1. Leave Tattoo covered in bandage for at least 24 hours. Blood and ink may pool in bandage – feel free to drain it. If the bandage comes off, just start washing and applying ointment. The breathable plastic I use for dressing can technically be left on for up to 4 days, but there is risk of bacterial and ink loss the longer it’s left on, so I only recommend 24 hours.

2. Treat the tattoo like a wound. Wash the tattoo with soap (recommended Dial Antibacterial or simple glycerin soaps) and warm water. Don’t touch it with dirty hands or dirty clothing. Stay away from soaps with a lot of additives like Dial and Dove – there are things that can get in the skin and cause issues with healing.

3. Keep tattoo moist, but let it breathe. After washing, apply a thin layer of Aquaphor or A+D Ointment – a Chapstick thin smear. If your tattoo gets dry throughout the day, wash it then reapply the ointment – do this at least four times a day for the first week. Wash and reapply ointment again before going to bed. In the second week, wash and apply ointment in the morning and before bed, and just as needed throughout the day. The key is to keep the skin elastic – don’t let it get dry and cracked – if you bleed and scab, you may lose ink.

4. Keep tattoo covered in the sun. Loose fitting clothing is ideal – so it doesn’t rub on the tattoo. Apply sunblock only after the tattoo is healed! There’s crap in sunblock that can affect the ink and irritate your open skin.

5. The tattoo should peel like a sunburn a few days after you get it. It’s normal for the skin to look a little wrinkly or puckered before it starts to peel.

6. Reach out to me or your doctor if there’s an unusual amount of swelling, irritation, or signs of infection.

1. Don’t rub your skin dry – pat it gently. 2. Don’t put on sunscreen until your tattoo is fully healed.

2. Don’t pick, scratch or rub your tattoo while it’s healing – you could cause scarring.

4. Don’t swim, soak in a hot tub, or take a bath until your tattoo is healed. Showers are recommended for the first two weeks. It’s okay to take a bath, if you can keep your tattoo out of the water. After taking a shower, apply Aquaphor or A+D for at least two weeks.