Aftercare Instructions
Hurray you have received your fresh new tattoo!!! Below you will find the broad and general way I recommend you care for it.
I recommend that you leave your bandage on for 2-3 hours or until the following morning, no longer.
When you are ready to take your bandage off first wash your hands thoroughly with any liquid antibacterial soap like (dial or soft soap) If it is liquid antibacterial soap any brand will do the job. You will be using this same soap to wash your tattoo.
Once your hands are clean remove your bandage, be mindful of any liquids (plasma, excess ink, etc.) that may be built up under the bandage. Properly dispose of your bandage and move onto washing.
Gently wash your new tattoo with liquid antibacterial soap, massaging with the palm of your hand until all residue has been removed. (please do not use a wash cloth, luffa, bath brush, etc.) The goal hear is to wash away any dried plasma, ink, and any product used during the application of your bandage.
Thoroughly rinse the tattoo with warm to hot water (extremely hot water is not necessary) until all residue as been removed. Your skin should have its normal texture when properly cleaned.
You may use paper towel or simply let your tattoo air dry. Please avoid using bath towels or any fuzzy textured towel which can leave behind any debris in your tattoo.
Apply a very small amount of a fragrance and dye free lotion of your liking and gently massage it into your tattoo to keep it hydrate. LESS IS MORE when it comes to this step. Too much product can result in suffocating your tattoo which will indeed harm it. Simply put you want to keep your tattooed skin supple as it recovers and heals from the trauma it endured.
you should repeat this cleaning and moisturizing process 3-5 times a day for 3-4 weeks.
Before bed and after washing you may wrap your tattoo in a quality plastic wrap. If you do this I recommend only at night while you are sleeping. This process helps prevent the tattoo from becoming dry while you sleep, also helps keep it from getting stuck to bedding or clothing. If you do this moisturizing is not necessary when wrapped. If you choose not to do this and you wake to find your tattoo stuck to the sheets or clothing please refrain from pulling it off. Carefully hop in the shower with the item still attached to you and let warm water run over it until it has separated.
Things to avoid - Sunburns, direct sunlight, and prolonged exposure to the sun for the first week. sleeping or laying on your new tattoo, picking/pulling/peeling scabs or loose skin, tight clothing, excessive sweating, other peoples bodily fluids, submerging the tattoo in water for prolonged periods (NO SWIMMING), letting others touch your tattoo, and finally please don’t put anything on it that hasn’t been suggested by myself before consulting with me first.
Adhesive bandage instructions
Leave your bandage on for 48hours. It is normal for your bandage to fill up with some fluid. This is plasma and excess ink and will not harm your tattoo. If you notice and fluid leaking out, clean it up and leave the bandage on for the remainder of that 48hours.
To remove the bandage peel up a corner and work the edge up, and pull the bandage in a manor where you are stretching the bandage instead of peeling it away like turning a page. When stretching the bandage it is more likely to separate from your skin rather than pull on it. I recommend doing this during a warm shower, this will help the bandage come off easier.
Once the bandage is off follow the aftercare instructions above.
If you were given a second bandage, after cleaning your tattoo pat it dry with paper towel and immediately apply the second bandage and leave it on for no more than 7 days. DO NOT apply any moisturizer before the second bandage. The bandage will help keep your tattoo from drying out.
After that second bandage comes off make sure you still wash and moisturize your tattoo 2-3 times a day until your tattoo and skin is completely healed and back to normal.
Remember this is your tattoo, your investment. Take good care of your tattoo, use common sense and healing your tattoo will be a breeze. Tattoos WILL be red, weepy, swollen, warm to the touch and tender for a few days to a week or so after application. This is normal inflammatory response. Ibuprofen is suggested for minimizing swelling and pain, but always check with your doctor before using medications you're unfamiliar with. Please do not hesitate to contact me via email at clonswaytattoo@gmail.com if you have any questions or concerns.