After one hour, remove the glad wrap and wash your tattoo gently with your hands using warm water and a mild liquid soap or shower gel (it can be easiest to do this in the shower) avoid harsh antibacterial/heavily fragranced soaps. Wash your tattoo twice daily, morning and evening.
Let air dry or pat dry with a clean towel. It may bleed or weep a bit for the rest of the day, this is normal. Because of this, avoid using any aftercare cream for the first 1-2 days, as it doesn’t need added moisture.
After 1-2 days when the tattoo starts to get dry/tight feeling, you can start applying aftercare cream. It should be applied no more than twice daily - applying more cream won’t heal your tattoo faster. The goal is to assist the body's natural healing process. Cream is only to be applied after washing the tattoo and washing your hands.
Suitable aftercare creams include:
• Specialty creams such as Tattoo Tonic or After Art.
• Gentle, fragrance free moisturisers available at the pharmacy eg. Cerave or Cetaphil.
• Natural balms eg. kawakawa balm or coconut oil.
• Bepanthen (apply in a very very thin layer if using bepanthen)
Don’t scratch your tattoo or pick at any scabs that form, let them fall off in their own time. Avoid baths, hot tubs, and swimming for at least 2 weeks. Getting it wet in the shower is okay (you need to wash your tattoo!) but soaking the tattoo for extended periods is not okay.
Avoid high intensity exercise for at least 48 hours, as friction and sweat can irritate your tattoo, and always wash your tattoo immediately after exercising.
Keep your tattoo out of direct sunlight while healing as you can't apply sunscreen until fully healed. Once healed, apply sunscreen liberally to help keep your tattoo and skin looking better for longer!
If your tattoo needs any touch ups, let me know within 12 months and I’ll touch it up for free. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with any questions you may have. Happy healing!