Tattoo Aftercare
1. After two or more hours, remove bandage and wash antibacterial soap. Bandage can stay on for up to 8 hours, so wait until you are able to properly care for your tattoo before removing bandage.
2. Once it thoroughly cleaned and rinsed, pat dry with a paper towel, and let air dry for 10 to 15 minutes. House towels can harbor bacteria, so we suggest using paper towels.
3. With clean hands, apply a very small amount of ointment, and work into the skin. Acceptable ointments may include bacitracin, triple antibiotic ointment, Neosporin, Aquaphor, etc. Check with your tattoo artist to see what they recommend.
4. Re-wrap with saran wrap. We suggest keeping your tattoo wrapped day and night for the first 5 days, until your tattoo peels.
5. Change the wrap a few times a day, as your schedule allows. Be sure to properly clean, dry, and re-apply ointment when doing so.
6. Around the 5th day, your tattoo will start to peel like sunburn, usually in the shower. Allow your tattoo to peel on its own, don't rush it.
7. Once your tattoo has fully peeled, you need not wrap it anymore, and can switch to a lotion for dry skin. Be sure to use high quality lotions, ie. Aveeno, Lubriderm, Eucerin, Curel, etc.
8. Should you have any problems along the way, call your tattoo artist immediately for advice. Don't take the advice of friends and family, and don't wait. The future of your tattoo, how it will look for the rest of your life, is entirely dependent on how it heels during the first week, so give it the attention it deserves.
Darkside Tattoo (203) 469 - 9208
