AFTERCARE
HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR NEW TATTOO
The care of your new tattoo will determine its appearance in the future. Whilst you might hear about different methods and creams, it is best to listen to your artist's advice and follow the steps given.
Please read below the different healing processes for an easy and safe healing of your new tattoo. Your artist will let you know which is the most suitable for you, depending on your tattoo and type of skin.
AFTERCARE PROCEDURES
STANDARD BANDAGE
After the tattoo session, your tattoo artist will clean, apply a small amount of tattoo butter and wrap your tattoo with cling film. You can keep the film applied at the studio for maximum 3 hours.
After that you can follow these steps:
CLEAN
Wash your hands
Carefully remove the film and wash the tattoo thoroughly with a gentle/neutral soap and warm water so that you see that the pores are completely free of blood and excess ink.
Rinse well with first warm water to open the pores, so that there is no more soap on the skin, and then colder water to close the pores. Remember: DO NOT SOAK the tattoo otherwise it will scab.
Pat the tattoo dry with kitchen towel and let it air dry for 15- 20 minutes
MOISTURISE
Wash your hands
Massage a very thin layer of Bepanthen until it begins to penetrate the skin. Remember that is is better to lubricate little but often rather than too much but rarely.
COVER THE TATTOO
Wash your hands
Use new/ sterile plastic wrap and put it tightly on the entire tattoo. Wear the cover overnight during the first 1-2 nights. Consider sleeping with a garment, or tape the ends of the cover, so you can hold the cover airtight and in place all night.
Repeat the washing, moisturising, massaging, and re-wrapping for 1 to 2 days since the tattoo session about 3 times a day (depending on how much fluid appears from the pores). If there is not so much plasma coming out, you can stop using Bandage/wrap after 1 day, while if you have a lot of fluid you can continue to wrap it for up to 2 or even 3 days. Make sure that the wrap always looks suitably clean. Not too moist, and not too dry.
After this first healing phase, you can switch to Butterluxe tattoo butter (or if you prefer Palmer’s cocoa butter formula fragrance free/ E45 cream are also great) and keep moisturising the tattoo daily until it’s completely healed (about 3 weeks) .
Keep always in mind that it is better to lubricate little but often rather than too much but rarely.
TATTOO FILM DRESSING
After the first bandage had been applied at the studio, we recommend leaving it on your new tattoo for 12-24 hours max.
Everyone heals differently, and the length of time will vary depending on how much fluid your tattoo is weeping. When the adhesion of the bandage begins to weaken, that’s your cue to remove or replace the bandage. If you notice excessive weeping or fluid under your currently applied special film, it’s ok to replace it with a new one. Before replacing it with a new bandage, you may apply a thin layer of Bepanthen/ Butterluxe tattoo butter.
Once you’ve applied the second bandage, it can be worn for up to 3 days. If you find the tattoo weeps into the second piece please contact us for further informations regarding alternatives.
HOW TO REMOVE THE SPECIAL DRESSING:
The best way to remove it is to find an edge of the bandage, and then to pull it back over itself in the direction of hair growth.
Try removing the special film in a warm shower. The warmth will loosen the adhesive, making it easier and more comfortable to remove.
If that doesn’t work, take a small amount of Bepanthen / Butterluxe tattoo butter and apply it around the edges of the bandage.
The cream will help removing the sticky film.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE TATTOO CAN BE FINALLY LEFT UNCOVERED?
When the tattoo will be finally free from the special film you will still need to moisturise the tattoo until it’s completely healed, for about 3-4 weeks.
Remember to wash your hands and wash your tattoo very gently at any time before applying a very thin layer of cream.
Remember that it is better to lubricate little but often rather than too much but rarely.
TATTOO ARMOUR AFTERCARE PADS
Tattoo Armour Aftercare Pads are so easy to use that anyone can use them. This is definitely our favourite healing process, especially for larger full-colour pieces.
You can visit TATTOO ARMOUR official website to find an easy visual guide to the perfect process, so there wouldn't be any guesswork involved.
Please click the link below to follow step by step the right procedure:
https://www.tattooarmour.com/instructions
You can also order some extra pads from TATTOO ARMOUR website or www.killerink.co.uk
https://www.killerinktattoo.co.uk/tattoo-armour-pack-of-10
A FEW EXTRA TIPS FOR THE PERFECT HEALING
TATTOO INFECTIONS AND INFLAMMATIONS
The vast majority of infections occur because proper aftercare is not followed. It is both better and easier to care for the tattoo than to have to care for infections. Take your precautions by taking good care of the tattoo from the start. Should the symptoms occur or if you are in pain always consult your artists professional advice and if needed a doctor for further treatment.
Golden rules to avoid risks of infections and Inflammation:
Always wash your hands before touching the tattoo
Sleep in clean bedsheets the first nights
Wear clean clothes/ comfortable clothes
Clean towels
Don’t expose your fresh tattoo to animals, children’s hands, etc.If not needed
TANNING AND SWIMMING
One of the things you need to avoid when you have a fresh tattoo is direct sunlight. As freshly tattooed, going to the beach or tanning in the solarium for the first few weeks is not very wise. The sun that hits the tattoo will burn you, make it crust, and hurt. You should also not swim, regardless of water, neither in the ocean, pool, or a bathtub. Stick to showers. The tattoo does not benefit from being soaked for more than a few minutes, and many bacteria thrive in all kinds of water.
EXERCISE
You can work out after being tattooed, but it is not recommended. You can run and bounce, pump, and sweat, but stay completely away from any type of pool training during healing. Pay good attention to the tattoo, and take into account that the body should be able to focus on letting the wound heal. If you do a specific movement that hurts the area where the tattoo is, you may want to stay away from this movement. You may want to lubricate the tattoo just before exercise so that it does not feel tight and dry when exercising. If you exercise too hard or too much this can go beyond the healing process and you may heal slower or not have as good protection.
Thus, you can more easily get inflammation or infection.
One more important thing to keep in mind , especially when working out in a studio or gym: Clean the equipment well before and after use and be super cautious.
HOW LONG SHOULD I FOCUS ON AFTERCARE?
The average healing time is about 3 -4 weeks. It often takes a little longer on specific placements as legs, ankles, feet, hands, neck. Lubricate the tattoo only when needed. The skin will become more and more normal as it heals and you will need less and less lubrication.
If you have more questions regarding your tattoo, please do not hesitate to contact your tattoo artist at any time.