Aftercare
Thank you so much for getting tattooed by me! Now to start the healing process.
Healing using Viewguard
This is a little bit different from a traditional healing process. Please read this through and if you have any questions don’t hesitate to call the shop and ask!
You will need:
Fragrance free hand soap (H2Ocean, Dial, Soft soap, Equate, etc.)
Fragrance free lotion (H2Ocean, Aveno, Lubiderm, Curel, etc.)
Leave your initial bandage on for 2 nights.
It’s easiest to remove the bandage in the shower. With clean hands, wet the bandaged area with warm water and SLOWLY peel the bandage back from a corner. You can also use soap if the bandage is especially sticky.
Lather a fragrance free soap in your hands and gently wash away any blood or plasma from the tattooed area, then rinse with water. If there is sticky residue on your skin, you can use a bit of lotion or a natural oil (coconut oil, etc.) to work that off, but be careful to wash any oil from the tattoo afterword. Do not use a washcloth or loofah on your tattoo.
Let your tattoo air dry, or dab dry with a paper towel or fresh clean towel. DO NOT WIPE the tattoo.
Wash your tattoo in the morning and at night, and after any ‘dirty’ activities, like exercising, strenuous work, stuff like that.
In a day or two, your tattoo will start to feel stiff and dry. Use a small amount of non-scented lotion to rub in to your tattoo. Do this up to 3 times a day, but less is more.
On day 4 or 5, your tattoo will start to flake and peel, like a sunburn. At that point you can wash it just once a day, still applying lotion as needed. *At any point, applying too much ointment or lotion may cause a small pimple breakout on your tattoo. If this happens, moisturize less frequently.
Allow a full month for your tattoo to heal, keeping it sufficiently moisturized.
I love to see healed tattoos! Come in and let me check it out. I do one free touch up within the first year on any of my tattoos that need it.
DO NOT
Expose your tattoo to chlorine for 2-4 weeks
Expose your tattoo to prolonged sun exposure or tanning beds for 2-4 weeks
Pick, peel, or scratch your tattoo
Put any soaps, lotions, or ointments containing scents or fragrances on your tattoo
Use A&D ointment or Vaseline on your tattoo
Over-soak your tattoo in the shower, or take a bath for 2 weeks.
Notes on the bandage:
Your tattoo will look gross under there. It will exude some blood, plasma, and ink. No worries, that’s just one of the joys of healing a tattoo.
There may be small leaks in the sides of the bandage, that’s fine. Unless the bandage is falling off entirely, you can leave it on with some leaks.
It is waterproof, so you can shower with it on, but you still can’t swim or bathe with it on.
Rarely, people are allergic or sensitive to the adhesive in the bandage. If you notice a painful redness around the bandage, go ahead and take it off and follow steps 3-8.
Did I wrap you in plastic wrap instead?
Leave your bandage on at least 2 hours, at most 1 night. Then follow steps 3-8 listed above.