Aftercare
My Recommended Tattoo Aftercare: What You Need to Know
Aftercare is arguably the most critical part of the tattooing process. You’ve invested time and money in your new artwork, and following these instructions will ensure the best possible healing and longevity for your tattoo. Listening to your artist is very important.
My Primary Recommendation: Recovery Wrap
I personally recommend Recovery Wrap (or a similar product like Saniderm or Tegaderm) above all other healing methods. This is a thin, breathable, medical-grade plastic that we apply right after your session.
- How to Use It: Simply leave the wrap on for 5 days.
- The Benefit: Nothing I have used provides better healing results. There is no messy ointment, no complicated washing routine, and significantly less worry.
Alternative Healing (If You Can’t Use the Wrap)
If you can’t use the Recovery Wrap for any reason, or if we need to heal between multi-day sessions, here are the instructions for the traditional healing method.
The core principle here is: Less is more! Your tattoo is a controlled, sterile abrasion. It only needs a little moisture.
Cleaning and Moisturizing (Aquaphor Technique)
- Cleaning: Wash your hands, then gently wash the tattoo with an unscented antibacterial soap at least three times a day.
- Drying: Let the tattoo air-dry for 10–15 minutes after washing. Do not apply ointment to a wet tattoo.
- Moisturizer: I recommend Aquaphor above all other ointments.
- The Trick (Crucial Technique): People often "goop" on a thick coat, thinking more is better, but this suffocates the skin. Instead, rub a thin layer of Aquaphor into the entire tattoo, then immediately rinse it all off with cool water, and dab it completely dry.
- Goal: You should see absolutely no visible ointment on the surface of your skin. The small amount absorbed into your pores is more than enough to heal the tattoo quickly and well.
- If you see any wet spots later (the ointment "sweating" out of your pores), rinse and dry the area immediately.
What You Must Avoid
The biggest threat to your healing tattoo is infection and disruption of the skin:
- Soaking: No hot tubs or swimming pools for 2 weeks. Submerging the tattoo introduces bacteria and breaks down the skin barrier.
- Sunlight: Avoid direct sunlight for 3 weeks. The new skin that grows over your tattoo is extremely sensitive and will burn quickly, even if you don't normally sunburn easily.
- Friction: Try to wear clean, loose clothing that does not rub or squeeze across the tattooed area.
- Contamination: Always sleep on clean sheets.
- Picking: Do not scratch or pick at the tattoo! Let any peeling or flaking come off naturally. Picking risks pulling out pigment and can introduce bacteria.