🌬 caring for your new tattoo:

July 20, 2022  /  sunday dawne-marie

getting a tattoo causes a mild injury to your skin

it’s a purposeful scrape, a controlled abrasion, into which ink is pushed

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there is more than one way to take care of a fresh tattoo so that it will heal smoothly… the best way to heal your tattoo is usually to follow the instructions given to you by the artist who did your tattoo~

~if you have been tattooed more than once, you may have tried different procedures &/or products & so you may have figured out a method that works well for you, for your skin, in your climate, under your particular circumstances… communication is key, so please do discuss your experiences with your artist… most methods of caring for a fresh tattoo will be fairly similar, & your artist should be open to hearing your experience & advising from there

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this is my method:

  • once the tattoo procedure is done, your artist will clean the area thoroughly, apply a soothing ointment & a bandage to protect it

  • please leave this bandage on overnight, or for at least 4 hours, do not leave the bandage on longer than 24 hours

  • when you remove the bandage you’ll want to wash the tattoo thoroughly but gently using soap & water & your clean hands… many people find it can be helpful to hop into a shower & remove the bandage in there if possible, the steam & water aiding the removal

  • there will be a slick, somewhat slimy film on the tattoo which may be streaked with ink~ don’t scrub hard but do wash this off, again, be gentle but thorough

  • don’t let a hard stream of water hit your tattoo directly, rather use a soft indirect spray or just scoop water with your hands onto the tattoo

  • once it is clean, you will see that the tattoo is in the skin & you have simply washed off the excess ink, ointment & plasma from the surface

(plasma is the liquid component of blood, containing dissolved proteins, glucose, electrolytes, hormones, oxygen, carbon dioxide & clotting factors~ when your skin is injured, such as during the process of getting a tattoo—the plasma goes the surface of the skin to begin the body’s natural healing process)

  • gently pat your tattoo dry with a fresh paper towel, being sure not leave it wet or sticky

  • using clean hands, apply a healing balm, ointment, or lotion to the tattoo; again, be gentle, but do really rub it in… you want to moisturize the tattoo thoroughly, but do not leave a layer of ointment on the surface, when in doubt, err on the side of too little rather than too much

  • re-apply your ointment, lotion or balm several times a day for at least 2 weeks~ washing the tattoo each time you moisturize is not necessary, but washing your hands before is

  • moisturizing a new tattoo first thing in the morning, once or twice during the day, & then before bed is usually sufficient

  • showering with a fresh tattoo is just fine & even encouraged

  • soaking in a bath or going for a swim with a fresh tattoo is not advised & can lead to infection &/or problems with healing- you will want to avoid soaking the tattoo until at least the surface is healed

  • sometimes, not always, a tattoo will form some scabs & all tattoos will peel, much like a sunburn, shedding the damaged layer of skin & forming a fresh new layer

  • often the tattoo will go thru a short phase of looking shiny, cloudy or odd while this new layer of skin is being made~ don’t worry, this is temporary

  • it is essential that you protect your new tattoo from exposure to the sun, as the skin on the surface has only just formed, like that of a newborn baby, & is easily damaged by solar rays… until the tattoo is completely healed, a physical barrier, that is, clothing, is the best way to protect your new tattoo from the sun~ sunscreen can be applied to your tattoo once it is totally healed, however, i advise as little sun exposure as possible for the first year

  • absolutely do not pick at your tattoo or “help” it peel, this can result in infection &/or damage to the tattoo

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while your tattoo is healing you will want to wear clothing that is clean, soft, & breathable & doesn’t rub against & irritate the tattoo as you go about your day… sometimes this can mean clothing that fits snug rather than loosely, as loose clothing can irritate by constantly brushing against the tender new flesh, & sometimes this means clothing that fits a little less tight than you might normally wear- waistbands on jeans are often irritating on a fresh tattoo, tights are not advisable

it can be helpful to consider your ‘healing wardrobe’ before your appointment

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please try to schedule your tattoo so that you can relax after the procedure if possible

even a small tattoo is giving your body some stress to deal with & of course, the process is painful, so it is best if you can chill out afterwards

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…if you ever have any questions regarding the tattoo healing process, please always feel free to ask me…