Tattoo Aftercare
*...Remove the bandage after one hour..(or longer depending on length of tattoo session)wash it immediately after removing bandage...remove all the old ointment keep washing until you get all the metaphorical"slime" off and it feels like the rest of your skin...then continue the process
*....WASH IT TWICE A DAY
use lukewarm water and a mild soap (ie dove or ivory)
final rinse the tattoo with COLD water...cold water tightens up the pores of the skin and keeps the ink IN rather than the poreopening warm water effect of "oozing" OUT..
blot dry and wait for the tattoo to come to a complete dry before applying LOTION
do not apply moist lotion to a moist tattoo...the whole concept of healing is to allow the skin to form a healing layer (thin scab) that will flake off (and appear similar to what colorful fish flake food looks like , a weird way to describe it but it makes sense) ....ointment based products keep a new tattoo far to moist ...it bubbles up and you loose all the color that hangs out in that ointment ...constantly washing a new tattoo also has the detrimental effect of removing that thin healing layer
less is best... just remember the more you fuck with it the LONGER it will take to heal...
a dry heal takes a bit longer but a a wet one (Ie to much ointment or lotion) causes color loss....(for example, ever take off a bandage and have a perfect print of your tattoo?...or your bedsheet?...or your clothing ..we all have ) if your skin heals IN the color you will not have any color loss ...
**DO NOT USE ANY petroleum based ointment products on your new tattoo...(NO A&D NO bacitracin NO neosporin, no ink fixx, tattoo goo read the label ) use only unscented lotions such as
CUREL,
LUBRIDERM,
~NIVEA,
~EUCERIN
Palmers coco butter
Out to Sea
**... Do not soak in bathtub, hotub, pool, ocean or any body of water ~until the tattoo has healed and peeled completly
Everybodys body is different and your healing time will differ depending on how you take care of your tattoo ...usually, after five to seven days (for some sooner)the tattoo will begin to peel, light and flaky peel ,similar to a sunburn ...in my opinion it takes several weeks for a tattoo to fully heal and I require a two-three week heal time before your next tattoo sitting..there will always be those lingering spots here and there throught the piece that take a tad bit longer than the rest to heal
***Finally, after it is fully healed Use SUNSCREEN always and ...FOREVER...think of the sun's rays as a giant laser, slowly disinegrating the tattoo ink that has been painfully placed into your dermis..
I have taken care of each of my tattoos differently based on the care instructions provided to me by the 40 plus artists who have worked on me in 7 different states over the last 14 plus years and I can assure you the above instructions provide the best heal time without any need for recoloring.
remember, less is best ...use lotion sparingly in the beginning ,rub in throughly, once the tattoo begins to peel you will notice the need to apply lotion more frequently
Do NOT pick at it ...I know it's hard...remember TWICE A DAY religiously
Happy Healing.
Lisa Schmoldt
*....WASH IT TWICE A DAY
use lukewarm water and a mild soap (ie dove or ivory)
final rinse the tattoo with COLD water...cold water tightens up the pores of the skin and keeps the ink IN rather than the poreopening warm water effect of "oozing" OUT..
blot dry and wait for the tattoo to come to a complete dry before applying LOTION
do not apply moist lotion to a moist tattoo...the whole concept of healing is to allow the skin to form a healing layer (thin scab) that will flake off (and appear similar to what colorful fish flake food looks like , a weird way to describe it but it makes sense) ....ointment based products keep a new tattoo far to moist ...it bubbles up and you loose all the color that hangs out in that ointment ...constantly washing a new tattoo also has the detrimental effect of removing that thin healing layer
less is best... just remember the more you fuck with it the LONGER it will take to heal...
a dry heal takes a bit longer but a a wet one (Ie to much ointment or lotion) causes color loss....(for example, ever take off a bandage and have a perfect print of your tattoo?...or your bedsheet?...or your clothing ..we all have ) if your skin heals IN the color you will not have any color loss ...
**DO NOT USE ANY petroleum based ointment products on your new tattoo...(NO A&D NO bacitracin NO neosporin, no ink fixx, tattoo goo read the label ) use only unscented lotions such as
CUREL,
LUBRIDERM,
~NIVEA,
~EUCERIN
Palmers coco butter
Out to Sea
**... Do not soak in bathtub, hotub, pool, ocean or any body of water ~until the tattoo has healed and peeled completly
Everybodys body is different and your healing time will differ depending on how you take care of your tattoo ...usually, after five to seven days (for some sooner)the tattoo will begin to peel, light and flaky peel ,similar to a sunburn ...in my opinion it takes several weeks for a tattoo to fully heal and I require a two-three week heal time before your next tattoo sitting..there will always be those lingering spots here and there throught the piece that take a tad bit longer than the rest to heal
***Finally, after it is fully healed Use SUNSCREEN always and ...FOREVER...think of the sun's rays as a giant laser, slowly disinegrating the tattoo ink that has been painfully placed into your dermis..
I have taken care of each of my tattoos differently based on the care instructions provided to me by the 40 plus artists who have worked on me in 7 different states over the last 14 plus years and I can assure you the above instructions provide the best heal time without any need for recoloring.
remember, less is best ...use lotion sparingly in the beginning ,rub in throughly, once the tattoo begins to peel you will notice the need to apply lotion more frequently
Do NOT pick at it ...I know it's hard...remember TWICE A DAY religiously
Happy Healing.
Lisa Schmoldt
