Keep the bandage on for a minimum of 6 hours. We recommend keeping it on overnight provided the dressing feels comfortable and secure. If you decide to remove the bandage before going to sleep, follow the instructions in the next section to properly remove the bandage and clean your tattoo.

On your first night, there’s a chance your tattoo will still bleed. The blood can dry overnight and stick to your clothes or bedding. If this happens, gently take the fabric off. DO NOT force it off or be rough with it. If it still does not come off, wet the area with lukewarm water and gently slide it off.

Fresh tattoos sometimes “weep” during the first couple of days, meaning that plasma and ink form a thin moist coating on the skin. This can be DABBED with a clean paper towel. Press the paper towel to the skin and remove. Do not wipe the tattoo or be rough with it. Do not panic when you see the colors of the tattoo on the paper towel, or on your hands as you clean it. This is simply excess ink being secreted from the surface or the skin.

To avoid stains, use towels and bedsheets with darker tones and wear dark clothing.

Before you start, make sure your hands are clean and you have unscented antibacterial soap ready. Avoid soap with fragrance, moisture beads or scrubs.

Carefully remove the bandage and tape. If you feel the bandage sticking to the tattoo, wet it with lukewarm water until you can gently slide it off.Make a lather in your hands with soap and warm water. NO washcloths, bath towels, or sponges on a fresh tattoo.Gently clean the tattoo using a circular motion until all ointment and plasma are removed.Rinse the tattoo gently until the skin is clean.Pat dry with a clean towel or paper towel then allow to fully air dry for a minimum of 10 minutes. DO NOT SCRUB.Once the tattoo is dry, apply a very small amount of healing ointment. Gently rub the ointment into your tattoo. DAB any excess off with a clean paper towel. We suggest using Aquaphor Advanced Therapy Healing Ointment or similar product.

Applying too much ointment can cause your tattoo to “suffocate.” Apply only a very thin coat so your tattoo can breathe. The point of moisturizing the tattoo is to keep it from drying out, which will make it hard for your skin to heal. You just want to moisturize the tattoo as if you are moisturizing your hands. You don’t leave globs of moisturizer on your fingers; you rub it in very gently so there is no excess. Too much ointment on your new tattoo will draw the ink out of your skin and the tattoo won’t heal as bright or as dark as it should be. Also, after the excess ointment draws the ink out of your skin, it will dry into a thick scab. If the thick scab is pulled off prematurely, it will leave a blank spot in your tattoo, which will then need a touch-up. So remember to GENTLY DAB off the excess ointment or it will ruin your tattoo.

Clean your new tattoo this way 1-2 times a day for the first 5-7 days.

Apply the healing ointment 2-3 times a day (Remember, keep it light!) for the first 5-7 days as well, or until your tattoo starts to flake/peel like a sunburn.

When the peeling begins, switch to a regular FRAGRANCE FREE lotion for an additional 2 weeks. We suggest using Lubriderm Daily Moisture or similar product.

If at any point during the first 5-7 days you notice a rash or small whitehead like bumps form on, or around, your new tattoo, immediately discontinue using the Aquaphor, clean off any remming ointment with antibacterial soap, then proceed to next step, and start using the FRAGRANCE FREE lotion. If the symptoms persist after that, try reducing the number of daily lotion applications.

There is no need to re-bandage the tattoo, but please be mindful that your tattoo is a wound and when unwrapped, it is prone to dirt and bacteria which may cause infection. Avoid direct contact with any surface.

After the first few days, your tattoo may become itchy or begin to form flaky scabs. They will fall off on their own, so DO NOT PICK OR SCRATCH AT YOUR TATTOO. Doing so can cause some of the pigment to disappear,

and your tattoo may not heal properly. Keep it moisturized and the scabs will eventually dissipate.

Keep in mind that the tattoo may appear to be fully healed on the surface once the peeling is done, and the scab is gone. However, deeper layers of skin will still be repairing for 2-4 months. We recommend a good moisturizing regimen for this ENTIRE period.

Clean towels, bedding and clothes are highly recommended during the healing process.

Showering is fine, however, please DO NOT soak your tattoo for at least 2 weeks. This means no swimming, baths or submerging your tattoo in water for long periods of time.

Avoid direct sunlight on your tattoo for at least 2 weeks and your tattoo is completely healed. After that, we advise putting on a sunblock (minimum SPF 50) on your tattoo whenever you find yourself in direct sunlight for the rest of your life. The sun will undoubtedly cause damage and compromise the longevity of your tattoo.

Wear loose clothing (preferably cotton) and avoid constricting accessories like bra straps and tight waistbands over a fresh tattoo. Avoid dirty, sweaty or itchy clothing as they can create healing problems.

Don’t work out. Larger tattoos that take up a lot of skin and/OR are near a joint will take longer to heal if the joint gets too much movement while the tattoo is trying to heal. You will feel the irritation. It is best to avoid working out until the tattoo is healed. If you take a self-defense class like karate, kung fu, or kickboxing, you may want to avoid classes for the week after getting tattooed, if that’s not an option, try to avoid getting hit near the area of the tattoo. You also may want to take it easy on the calisthenics. Many construction workers and mechanics will get tattooed on a Friday so they have the whole weekend to start healing. It’s best to take it easy for a while to let your new tattoo heal properly.

Your new tattoo should be healed within 2-4 weeks and continue to settle for the following 2-4 months.