Off The Wall 2 - Tattoo Aftercare

Tattoo Aftercare

Written by Administrator
Thursday, 10 March 2005
You have a new tattoo , these are the steps you need to follow to ensure your tattoo heals properly with minimal color fading. Remember that how well you take care of your tattoo during the healing process will determine how well your tattoo looks over time. 1. Remove your bandage after an hour to 4 hours. Wash the tattoo with warm water and soap, do not rub bar soap on the tattoo. If using bar soap lather it in the hand before applying it to the new tattoo. Do not use loofa?s, wash clothes, or sponges to clean the tattoo, use your hand, as this is not abrasive and will not damage the newly tattooed area. Use cold water only. Hot water will cause the pores to open up allowing the tattoo pigment to ?fall out?. Follow up by rinsing the tattoo with fresh cold water. 2. Blot away any excess moisture and water with clean towel, then allow to air dry fully before applying ointment. If any moisture is trapped beneath the layer of ointment and the skin scabbing will occur, resulting in color loss. 3. Apply a very light coat of ointment to your tattoo as often as needed to keep the tattoo hydrated . You should use a balm or ointment made specifically for tattooing. A&D ointments and other products like Bacitracin were made as antibiotic ointments, meaning they are used to draw out an infection. A tattoo is not an infection, and in many cases these products can cause ink to be drawn from the skin. Also over the counter ointments are mostly all petroleum based. Petroleum is not water soluble and in many cases clogs pores resulting in blemishes at the sight of your new tattoo, this will result in pigment loss at sight of blemish DO NOT apply ointment heavily as too much ointment will again draw the color out of the tattoo. Your tattoo artist will also make available to you a tried and proven tattoo ointment made just for healing tattoo?s properly. You should do this for at least the first week of healing your tattoo. Use the tattoo balm until tattoo has pealed. After the tattoo has totally peeled begin to use vitamin enriched lotions, unscented and free from dyes and lanolin. Fragrance free and dye free Lubriderm work well. 4. If you work outside during summer and are exposed to sunlight often, it is important that you put a sunblock on the tattoo. The sun will cause the color to fade when prolonged exposure occurs. The same applies with tanning. It is recommended that you do not tan, however if you do be sure to use a sunblock on the tattoo. 5. Your tattoo will take approximately a month to heal fully, until then, colors may appear dull and skin may appear wrinkled and thin at the sight of the new tattoo. Because the skin is new, you need to take great care during the first month remember that just because it?s peeled that it is not necessarily healed. Do not submerge, scratch or subject your new tattoo to abuse. DO NOT 1. Scratch at the tattoo when it becomes itchy. The tattooed area itching is completely normal and is a sign that the tattoo is in a healing stage. 2. Do not pick at any scabs, or peel any flaking skin from the tattoo. Scabs and flaking are normal, it is important however that you to not pick at them because in many cases pigmented skin is attached to it and picking at it will remove the pigment as well as cause scarring. 3. No hot tubs, saunas, or pools. All of these contain chlorine and other chemicals that are harmful for your unhealed tattoo. Not only does it harbor chemicals but a lot of dangerous bacteria that may cause infection. 4. Do not use Vaseline, this will draw the color out quickly. Use only ointments that your artist recommends. 5. Do not bandage your tattoo. It is not necessary to bandage your new tattoo. If it is, your artist will tell you how long to wear it and how to remove it. Typically bandages are only given for larger scale tattoo?s or tattoo?s where clothing or other objects are causing unnecessary friction to the newly tattooed area. 6. Do not submerge your new tattoo in the bath tub, this will open the pores and allow the color to fade out. The same applies to showering, do not take extremely hot showers, keep the water cool and do not allow the water from the shower to beat directly onto the newly tattooed area. If you were given a bandage it should be removed an hour to 4 hours after receiving your new tattoo. Do this carefully by starting at the top, and slowly peeling it downward until the bandage is removed. Do not pull the bandage off quickly as it will cause both skin and pigment loss. If the bandage has dried to the skin it is important that you do not attempt to remove it until you have ran the bandage and area under cold water until saturated, then begin to remove it slowly again by starting from the top and working your way slowly to the bottom. This will prevent losing pigment and tissue. Off the Wall will give you a free touch up within the first 3 months of receiving the tattoo, and excludes feet, hands, and neck tattoo's. Free touch ups are done only by the artist who done the tattoo initially, if another artist does the touchup to the tattoo, you will be charge no less than a $20minimum for touch up work. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your new tattoo, please call Off the WALL II @ 1-616-786-9273 or visit our website
Last Updated ( Saturday, 28 March 2009 )