Make sure to have products and supplies ready at home. A few of these products can only be ordered online - if you are interested in trying them out, order them well in advance before your tattoo session! As for the other products, they are easy to find at most grocery and convenience stores. Don't procrastinate on collecting supplies before hand - scrambling to collect supplies after getting tattooed is stressful and risky!

SOAP

Dr. Bronner's Baby Unscented Pure-Castile Soap

MOISTURIZERS

Crybaby Tattoo Ointment (must order online)

Palmer's Cocoa Butter and Vitamin E lotion

SECOND-SKIN BANDAGES

Recovery Aftercare Derm Shield (must order online)

Lucky Tattoo Healing Cover Skin Bandage (must order online)

EXTRAS

Fragrance-free puppy pee pads

Medical Tape

New roll of paper towels

There are a few aftercare options that I will recommend depending on the individual person, their tattoo, allergy risks, and more. I may even combine them! Review the different options below so you are aware and ready for whatever I throw your way!

You will leave the studio with a clear "second-skin" bandage that you will be leaving on for 3-7 days. I will provide a free bandage to send you home with - but it is recommended that you have products at home in case this first bandage fails. Depending on the size, location, and style of tattoo you've gotten, you may need a bandage change the following day,

NOTE: A bandage change may ONLY be done within a 24-48 hour time frame - if the bandage is removed after 24-48 hours has passed, follow the Standard Aftercare Instructions. The second-skin bandage should be left on for no more than 7 days.

Fluids may fill the bandage – this is completely normal! The fluid is plasma, blood, and excess ink that will either dry up or be reabsorbed over the course of a few days. Your tattoo will very feel dry after about 3 days, but this is normal - do not remove the bandage early!

Do not be worried if your bandage does not last for the recommended time frame – just reach out with your questions/concerns and refer to the Standard Aftercare Instructions should the bandage fail. If the bandage barrier is compromised, it is imperative that you remove it and proceed to following the Standard Aftercare Instructions. Leaking fluids, tears, and/or peeling away to the extent that the tattoo is exposed requires immediate removal. The borders should be sealed around the tattoo!

Recovery Aftercare Derm Shield and Lucky Tattoo Healing Cover Skin Bandages can get wet in a brief shower - but take care to not soak or submerge the bandage. Working out, outdoor activities, swimming, and theme parks are not recommended - keep your tattoo out of the sun! If you develop a rash around the perimeter of the bandage or if the skin making contact with the bandage turns red (aside from tattoo redness/swelling), you may be allergic to the adhesive - remove the bandage and follow standard aftercare.

BANDAGE CHANGE INSTRUCTIONS

A bandage change can only be done within a 24-48 time frame from the day of your tattoo session. If a bandage fails after this time frame, remove it and follow standard tattoo aftercare.

First, use your clean hands to pull at the edge of the bandage – its best to pull the bandage as if it were a command strip and let it “stretch” off the skin. Take your time. Some find soaking the bandage during a warm shower just before removal is helpful in weakening the adhesive - of course, only do this if you are planning on removing it right after!

Once removed, wash the tattoo super well using a fragrance-free anti-bacterial soap - use the palm of your hand to lather the tattoo and wash it thoroughly. You may need to wash, rinse, and repeat multiple times to clean away the dried plasma and excess ink. I recommend Dr. Bronner's Baby Unscented Pure-Castile Soap - it's a concentrate, so a little bit goes a long way!

Once washed, pat the tattoo and the skin around it with a clean paper towel until completely dry. To be sanitary and totally safe, I recommend having a new roll of paper towels just for use during your heal! Don't use that roll of paper towels sitting in your kitchen.

When your tattoo is totally dry, do not apply any moisturizer or ointments - the second skin bandage needs to be applied directly to your clean, dry tattoo. So only once the skin is completely dry, apply the new bandage - be sure to leave a border of at least 1” around the tattoo.

And you're all set! Reminder: a bandage change can only be done within 24-48 hours following your tattoo session. After this time frame, it is best to follow standard aftercare if the bandage fails. If your bandage lasts the full 5-7 day period, still proceed to standard aftercare for the remainder of your heal!

PRO SECOND-SKIN BANDAGE TIPS:

- Wash your bedding before your tattoo session!

- Sleep on a puppy pee pad to catch potential leaks overnight.

- Take 1-2 days off work if possible following the tattoo session to focus on recovery.

- Plan on having a friend/family member available to help with bandage changes.

- Screenshot the aftercare for quick and easy reference - or download the PDF file above!

In some cases, I will recommend that for the first day of healing , you protect your tattoo using fragrance-free puppy pee pads. I know it sounds weird - but this is one of the best ways to start aftercare and have a super smooth heal. I will provide puppy pads at your tattoo session if I have stock, but it's never a bad idea to have them at home just in case I am short on supply or if something happens at home and you have to do extra changes. Be sure to use fragrance-free puppy pee pads that have no attractant.

If I recommend this method, I will prepare your puppy pad for the first night when you leave the tattoo session. But the next day, you will need to change it - follow these instructions at home:

First, with clean hands, wash the tattoo super well using the palm of your hand. I recommend Dr. Bronner's Baby Unscented Pure-Castile Soap - it's a concentrate, so a little bit goes a long way! The tattoo may be sore, but do not be too gentle - clean the tattoo well until all the plasma and goo is washed away. You may have to wash, rinse, and repeat to get it all.

After washing, run cold water over it before patting dry with a clean paper towel (NEVER use a loofah,  rag or bath towel on the tattoo, and do not use a fan to air dry). To be sanitary and totally safe, I recommend having a new roll of paper towels just for use during your heal! Don't use that roll of paper towels sitting in your kitchen.

Only after the tattoo is fully dry, apply a layer of moisturizer (see Recommended Products for the best of the best!). Be sure to rub the moisturizer into the skin, but also allow a thin layer to rest over it - ONLY when doing the puppy pad method do you want the tattoo to stay moist for the first day!

Once the layer of moisturizer has been applied, wrap and cover the tattoo entirely with a fresh, clean puppy pad, and tape closed. This pad will need to be changed at least 3 times throughout the day (morning, midday, and at night). Additional pad changes are necessary if it shifts or rolls away to expose the tattoo.

Repeat this process ONLY for the first day immediately following the tattoo session. On the second day, you will remove the puppy pad and start following the Standard Aftercare Instructions or you will follow the Second Skin Bandage Instructions and apply a second skin bandage for 6 days.

PRO TIPS:

- Wash your bedding before your tattoo session!

- Wear clothing that helps to secure the puppy pad so it doesn't shift or roll to expose your tattoo.

- Take 1-2 days off work if possible following the tattoo session to focus on recovery.

- Take aftercare products to work, and do aftercare during lunch.

- Plan on having a friend/family member available to help with bandage changes.

- Screenshot the aftercare for quick and easy reference - or download the PDF file above!

Wash the tattoo well with your clean hands at least 3-4 times a day. Do not be too gentle - wash well using the palm of your hand and lather it up! You may need to wash, rinse, and repeat multiple times, especially during the first three days. I recommend Dr. Bronner's Baby Unscented Pure-Castile Soap - it's a concentrate, so a little bit is all you need!

Once clean, rinse with cool water, and then pat the tattoo dry with a clean paper towel. To be sanitary and totally safe, I recommend having a new roll of paper towels just for use during your heal! Don't use that roll of paper towels sitting in your kitchen. NEVER use a loofah or bath towel on the tattoo, and DON'T use a fan to air dry.

When totally dry, apply a small bit of moisturizer. BE SPARING! (see Recommended Products for the best of the best!) Remember: A little bit of moisturizer goes a long way - take a small amount and rub it into the tattoo until it is fully absorbed! We want the tattoo to be able to breathe - if there is excess moisturizer sitting on the tattoo, pat it down with a paper towel or use the back of your clean hand to wipe it away. Listen to your skin - if it feels tight, dry, and stingy, it's time to wash your hands and apply a little bit of moisturizer again.

If it must be covered, only wear loose, breathable, and clean clothing over the tattoo - avoid tight fitting or moisture-wicking fabrics. Take care not to let rough fabrics like denim rub up directly against your tattoo during the first week. I highly recommend UV protective clothing if you will be outdoors because you can't apply sunscreen on your tattoos while healing.

Itchiness is totally normal and can just be an annoying sign of healing so long as it is not accompanied with other symptoms of infection or allergic reactions - DON'T scratch, pick at, rub, or mess with your tattoo! When it starts to peel, DON'T pick the dead skin or "help it along" - allow the dead skin to fall away on its own. Gentle patting can help relieve some of the itch, but take care not to beat your tattoo to death.

Failing to wash the tattoo properly during the first few days after getting the tattoo can result in the development of scabs. Should your tattoo develop scabs, do not panic - just don't pick or over moisturize them! Allow scabs to fall off on their own and do your best to keep them relatively dry. Exposure to excess moisture (too much moisturizer and/or long hot showers) can also weaken a scab and worsen it causing it to grow bigger, and in the worst-case scenario, make it more prone to developing an infection.

Continue to care for your tattoo responsibly and repeat this process 3-4  times a day for 2-3 weeks. Additional washes may be necessary depending on your daily activities. Healing time is determined by many factors, but following aftercare instructions will promote the best heal possible. Keep in mind that healing time can depend on colorwork, linework, black and gray, size, location, and your immune system. No person is exactly alike - you should always consult with your artist first, not with google, friends, family, and coworkers. The average healing time is approximately 3-5 weeks. Mild redness, discomfort, and swelling is normal for the first few days and should improve day by day – not get worse!

PRO TIPS:

- Wash your bedding before your tattoo session!

- Take 1-2 days off work if possible following the tattoo session to focus on recovery.

- Take aftercare products to work, and do aftercare during lunch.

- Plan on having a friend/family member available to help with hard to reach places.

- Screenshot the aftercare for quick and easy reference - or download the PDF file above!

- Keep applying lotion well after your tattoo finishes healing - proper skin care is long term care!

- AVOID sunlight!

- NO beach, NO pool, NO sand, NO saltwater! 

- NEVER use petroleum-based products like A&D or Aquaphor!

- NEVER use Neosporin or Triple Anti-biotic ointments!

- RESIST picking or scratching your tattoo!

- DO NOT let people/kids/pets touch your tattoo!

If any of these symptoms occur, do not hesitate to go see a doctor!

- Redness, swelling, and pain that does not reduce or improve after first few days.

- Tattooed skin feeling hot – like a fever. Will be hotter than surrounding skin. (Tattoos will be warm the first few days.)

- Red lines extending outward from the tattoo.

- Rashes: they can appear zit-like or bumpy.

- Open lesions and ulcers on or near the tattooed area.

- Draining pus from tattooed area.​