Tattoo
Aftercare

EN | PT

Congratulations on your new tattoo!

Now it’s important for you to take care of it at home, to ensure that it will heal properly.

Take it easy in the first days. Try to get enough sleep, and keep it slow on the partying. Some tattoos feel more itchy, others swell a bit more, that’s all normal, but you must take good care and pay attention to the process.
Every skin is a bit different, and so can be the healing process, but here are the steps that work best for most people.

Please follow these recommendations thoroughly, especially during the first 2 weeks.
Your routine over the next few days will play a big role in the healing process and the way your tattoo will look after that.

First things first:

  • Your hands should always be clean before touching the tattoo or applying cream on it.

  • Moisturizing your tattoo is important, but too much cream can prevent your skin from breathing, and we don’t want that. So only apply a little bit of cream once a day.

  • Avoid intense physical exercises during the first week, and baths, swimming pools, saunas and sun exposure for two weeks.

  • During the healing process your tattoo might feel and look dry, tight and itchy. DO NOT scratch the area or pick the scabs that will form on top of it. Doing so can cause faded lines or uneven black areas, and it can even cause an infection.

Step by step:

PROTECTIVE FILM

Your tattoo should be covered for the first day and night to prevent bacteria. I will cover your tattoo in the studio with second skin or with plastic wrap.

If we use the second skin:

  • You can leave it on from up to 48h. The second skin must cover the whole tattoo during that time and feel comfortable on your skin.

  • This “second skin” film is a medical-grade adhesive barrier that will protect your new tattoo from friction and bacteria on the first hours of the healing process. The film is latex-free, waterproof, breathable and hypoallergenic. You can shower with it and it won't come off.

  • During the first hours the film looks super transparent on the skin. But shortly after some body fluid and ink will be release and it will look quite black/messy underneath. That’s totally normal. If this bothers you, feel free to remove the second skin already in the next day.

  • How to remove it:

    The best way to remove it is under the shower. Gently peel it off by stretching the film from the edges. Wash your tattoo again very gently, using PH neutral soap, and no scrubbing. Once you come out of the shower, avoid touching the tattoo with your towel, just let it dry naturally or using paper towel.

    Don’t worry if your skin gets a bit red and feels irritated for a few minutes after removing the film and cleaning the tattoo for the first time. That’s totally normal.

  • Problems with the second skin:

    PEELING OFF - In case you notice that it is peeling off at the edges and part of the tattoo has been exposed, you must remove it entirely. If that happened during the first day, it’s important to still cover it with plastic wrap before going to sleep. In that case, clean and dry the tattoo using a scentless, PH neutral soap and a paper towel before covering it with plastic wrap. In the morning after, remove the plastic, clean it again and let it dry.

    IRRITATION - In case you notice any irritation on your skin (redness or pain), you must remove it immediately. In that case, clean and dry the tattoo using a scentless, PH neutral soap and leave it uncovered so the skin can breath and recover. If the redness doesn’t come down in the next hours, send me an email/dm and I’ll guide you through the next steps.

If we use the plastic wrap:

  • Only keep it on for the first night.

  • Remove it in the next morning, and take a shower to clean the tattoo nicely.

  • Wash your tattoo very gently, using PH neutral soap, and no scrubbing. Once you come out of the shower, avoid touching the tattoo with your towel, just let it dry naturally.

APPLYING CREAM

As soon as you remove the protective film, and let your tattoo dry without a towel, it’s important to wait a few more hours to start applying cream.

Your tattoo was healing under a plastic until now, so it’s really good to let the scab dry up for a few hours before you start applying the ointment on the area. If you start applying cream right way you run the risk of blocking the tattoo’s own healing process.

  • If you have experience healing other tattoos and you’re used to a different cream, you should stick to what works best for you.

  • I recommend Aquaphor or Hustle Butter. Aquaphor it’s a cream that gets it’s moisturising powers mainly from petrolatum, lanolin, and glycerin and Hustle Butter is made with natural ingredients, like Shea, Mango and Aloe Butters. But you can use any unscented moisturising ointment that you like. Cicaplast, Pegasus tattoo-creme and Cerave are also good options.

  • Only apply a very small amount of cream, once or twice a day (morning and night), with clean hands. Your skin should be able to absorb that amount of cream in a few minutes. If you leave it covered in a thick layer of cream, your skin won’t be able to properly breathe and the scab won’t be able to heal, affecting the way the lines will look and potentially creating a mild allergic reaction in the area due to an excess of fat.

  • After 2 weeks, you can go back to your normal routine, but I do recommend moisturizing your skin regularly to keep your tattoo looking fresh.

OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS:

  • Start using sunscreen only after 2 weeks. Before that, your new tattoo should be out of the sun.

  • Avoid tight clothes with rough fabrics for at least the first week and change your clothes every day to keep your tattoo clean.

  • Avoid sweating too much during the first week and intense exercises.

  • During the first couple of weeks, never soak your fresh tattoo in water. Don't bathe, swim or go to the sauna.

AFTER A MONTH OR SO…
send me a healed photo!

It’s super important for me to see how your healing process went, and to see the tattoo fully healed out there.
It’s also good for me to see if there is anything to be touched up :)


And as I will always tell you after our appointment,
send me an email or dm if you have any questions!
Enjoy your new tat <3