Aftercare

A clear second skin bandage has been put on your tattoo to keep it clean and protected for the first few days while it’s in the early healing stages.

I’d recommend that you leave the bandage on for anywhere between 2 and 5 days, or as long as it feels comfortable to you.

Just a heads up!

You will likely see a little bit of liquid build up inside the bandage within the first day or so. This is just part of the healing process where the tattoo is going to weep a little bit of excess blood, ink and plasma out of the wound. This is totally fine and actually helps the tattoo heal more quickly, but it can look a little messy.

Remove earlier if:

• There is redness or irritation around the edges of the bandage

• The seal around the tattoo is broken and the tattoo is exposed 

• There is sweat or an excessive amount of fluid in the in the bandage

Once the bandage is removed, clean the area well with liquid antibacterial soap.

If you were given a second bandage:

Make sure that the entire area is cleaned well, rinsed completely and free of soap residue. Allow the area to fully dry, wash your hands and then apply the second bandage.

Do not leave the tattoo exposed for more than half an hour before putting on the second bandage.

Leave the bandage on for another few days or until it’s about a week from the day you were tattooed. Wash the tattoo well after the bandage is removed.

After the bandage is off:

You may find that the area is dry or potentially scabby, and that the skin may feel itchy or tight. You can apply a small amount of unscented moisturizer with clean hands to soothe the skin to avoid scratching while it finishes healing over the following week or two.

While the tattoo is healing make sure to avoid:

• Swimming, baths or hot tubs (showering is totally fine)

• Excessive heat or direct sunlight

• Shaving, scratching or exfoliating the area

• Excessive exercise

After the tattoo is healed:

Exfoliating, moisturizing and protecting your skin from the sun is the best way to keep your skin healthy and your tattoos looking fresh for longer. 

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Make sure that you are regularly applying high SPF sunscreen to your tattoos (and your skin in general) any time they're exposed - even if it's not sunny, you can still burn and damage your skin.