Aftercare Instructions

GOOD WAVE TATTOO 

HEALING PROCESS AND AFTERCARE INSTRUCTIONS

Follow this guide for best tips on how to care for your new artwork.

It is up to you to make sure it heals properly the first few weeks is most important. 🙂‍↔️

The objective of good aftercare is to rapidly restore the protective skin barrier, to avoid infection, and for the

tattoo to look the best possible.

There is a large variety of aftercare instructions on the internet and each tattooist has preferences usually depending on experience, but basic principles of good hygiene are essential.

Basic Hygiene principles. 

  • Limit touching the fresh tattoo.

  • Wash hands very well before touching or applying lotion

  • Ensure clothing and bed sheets that comes into contact with a fresh tattoo is clean and freshly laundered. (Especially the first few days)

  • Wash tattoo when exposed to dirt, sweat, pets etc, or at least 2-3 times a day, following the instructions given below. 

  • Avoid direct sunlight!

Day 1

  • Remove the bandage after one or two hours, or when home and able to let the tattoo breath.

  • Wash the tattoo gently using warm water and a small amount of  mild NONE SCENTED/FRAGRANCE FREE SOAP. You can wash at the sink or in the shower.

  • Do not scrub the tattoo with washcloth or hand. Do not spray the tattoo directly with the shower nozzle. 

  • Do not soak the tattoo in water of any kind like no: baths, pools , hot tubs, salt water,  fresh water, swimming, etc.  

  • Simply run water over the tattoo, gently apply a small amount of proper soap with clean hands and with light touch to help remove any grease, ink, from the tattoo procedure. Gently rinse well.

  • Dry tattoo only by dabbing gently with freshly laundered clean towel or cloth, or with clean paper towel (best option) or air dry.  DO NOT RUB or wipe to dry. 

  • Do not apply lotions or aftercare products within the first 24 hours 

  • Do not use alcohol, polysporion or hydrogen peroxide on your tattoo

  •  Let the clean tattoo breath whenever possible 

Day 2

 (continue letting the tattoo dry as this will seal the skin to prevent contaminates entering, and dry place will not encourage the growth of infections.)

  • Continue to let tattoo air dry, do not rebandage. 

  • Cover only with loose fitting clothing, avoid tight clothing , and straps that would cause friction. 

  • Wash tattoo at a minimum, in the morning, and at night before bed, or whenever soiled by work, sweat, etc. 2-5 times a day. 

  • Only begin to apply none-scented lotion without dyes or color, if tattoo begins to look and feel visibly tight  usually after 24-48hrs. 

  • Use only a very thin layer of lotion and only when tattoo appears dry again. 

  • After 2-4 applications of lotion it can be good to do a quick light  wash tattoo with soap to remove build up lotion and let fully dry 20 mins at least before applying lotion again. Max 4-6 application of lotion per day. Too much lotion could trap bacteria on the skin.

  • Do not use Vaseline, petroleum, Neosporin, Polysporin or Bag Balm. There are many products that are ok to use specifically designed for tattoo aftercare, but most simple fragrance free, color free lotion(water based not petroleum) for sensitive skin should do the trick. 

Day 3-14

  • Continue washing the tattoo at least in the morning and at night. 

  • Continue applying a thin layer of lotion when needed and letting tattoo airdry.

  • Tattoo may begin to scab lightly and flake, and may start to get itchy. 

  • Do not scratch, pick or pull of flakey skin no matter how tempted. 

  • Continue to avoid direct sunlight, submerging fulling in water, tight constrictive clothing, activities that cause excessive sweating.

  • Redness, pain and swelling should begin to go down. No more oozing of liquid should come from the tattoo. The itchiness should begin to go away closer to two weeks. 

After 2 weeks the surface of the tattoo should be healed or almost done. You can continue to use any type of lotion at this point if you wish to keep skin soft.  Sun or Tanning beds are bad for fresh tattoos as well as old ones so if you don’t want your ink to fade over time be modest with your sun exposure(hard to so because the summer is so sweet:). Avoid tanning beds as well. Only use sunscreen after tattoo is fully healed. 

If you are unsure or have questions contact your tattoo artist or medical professional. 😎

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