Aftercare

TATTOO & PIERCING AFTERCARE

learn how to take care of your new artwork

Tattoo Aftercare Instructions

Always wash your hands before touching your tattoo.

When you get home:
  • Remove bandage within 1-2 hours of getting your tattoo. Do not rebandage; your tattoo needs to breathe, just like any open wound.
  • Wash your tattoo with a non-scented anti-bacterial liquid soap. Be gentle; do not use a washcloth or anything that will exfoliate your tattoo. Only use your hands.
  • Gently pat your tattoo dry with a paper towel. Do not rub or use fabric with a rough surface.

For the first 3-4 days:
  • Rub a small amount of healing ointment on your tattoo. We recommend Aquaphor. You may use Bacitracin, A&D, an unscented lotion (with no alcohol content) or H2Ocean Aquatat Tattoo Ointment; whatever you know you're not allergic to.
  • Always use clean hands and do not place your fingers back into the ointment after touching your tattoo.
  • Make sure to rub the ointment in so that it is not shiny, or greasy; you want the thinnest amount possible.
  • Pat off any excess ointment with a clean paper towel.
  • Do NOT use Vaseline, petroleum, Neosporin or Bag Balm.
  • Wash, dry and apply ointment 3-5 times daily, as needed.
  • Wear clean, soft clothing over your tattoo for the first 2 weeks - nothing abrasive or irritating.


After day 3 or 4:
  • Your tattoo will be beginning to peel. This is normal! Do not pick at the skin. Begin using a mild, white, unscented lotion, free of dyes or perfumes. We recommend Lubriderm.
  • Use lotion for a minimum of 2 weeks, 1-2 times daily.
  • At the first signs of adverse reaction (including any allergic reaction, swelling, infection, illness or disease) please consult a physician. Allergic reaction may cause rash around the tattoo area or scabbing.
  • Excessive redness, itchiness, and drainage of yellow or green pus (not a clear fluid) are signs of an infection in your tattoo. Please consult a physician as soon as possible.

For a foot tattoo:
Go barefoot as much as possible. If you must wear shoes, wrap your clean tattoo in saran wrap, then cover with a clean cotton sock before putting on your shoe. Avoid sandals or flip-flops for this period to prevent chafing and damage to the tattoo. Use only clean bed liners and bath towels for the duration of your expected healing time.

Things to avoid:
  •  Do not scratch, peel, slap, rub or irritate your tattoo.
  • You can shower, but you may not soak your tattoo for 2 weeks. No swimming, bathing, sauna use, etc.
  • You may not expose your tattoo to the sun for at least 3 weeks. After that you must use sun block.
  • Do not wear abrasive materials, jewelry, or shoes that rub against your tattoo. Do not let anyone touch your tattoo, unless they wash their hands.
  • Beware of gym equipment; wash it well before using it.

Piercing Aftercare Instructions

What to Clean With

Store-bought solutions:
  • Packaged sterile saline solution made for wound care (read the label).
  • Saline for contact lenses should not be used as piercing aftercare.
  • Wound wash saline is available as a spray at pharmacies throughout North America.

A non-iodized sea salt mixture you make yourself:
  • Dissolve 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon (.5 mL to 1mL) of non-iodized (iodine-free) sea salt into one cup (8 oz./ 236 mL) of warm distilled or bottled water.
  • A stronger solution can irritate your piercing, so don't put too much salt in the solution!

What to Clean With

Sea Salt Soaks:
  • These should be done 1-2 times each day with 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt to one cup of warm distilled water, or 4 teaspoons to one gallon (do not used iodized salt which has an additive to prevent clumping).
  • It should be the temperature of a hot beverage that would be comfortable to drink.
  • Use a shot glass, cup, or bowl to soak the piercing for 10 minutes. Then rinse with distilled water or shower to get rid of any salt crystals that might form when dry.
  • You can invert the piercing itself and hold the container of solution tight against the skin to create a seal, then flip back over to soak.
  • You can also soak a sterile gauze in the solution to make a compress to apply to hard to reach piercings.
  • Just like showering, the warm sea salt solution will open up capillaries and pores to flush the area and increase oxygen.
Saline Cleanings:
  • This should be done 2-3 times daily with a sterile wound wash.
  • Apply to a couple Q-tips and clean each side of the piercing.
  • You can apply a little bit of compression to cartilage piercing to help aid the layers of tissue to heal back together.
  • The first cleaning should be done after the shower but the last thing you do before you leave the bathroom. This will clean any hair/body products, or makeup that might have migrated to your piercing.
  • Clean one more time during the day, and before you go to bed.
  • If doing any exceptionally dirty activities, make sure to do extra cleaning afterwards.

DO NOT TOUCH YOUR PIERCING!!!

This is a major cause of infection. Your hands meet many types of dirty environments daily. If you must touch your piercing, make sure to thoroughly wash your hands first. Make sure to change bedding and towels at least once a week and wear clothes around the piercing. Disinfect all objects that come into contact with your piercing: phones, earbuds, etc. Try not to sleep on the piercing, or bump/cause any trauma to it. At the first sign of adverse reaction (any allergic reaction, swelling, infection, illness, or disease) please contact a physician. Allergic reaction may cause rash and around the piercing site. Excessive redness, itchiness, and drainage of yell or green pus (not a clear fluid) are signs of an infection in your piercing and you should see your piercer right away to address and manage it.
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