple of weeks, switch to applying an unscented lotion on the tattoo. Avoid any lotions which contain Vitamin E, Aloe, or fragrances, as this may irritate your healing skin. Apply and fully absorb into the skin about 4-5 times a day or whenever the tattoo feels dry. 

Day 1

When the tattoo is complete, I will cover the tattoo with a bandage. Don’t remove this bandage for at least 2 hours. It is recommended to keep the bandage on overnight, so that your sheets won’t be stained with ink. After that, you can keep the bandage on for 24 hours at most.

Remove the bandage and wash gently with warm soapy water. A hot shower will also help get excess plasma and residual ink out of your skin.

Recommended: Dial Gold Unscented Soap

If the tattoo is still a little leaky with plasma, you can moisten a clean paper towel with Witch Hazel or a spritz of alcohol and gently wipe your tattoo off to dry it off.

Recommended: Witch Hazel

Applying Saniderm: Days 2-4

On day 2, after you’ve washed and dried off your tattoo, you can put on the saniderm. If your tattoo is in a hard-to-reach area, make sure to have someone else help you with this.

1. Peel off the paper side first - peel only from the center perforated edge. Under this paper side, it will be sticky with adhesive.

2. Apply the sticky side to the tattooed area, and make sure to leave about 1”-1.5” of extra bandage around the tattoo. This way, if it begins to peel from the edges, your tattoo will still be covered.

3. Once placed over your tattoo, make sure to press firmly. Try to smooth out all wrinkles or bubbles as best you can. 

4. Once you’ve evenly applied the Saniderm to your skin, peel off the plastic side. Like last time, peel from the the middle perforated edge.

5. When you’ve removed the plastic side, it should look like a thin film over the tattoo.

You might see a thin brown viscous fluid dispersed underneath the bandage as it heals. That’s plasma, and a little blood, and it’s totally normal.

Leave the saniderm on for about 3-4 days. It should take about that long for it to fully heal. Remove the bandage in a hot shower and peel from the top down to avoid damaging hair follicles once fully healed.

Things to watch out for when using Saniderm:

If large bubbles of goo builds up and looks like it isn’t re-absorbing into the tattoo, then take off the Saniderm and reapply. You may also want to treat with traditional aftercare methods (see above).

If a breach, rip, or tear occurs in the bandage exposing the tattoo, then remove the Saniderm and reapply.

If it’s extremely humid you may see a heat rash break out underneath the Saniderm. You can leave the bandage on or remove depending on the level of discomfort or severity of the rash. Everyone’s skin is different so be aware and keep an eye on it. Feel free to call us with questions or concerns.