Tattoo Aftercare

Full Overview

From Electric Cat Tattoo

Basics

Your tattoo deserves the best care from the moment you leave the studio. Proper aftercare is essential to prevent infection, fading, and irritation. Make sure to gently clean your tattoo with lukewarm water and antibacterial soap, then a light layer of tattoo balm. Follow your artist's instructions, and if you notice anything unusual, don’t hesitate to contact your artist or a doctor right away.

Tattoo Cover

After your tattoo session, your artist will clean the area and cover your fresh tattoo with a bandage. It's important to keep the bandage on for at least three hours and up to four days—just be sure to follow their instructions. When it's time to remove the bandage, wash your hands with antibacterial soap before gently washing your tattoo. Run it under really warm water for a few minutes, to break up adhesive. During the healing process, wear loose and breathable fabrics over your tattoo to avoid irritation and prevent any sticking to lotions or gels. Lotions are not recommended right away. Take moisturizing lightly, while the tattoo is still fresh.

Things to Avoid

When caring for your new tattoo, avoid wearing tight clothing that can create friction against it. Keep it out of direct sunlight and regularly apply an artist-approved ointment or balm to prevent dryness. It's normal to experience sc or flaking; resist the urge touch them, as picking can lead to scars or missing ink. Trust the healing process, remember that while the itchiness can be tough, scratching may increase the risk of infection.

Tattoo Aftercare Products

Best Tattoo Aftercare Products:

Dial anti-bacterial liquid hand soap, gold

Baby Dove sensitive skincare body wash

Dove beauty bar

What to Expect with a Fresh Tattoo

What to Expect

Expect redness, swelling, and tenderness for the first few days, followed by scabbing and flaking as the tattoo begins to heal. This is a normal part of the healing process as your skin adjusts to the new ink. Your tattoo may also seem less vibrant, and some ink may rub off on clothes or bedding, which is normal. The ink will be absorbed by your body into the subdermis, where it will integrate seamlessly. Meanwhile, the epidermis will undergo a natural healing process, ensuring a smooth appearance. This interaction showcases the body's remarkable ability to rejuvenate and adapt.

Bandage

You will be provided with a protective cover from your artist, who will thoroughly explain the specifics of the cover, including the essential dos and don'ts, as well as the proper method for its removal. You can to wear this cover for approximately 24 hours to a week, depending the nature of the work received. Following this initial period, you will need to focus on maintaining the healing process, which will typically last for about a month.

What to do Next

Your artist will provide you with verbal and written aftercare instructions. There are printed instruction sheets, free and available to take home. Please, take them. We have a "Second-Skin Aftercare" sheet and a "DOs and DONTs for Dry Healing". Stick to cleaning the tattoo for about a week and allow it dry out. Moisture build-up can lead to an infection, so we don't want you lathering on lotion, just yet. Allow your tattoo to receive oxygen. Once, the skin has dried and outer layer has formed over, you may start applying recommended moisturizers. Remember to to use a light layer that completely absorbs. After about 4 weeks, you may do as you please, but help us help you, first.

No No

Do not scratch, rub, pick, or suffocate your fresh tattoo. Suffocate; drowning the tattoo in lotions, skin oils or other creams. You want to keep chemicals away from your "open wound" as much as possible , especially for a fresh tattoo. Open skin is dangerous, as in, you'll be susceptible to getting an infection. So be extra careful what you allow in your fresh wounds. This can cause your tattoo to fade away or scar, but worse... you could end up in the hospital. No soaking under water, beaches, pool, baths, etc., of any kind! Germs and bacteria are everyyywherreee. No tight clothing or rubbing your tattoo on any surfaces. This is considered the same as scratching and picking; it can pull out ink while the skin is still considered 'open".

Concerned?

Something weird happening? If you're not sure, your artist may take a look to assess the situation. It could be something causing irritation as simple as over-cleaning or over-moisturizing, but your artist is not a doctor.