There are two ways to heal a tattoo. Method one is with the help of wrap. Method two is an open healing process without the use of wrap.

With wrap:

1) Upon completion of your tattoo appointment, leave the provided bandage on your tattoo for the next 24 hours (or as close to this timeframe as possible).

2) After the first 24 hours take a look at your tattoo. You may see some fluid build up under the bandage, that is perfectly normal! Remove the bandage and wash the tattooed area with unscented soap and lukewarm water.***

3) Let the tattoo air dry for 5-10 minutes. If the tattoo does not have adequate time to dry, the replacement bandage will not adhere correctly. Do not pat it dry with anything to avoid cross contamination and to minimize the potential risk for infection.

4) Re-bandage your tattoo with the second bandage provided by your artist. Leave this bandage on the tattoo for the next 4-5 days. Do not leave it on for longer than one week.

5) Remove the second wrap following the same process listed above. Wash the tattoo with unscented soap and lukewarm water. Leave the tattoo alone for the next 24 hours. Avoid touching the tattooed area as much as possible.

6) Wash the tattoo once a day with unscented soap and lukewarm water 1-2 times a day. Apply a light layer of unscented lotion to the tattoo 2-3 times a day, or as needed. Repeat this step for the next 2-4 weeks, or until the tattoo is fully healed.

Without Wrap:

1) Upon the completion of your tattoo appointment leave the provided bandage on for 2-4 hours, or until the end of the day.

2) Remove the bandage provided by your artist and wash the tattooed area with unscented soap and lukewarm water.***

3) Let the tattoo air dry for 5-10 minutes. Do not pat it dry with anything to avoid cross contamination and to minimize the potential risk for infection. Leave the tattoo alone for the next 24 hours and avoid touching the tattooed area as much as possible.

4) Wash the tattoo once a day with unscented soap and lukewarm water 1-2 times a day. Apply a light layer of unscented lotion to the tattoo 2-3 times a day, or as needed. Repeat this step for the next 2-4 weeks, or until the tattoo is fully healed.

Important:

***Unscented soaps such as Softsoap or Dial work great. Avoid using scented lotions to moisturize the tattoo. Scented soaps and lotions tend to be alcohol based, this will dry out the tattooed area and have adverse effects on the healing process and final condition of the tattoo. Avoid using petroleum based lotions (i.e. Vaseline, Aquaphor, etc.) as this can clog the pores of your skin and trap bacteria in the tattoo which can lead to infection. I highly recommend using Palmer’s Cocoa Butter or Hustle Butter to lotion the tattooed area.

Avoid touching the tattoo as much as possible during the healing process, and make sure your hands are clean when applying lotion and bandages. This will minimize the chance of cross contamination and the chance of getting an infection. While the tattoo is healing, it should be treated like an open wound.

If you decide to change your bandage while taking a shower, be sure to use a clean towel to dry off and avoid directly drying the tattooed area if possible.

If you have any questions about the healing process of your tattoo, or have any concerns during this process, please do not hesitate to contact your artist directly, or the shop where you received the tattoo.

DO NOT reach out to your friends to ask for their advice on the healing process, as their body will heal vastly different from how yours will. It is best to speak directly with your artist.