You've finally done it! After months, maybe even years of thinking about getting a tattoo; after careful consideration of the design and placement of your first tattoo; after searching out a shop and artist that you like; after researching costs and often saving up and finally sitting through some hours of moderate to intense discomfort and sometimes pain, you are on your way home with a beautiful piece of permanent body art!
Now what?
Have you given as much thought to the care of your new art as you gave to getting it?
Has your artist provided you with aftercare instructions?
Have you told your artist about any skin product sensitivities you may have? About the type of work you do? About your vacation plans?
As a tattoo artist for many years now I've seen about a million pieces of body art that would have been beautiful if not for poor aftercare. Many a bearer of these scarred or patchy pieces of permanent skin art have blamed the artist or studio, saying they never received aftercare instructions, but a great many of them will sheepishly admit that they simply didn't think it was "that big of a deal".
Most shops/artists will provide free touch up of your piece if a bit of color falls out in the healing process, but tattooists are no dummies, and an artist who has been in the business for awhile will know whether the amount of fall-out you have is caused by poor aftercare. Most artists are never willing, after providing a client with aftercare instructions, to rework a piece extensively at no charge when it is obviously a case of a poorly cared for tattoo.
As an artist as well as collector of body art I know that everyone is different, as is their healing process, and the aftercare suggested by every artist varies widely as well. Nonetheless there are a number of tried and true precautions and steps that one can take to assure the healthy healing of their tattoo. The following is the 3 page aftercare instructions I give to every client whether their tattoo is tiny or extensive.
- Wash your hands well, FIRST!
- Remove covering (if any) after 2 hours.
- Wash your tattoo with luke-warm to cool water and mild soap. Remove all coagulate by scrubbing gently with your hand. I recommend Noxema Original (Get the pump comtainer, as it prevents contamination. This product contains Eucalyptus; ie: Camphor, which is a natural anti-bacterial and has moisturizing properties, as well), Ivory, (Pure soap with no added fragrance to irritate), or Dr. Bronner's Pure Castille Soap. Please consider your own skin and possible sensitivities when making your choice between these 3 products. Please avoid Antibacterial soaps except on your hands before washing your tattoo) Do not re-bandage tattoo.*
- Blot dry with a clean paper towel. (Do not use your bathroom's cloth towel as it contains bacteria).
- Air dry for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Apply a thin coat of ointment.** (Thin is the keyword here) Repeat three to four times a day for the first 2 to 4 days, and as needed thereafter.***
NOTE!!! I cannot stress this enough! Although ointment is good to help you heal, in the first few days you must NEVER reapply ointment without washing your tattoo, first. Ointment, although protecting your tattoo, also acts as a dirt and germ magnet. If you don’t wash the old stuff off before applying new you are rubbing these contaminants into a fresh wound. - Don’t touch or play with your tattoo while it is healing, and don’t let anyone else get their dirty hands on it, either. It needs to stay clean to prevent infection. Only your attention and care can guarantee this. Do not pick at scabs or dried skin while your tattoo is healing. Do not scratch or abrade. (If it itches terribly, a quick, stinging slap will alleviate the itch for awhile).
*In general I do not recommend that you rebandage after this point. There are only a few times when you may need to cover the tattoo. The most critical one being just before bedtime. If your tattoo is still oozing when it comes time for bed, you will want to protect your sheets as well as your tattoo. If feasable, cover the tattoo with a clean item of clothing before hitting the sheets. If, like me, you just have to sleep naked; change the sheets. Dirty sheets are full of icky old skin and bacteria.
While your tattoo is healing you will also need to cover it during any work in which you're in an environment where there is a risk of your tattoo becoming contaminated. Any dirty work such as auto mechanics, construction, welding, asbestos removal, ditch digging, spray painting, etc. If you’re not sure whether the tattoo should be covered it probably should be. A teflon coated bandage is best here, because clear plastic holds in too much moisture. Loosely bandage and cover with clothing!!
