tattoo aftercare isn’t as complex as you may think

Following every tattoo I make I will apply a thin layer of vaseline and wrap the tattoo in plastic. Wear this home and for at least 30 minutes - this will allow the bleeding to settle quicker.

Shower with warm water and wash with soap massaging the tattoo to help release any excess blood and fluids - using water as hot as you can handle will help release any excess but be careful as heat will be painful on the tattoo. You’re welcome to use any kind of soap but if you are experiencing irritation then try switching to unscented soap.

Use a clean towel to pat-dry, do not scrub-dry while your tattoo is healing. Let the tattoo air-dry for about 15 minutes then apply a thin layer of your aftercare, just enough to leave a bit of a gloss so the tattoo feels hydrated, do not layer it on thick. The shop sells aftercare cream which I recommend, otherwise Bepanthen Antiseptic, most dry skin body moisturizers and tattoo creams work just fine. Feel free to ask me about any products you have in mind.

Most tattoos I make take around 1-2 weeks to heal, during this time its essential to keep the tattoo clean. Do not pick or scratch the tattoo as you can pull pigmentation out of the skin and will leave a patch, slapping or very light scratching over some clothing can help alleviate itching. Do not re-wrap the tattoo, fresh air helps all wounds heal and the same applies for tattoos. Showers and running water is fine but avoid soaking, bathing and swimming, bacteria hangs around in water and will get into open wounds which can cause serious infection and require urgent medical attention. Avoid vigorous exercise for the first 5 days, sweat and dirty gym equipment usually carries Staph which can become a serious skin infection and will require medical attention and likely a heavy dose of antibiotics.

If you are concerned about getting your new tattoo dirty you can acquire adhesive bandages from a chemist. Opsite Flexfix (Second Skin) and Fixomull are the best two alternatives to conventional healing that I have tried myself.

Opsite (a.k.a. Second Skin) is a plastic adhesive film that traps everything inside and creates a barrier from the external, it is good for protecting healing tattoos from the outside world but it is essential that the tattoo is 100% sanitized before applying as it doesn’t allow for anything to escape. To use Opsite you must follow the initial procedure until the tattoo has air-dried after a shower. Then with clean hands cut a piece that overlaps the tattoo perimeter by about an inch, shave if necessary. Leave this on for about 2 days then remove in the shower, wash, dry and reapply a new piece of Opsite and leave for 5 days. Take off in the shower, wash and dry and your tattoo should be more or less healed - if it is still peeling a bit follow the original aftercare method until the tattoo has stopped peeling. If you find irritation around the bandage you may have an adhesive allergy, please remove it and continue healing with the cream method and the irritation should settle. If it does not please feel free to contact me for any questions.

Fixomull is a porous fabric adhesive bandage that protects the tattoo very well from the external but allows the tattoo to weep through the bandage. To use Fixomull you must follow the initial procedure until the tattoo has air-dried after a shower. Then with clean hands cut a piece that overlaps the tattoo perimeter by about an inch, shave if necessary. Apply the Opsite to the tattoo and leave for a week, over this course you will notice the tattoo weeping through the bandage, this is normal you can wash it off in the shower easily, you do not have to replace the bandage. Take off in the shower, wash and dry and your tattoo should be more or less healed - if it is still peeling a bit follow the original aftercare method until the tattoo has stopped peeling. If you find irritation around the bandage you may have an adhesive allergy, please remove it and continue healing with the cream method and the irritation should settle. If it does not please feel free to contact me for any questions.

If you follow all of the above you should not have to read this part, however in very rare instances infection can occur from even the smallest incidences. I do everything I can to minimize risk with active cross-contamination measures, sterilized equipment and work environment. I have had 2 tattoos from 1 session get infected before, I had staph and had to take antibiotics for 3 weeks so I have been there. If you’re concerned your tattoo is infection you must look for these signs: pain, swelling, redness, itchiness, heat around the area, puss or green discharge.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, remain calm and contact me with photos and explain your symptoms and I will recommend a doctor if necessary. Important to remember that if you have one or some of the above symptoms it does not specifically mean you have an infection. Tattooing is a painful process, it is not uncommon to experience swelling, scabbing, bruising or even pimples from razor bumps. So if you have any concerns whatsoever about your tattoo, please reach out to me first.