Tattoo Aftercare Instructions
The following are your aftercare instructions. These instructions are easy to follow and very important. They are essential in ensuring that your tattoo will both heal properly and look good for many years to come.
After about one hour, remove the bandage, and clean your tattoo. Showering is okay but you must avoid a steady stream of water on the site of your tattoo. Do not scrub your tattoo. Use a mild, liquid, antibacterial soap. Wash your tattoo gently, using your fingertips. Rinse thoroughly, and gently pat dry with a clean soft towel. Continue to clean your tattoo two or three times a day until it has completely healed. Do not soak your tattoo. This means no pools, beaches, lakes, hot tubs, etc. for at least two weeks.
Apply a very thin layer of an aftercare product to your tattoo, three or four times a day, until it has completely healed. If your clothing is rubbing off the aftercare product, apply more as needed. The object is not to let your tattoo dry out. Do not cake or gob on an aftercare product. Your skin needs to breathe to heal and smothering it with a thick layer will extend healing time and pull the color out. It is not recommended to use petroleum jelly or antibacterial ointment on your tattoo.
It is not uncommon for your tattoo to go through a period while healing in which it appears dull, dry and/or flaky and, during this period, it may itch. This is completely normal. Never pick or scratch your healing tattoo. Pat it gently and apply more aftercare product. Flaky skin is often mistaken for scabs. It is not. In the unlikely event that scabs do form, do not pick at them. They will come off in their own time. The healing process usually takes about two weeks.
Avoid sun exposure until your tattoo has completely healed. Prolonged exposure to UV rays, sunbathing, and tanning can cause your healed tattoo to fade over time. A sun block of SPF 35 or higher will help prevent this.
While your tattoo is healing, treat it with the same respect as you would any other kind of broken skin. Avoid curious hands, touching, poking and prodding. It is yours forever and after it has completely healed you will have plenty of time to show it off.
Forbidden Tattoo and Piercing highly recommends using either Black Cat Tattoo Aftercare Super Healing Salve or Aquaphor Healing Ointment for tattoo aftercare. Other acceptable aftercare products are H2Ocean Skin Moisturizing Cream or A&D Ointment. You can also use an unscented moisturizing lotion, such as, Lubriderm, Eucerin or Aveeno.