You’ve just left your appointment.. but you have questions. This page is here to help! Please note that this is a general idea for the healing process; every artist will have their own criteria, and everyone’s body will heal differently.

After your piece is finished, it will be prepped and cleaned for your Recovery Aftercare Bandage. This bandage is my favorite healing method because: it cuts your healing time, it is breathable, it creates a barrier for your fresh tattoo, and is water resistant.

Bandage Aftercare Days 1-5

Once your bandage is applied, this is where it will stay during the course of the next 5 days. If the bandage begins to roll off, or slip in the first 48 hours, please skip to the “Bandage Removal” and “No Bandage Aftercare” healing instructions.

Over the next few days you will feel some slight tenderness, and swelling. You will notice that your aftercare bandage will begin to fill with body fluid. This is all perfectly normal. I call this the “Body Cocktail” and it is your body sending plasma to the area to being the healing process. During this time, you do not want to mess with the tattoo. Leave the fluid in place, and your body will begin to reabsorb it. If you find that your bandage is leaking out of the bottom, but the rest of the bandage is mostly in tact, pat dry with a paper towel as needed until it is no longer leaking. You may shower with the bandage since it is water resistant. It is not meant to be submerged.

By day 4-5, you should notice that the bandage is no longer leaky, but rather dry and crusty. Experiencing itchiness at this stage of the bandage is perfectly normal, and you are approaching a good time to remove your bandage.

Bandage Removal

Whether you’ve kept the bandage on the full 5 days, or the bandage happened to come off early - this is how I recommend that you remove it. While in the shower, and after your hands have been cleaned, slowly pull the edges of the bandage up. Remove it slowly and allow water to seep into it, to make for easier removal. If the bandage stayed on the full 5 days, seeing a halo of the tattoo on the inner adhesive is normal. Dispose of the bandage, and pat the tattoo dry with clean paper towels following the shower. Bath towels will need to be avoided until the tattoo is fully healed, because they can carry loads of bacteria. If this was an early bandage removal; refer to the “No Bandage Aftercare” instructions.

After 5 Day Bandage

Since you have kept the bandage on the full 5 days, the dirty work is done! By this point your piece should be mostly healed, and you can begin using Fragrance Free lotions and moisturizers. Ointments will not be necessary at this point. Here are some photo examples of lotion brands I like to use:

Over the course of the next 2-3 weeks, refer to the list of “Do Nots” until the piece is completely healed.

No Bandage Aftercare

Whether you have decided to not have a bandage applied due to allergy, or the bandage has come off in the first 48 hours of healing - here’s what to do.

Clean the tattoo 3-5 times a day for the next 5 days; with any soap that does not contain exfoliants. I recommend doing this bare handed and avoiding loofas or sponges. Pat the tattoo dry with clean paper towels, and follow with a very light layer of aftercare ointment, antibiotic ointment, or scentless lotion. Lotions I recommend are pictured above, and ointments I recommend are below:

It is crucial that you do this with clean hands, and do not overdo the ointment - A Little goes a Long way. Avoid tight clothing on the tattooed area, for the tattoo could adhere to your clothing and tack onto it. If this happens, soak off the clothing with a wet paper towel - DO NOT rip off the stuck clothing.

Discontinue the use of ointment after 5 days, since it will no longer be needed. Stick to a Fragrance Free lotion; I have listed photo examples of brands that I like to use in the segment above.

Over the course of the next 2-3 weeks, refer to the list of “Do Nots” until the piece is completely healed.

Do Nots

The following activities should be avoided over the rest of your tattoos healing process (2-3 weeks from the day we tattooed the piece) to avoid infection, discomfort, or complications. Remember, that tattoos are an expensive investment. Healing them correctly the first time will not only save you money, but also give the tattoo better longevity!