aftercare

the following outlines what you should expect leaving a tattoo session with me along with an aftercare guide which may be used as a reference in case that you are unsure of the proper procedures for tattoo aftercare

upon completion of your tattoo:

all of my tattoos leave the studio with a derm-shield covering unless you specifically request to not have it. this barrier will keep foreign objects and pathogens out while keeping healing fluids and plasma in.

fresh tattoos are similar to open wounds and should be treated as such. they are the most susceptible to infection during the first few days of healing but may still take on infection even up to the first few months. its during this time that you will want to be the most careful and attentive to your new piece.

handpoked tattoos are generally much less traumatizing to the skin and will not produce nearly the same amount of blood and plasma as a typical tattoo done with a machine would. the healing process for handpoked tattoos is therefore consistently quicker that machine tattoos but must still be attended to with the same amount of precaution

  1. step 1 is the easiest, and it is to NOT listen to your friends. though good friends typically only try to give the best advice possible, leave the aftercare instructions to the professionals who administered your new tattoo. every artist tattoos differently and trauma to the skin may be different from artist to artist and ideally, every artists gives proper aftercare instructions corresponding to their particular style of tattooing. i.e. even if your friends are giving you the advice for healing this tattoo recommended to them by their artists, unless their artist is me, the trauma delt to your skin will be different than to that of your friends.

  2. please leave the derm shield over your tattoo for at least 5 days, but for up to 10 if you are able to. if your piece might require a second wrapping due to fluid leakage or accidental peeling contact me and i will administer you a second one. following this period, gently remove the protective barrier from the tattoo. the best way to do this is by running it under some warm water. start at a corner and allow the water pressure to help you to gently remove the adhesive side without pulling too much or damaging any healing spots on the tattoo. take as much time as you need during this process.

  3. once the barrier is removed, give the tattoo a gentle rinse with unscented and preferably antimicrobial soap and water. gentle wipes with a moistened bare hand and a soft dabbing with a paper towel should suffice. periodic washes with unscented, antimicrobial soap are encouraged, especially during the first few weeks of the healing process or until the skin is completely closed.

  4. the focus of the next several weeks should be concentrated around proper sanitation and moisturization. keep a thin but perpetual layer of unscented moisturizer such as Lubriderm or Aquaphor on it until the skin is completely healed. this will help to make sure that the healing skin has the proper moisture but also nutrient levels to promote proper and fast healing. a thin layer keeping the surface of your skin moist is all you need. be cautious of oversaturating your new tattoo with too much moisture.

  5. the two things that will destroy a fresh tattoo the most effectively are salt and UV. Please avoid these two things aggressively for the first 3-4 weeks after a fresh tattoo. Avoid strenuous or sweat-causing activities and keep the tattoo covered if you expect to be in sunlight for an extended amount of time. however, please do NOT apply sunscreen until the tattoo is completely healed or the skin is completely closed. please don’t swim in the ocean, in a swimming pool, or soak your new tattoo for extended periods of time until it is completely healed

  6. a tattoo is fully healed when there are no longer any visible scabs, areas that are raised, and the tattooed areas appear tight and sub-surface. the ink should appear as if it is totally underneath a new layer of skin.

  7. please feel free to reach out to me via email or via Instagram DM if you have any questions regarding aftercare, touch ups or second sessions.

enjoy your new tattoo !