Aftercare

Tattoo Aftercare Guide

Your health and safety are our top priorities. We follow strict sanitation protocols and regular inspections to ensure your safety. Proper aftercare is essential to prevent infection and help your tattoo heal beautifully and last a lifetime.

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Immediate Post-Tattoo Care

• Treat your tattoo as a wound: Keep your tattoo clean!

• Initial covering: We use either Saran Wrap or Second Skin immediately after your session depending on the location and your planned activities after your tattoo appointment (we will talk about the preferred method at your appointment)

• If the second skin or saran wrap is coming off, moving lots or appears to look dirty on the edges from your activities, remove immediately and follow the below instructions.

• Remove the covering:

  • Saran Wrap: Remove the same day when you're in a clean environment (at home, avoiding dirt or activities) and clean it immediately after.

  • Second Skin: Keep on until right before bed. When you remove it, clean it immediately after.

  • Finger Tattoos: Keep Second Skin for 24–48 hours, then remove, wash, and reapply the following morning for another 24–48 hours.

 

Cleaning Your Tattoo

• Wash your hands first

• Wash gently: Use unscented liquid soap and lukewarm water on the tattoo.

• Dry carefully: Pat dry with a clean paper towel—avoid fabric towels that may harbor bacteria.

• Air out: Let the tattoo be exposed to air to facilitate healing.

 

Moisturizing

• When to start: Begin moisturizing the day after you remove the covering (for fingers, after the last time you use second skin)

• How to apply: Use a small amount of fragrance-free moisturizer (e.g., CeraVe, coconut oil, castor oil) in the morning with clean hands. If it is really dry you can reapply moisturizer in the evening.

• Important: Do not over-apply moisturizer, as excess moisture can trap bacteria, leading to infection and it can also slow healing and pull out ink. 

 

Special Care for Finger Tattoos

• Initial: Keep the Second Skin on for 24–48 hours.

• Next steps: Remove before bed, gently clean, air out overnight, then reapply more second skin in the morning for another 24–48 hours.

• Moisturize: Follow moisturizing protocol above

• Avoid: Rubbing, scratching, washing, using cleaning chemicals, prolonged use of rubber gloves, hand sanitizer

 

Long-Term Care (Weeks & Months)

• Hydrate: Apply fragrance-free moisturizer when your tattoo feels dry.

• Sun Protection: Always use SPF 30-50 mineral sunscreen when exposed to sun.

• Avoid soaking: Do not submerge in tubs, pools, or hot tubs for at least a week. If you do these activities, ensure your skin does not get soft and pruney, clean the tattoo well afterwards.

• Minimize friction: Avoid tight clothing or activities that rub on the tattoo until fully healed.

• Itchiness: Normal—resist scratching. Gently tap or press if needed.

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Signs of Infection — What to Watch For

• Redness, warmth, oozing, swelling, or persistent pain.

• Action: Contact us immediately. Clean with an alcohol wipe, apply a small amount of antibiotic ointment (e.g., Polysporin) with a q-tip, and leave it exposed to air. Continue to treat until healed. 

• Touch up: You will likely need a touch up once the tattoo is fully healed. There is a chance of scaring if a tattoo get's infected. 

 

Additional Tips​

• Sensitive skin: Let us know if you have sensitivities to medical tape or Second Skin.

• Consider touch-ups: After a month, if areas look uneven, contact us for a free touch-up.

• Remember: Proper aftercare ensures your tattoo remains vibrant, healthy, and beautiful for years to come!