Healing Your Tattoo

To care for your tattoo you will need an unscented, alcohol free soap & an unscented moisturizer. I recommend Dove Sensitive Skin soap & Unscented Lubriderm or Aveeno moisturizer.

FOR SECOND SKIN BANDAGE:

• (clear bandage): Leave bandage on at least until the morning after your tattoo appointment. If there is little to no fluid buildup under the bandage feel free to leave it on for 3-4 days after your appointment. *It is absolutely normal to have a buildup of plasma, blood & excess ink from the tattoo, under the bandage. You just don’t want this sitting around under the bandage.*
• If you think you are having a reaction to the bandage, take it off right away and wash the tattoo thoroughly. A reaction to the bandage usually does not affect the tattoo itself, but will result in a rash around it that can last a few days. Please notify me if you have a reaction.
  Remove the bandage in the shower, warm water will loosen the adhesive. Peel the bandage off slowly by pulling from the top down. Wash the tattoo thoroughly with warm water and unscented soap.  Always ensure your hands are clean before touching your healing tattoo. Let air dry or dab with paper towel (don’t use cloth towels)

FOR BLACK BANDAGE:

• Keep the bandage on for at least a few hours following your appointment or leave on until morning if it’s comfortable to do so. When you remove the bandage wash immediately with warm water and unscented soap. It is normal to see some blood and excess ink on the bandage and on your skin.​

WASHING & MOISTURIZING:

• Wash your tattoo at least twice a day during the healing process, or more if needed. Starting on the third day of healing you can begin moisturizing your tattoo as needed. Use a small amount of unscented lotion 1-3 times daily. Good times to moisturize the tattoo are when it feels uncomfortably dry or itchy.
• Expect 10-20 days for healing. Skin may remain dry for the following weeks and the tattoo can stay a bit raised or shiny looking as the tattoo settles into the skin. Continue to moisturize the tattoo until your skin returns to normal.

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During the healing process your tattoo may scab, flake, appear to be fading, feel itchy, sore, hot or tight. This is all normal. Redness or swelling is also common for the first day or sometimes a few days following the tattoo session, but it should not be worsening as the healing progresses and you should not be experiencing any extreme or worsening pain from your healing tattoo.

In some cases, particularly if you have a lot of other tattoos, you may experience flare-ups in your older tattoos while the new one heals. If your older tattoos are becoming raised and or itchy you can apply a bit of moisturizer to soothe them. Avoid scratching them as this will cause further irritation. This is a temporary immune reaction and should pass quickly. 

If you suspect your tattoo is infected consult with your doctor immediately.

If you have any questions or concerns during or after the healing process please don’t hesitate to contact me.​

Things to Avoid During the Healing Process​

• Submerging the tattoo in water: Showers are fine, but steer clear of baths, pools and beaches until the tattoo is fully healed
• Keep shampoo or other scented products that may irritate the tattoo away from it. When showering, wash the tattoo with your unscented soap last to ensure no other products are lingering on the tattoo.
• Cloth towels: do not use them to dry the tattoo, they can hold onto bacteria or can get little fibers stuck in your healing tattoo
• Direct sunlight: even once healed, sunlight and skin burns will fade your tattoo. Keep out of sunlight or wear clothing to cover it during the healing. Once fully healed, use sunscreen on your tattoo when you are out in the sun
• Scratching and picking: your tattoo will likely get itchy and flake or scab during the healing process. DO NOT pick or scratch it. You can moisturize the tattoo to alleviate itchiness.

Healed Tattoos

see instagram highlights for more healed work