Tattoo Aftercare
PERMANENT TATTOO
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Keep your clear bandage on for 4 days. It’s waterproof. It will protect your tattoo from airborne bacteria and any other contaminants in the environment. If the bandage comes off early for any reason, don’t rebandage! Gently wash with unscented soap, keep the skin clean & dry.
NORMAL: a bit of redness, swelling, moderate pain (burning, stinging), wrinkly bandage, heated/shiny skin, ink/clear plasma/blood leaking out
AVOID: sun exposure, intense exercise and sweating, soaking in baths or swimming pools or the ocean -
Remove the bandage slowly while in the shower. Cleanse the tattoo a couple of times a day with unscented soap and water (no bar soap, alcohol, or hydrogen peroxide.) Dry the tattooed area with a clean, sterile towel.
Moisturize several times a day (more often if peeling/itchy.) Apply unscented lotion when the tattoo is completely dry — I recommend Aquaphor or A&D! If you use Vaseline, apply thinly.
SLAP the tattoo or scratch around it if the tattoo is itchy.NORMAL: itchiness, ink flaking off, shiny/raised/peeling skin — tattoo will look gross before looking better.
AVOID: scratching, picking at flaking ink, sun exposure, soaking in baths or swimming pools or the ocean as chemicals and minerals in the water can tamper with the healing process -
Keep moisturizing!
Begin to use sunscreen! I use a sunscreen stick that makes the process so much easier — portable, clean, smells good, and non-sticky.
Let me know if the ink has fallen out quite a bit — this could be due to your skin’s natural reaction to a new brand of ink, improper aftercare, or a tattooing mistake. We will get it touched up, no worries!
Send me healed photos, please! These photos help me learn and adjust and grow, and they also help me promote my practice as a tattoo artist! DM me well-lit (sunlight is best!) photos from 2-3 angles if possible! Thank you!! :) -
If you find that your tattoo has faded, gradient's aren't smooth, or linework is patchy, DM me when my books are open and we will get your piece touched up! Every project comes with one free touchup. After that, it'll be $100 for each following touchup.
If you think you are having an allergic reaction, consult a dermatologist. I use Eternal Ink for color and Kurosumi for black; avoid in the future!
TEMPORARY TATTOO
During the first 24 hours: DO NOT SWEAT or shower. KEEP IT DRY so it doesn’t smudge (especially while you sleep). Note that all smudges will immediately stain your skin and also last up to 2 weeks. It will be worth it to turn up the AC and do whatever you need to do to keep from sweating the first 24 hours. Avoid wearing tighter clothing over it. I offer 1 redo at half your quote if smudged.
Exposure to sunlight is fine.
Black tattoos will fully develop after 24hrs and last up to 2 weeks! Ink turns blue as it fades.
Color tattoos will dry in 10-20min and it will last 3-7 days.
When showering, the less you touch/exfoliate it the longer it will last.
If you are having an allergic reaction to your Inkbox tattoo, visit here. They will cover all medical costs.