Will you go over how to take care of this?

Yes we do. After you have finished getting tattooed the artist goes over their specific aftercare. Keep in mind a tattoo is scarred skin similar to a burn or road rash. All of our aftercare is intended to take care of your skin in much the similar way. The more you play with and mess with your tattoo the more likelihood of scarring, color loss, or worse yet- infection. There are several different methods to take care of a healing tattoo. We tend to recommend:

Day One:

-         Keep it clean. Keep it covered. If bandaged take it off after 2-3 hours [lightly moisten to remove if need be]. DO NOT RE-BANDAGE! Putting a bandage on will cause the fresh ink to stick to a bandage and when you pull it off it will pull out some of the tattoo.

-         Wash with a mild antibacterial soap [such as Dial], when showering only put it under the spray briefly- a moment or two. Pat dry with a clean towel, DO NOT RUB!

-         Depending how big of a tattoo you got, you may be very tired. Rest if need be, going out and being active may cause you to upset your tattoo.

-         Keep clothing off your tattoo.

Day Two

It will be sore. It will be red, irritated, swollen, and the skin will be raised. Your skin is now going to be trying to heal itself so take very special consideration on how to take care of it.

-         Keep it clean! Wash with a mild antibacterial soap [such as Dial], when showering only put it under the spray briefly- a moment or two. Pat dry with a clean towel, DO NOT RUB!

-         Apply a VERY THIN layer of generic Triple-Antibacterial ointment onto your tattoo. If you put it on and there is enough to wipe off… you have used too much. Wipe off the excess and leave your tattoo alone. Do this 3-5 times a day to keep your tattoo moist.

-         DO NOT USE THE BRAND NAME NEOSPORIN- it contains zinc and that will leech out the color.

-         Do not submerge in a body of water. Hot tubs, bathtubs, oceans, lakes saunas; all of these will hurt your tattoo. Avoid for at least 3 to 4 weeks

-         No TANNING or SUN! Your tattoo is injured skin and submitting it to heavy UV exposure is bad for the healing of a tattoo.

-         Try not to put tight, constrictive clothing on your tattoo. These rub and irritate your tattoo.

Day Three to Day Five

-         Apply the Triple-Antibacterial Ointment 3-5 times a day. Very Thin Layer!

-         It will start to scab. DON’T PICK THE SCABS!  That will pull your color out and you tattoo will look SPLOTCHY!

-         Try not to put tight, constrictive clothing on your tattoo.

-         No TANNING or SUN!

-         Do not submerge in a body of water. Hot tubs, bathtubs, oceans, lakes saunas

Day Six and Beyond

-         Keep your tattoo moist with a basic, NON-SCENTED hand-lotion [Lubriderm or Curell].

-         DON’T PICK THE SCABS!!! They will fall off naturally.

-         You tattoo will be itchy. DON’T SCRATCH IT! This may pull off the scabs, and with the scabs will go the color. Instead slap your tattoo. It sounds weird but it works

-         No TANNING or SUN!

-         Do not submerge in a body of water. Hot tubs, bathtubs, oceans, lakes saunas

-         Continue to do all of this until your tattoo feels like normal skin [typically 2-3 weeks].

What if I use Tattoo Goo?