Tattoo Aftercare Instructions
Currently I use Derm Shield by Recovery Aftercare.
This is a second-skin style adhesive bandage. You can leave it on for up to 3 days (72 hours) as long these things are not happening:
The plasma, blood, and ink is leaking out of the bandage.
The bandage has pealed up and part of the tattoo is exposed.
Your skin is having an adverse reaction to the bandage (most sensitivities will show up the day the bandage is applied): Small red bumps or blistering at the edges of the bandage. Redness spreading under the bandage and outside the edges of the bandage. Redness persisting up to the second or third day.
If you suspect you might be having a reaction to the Derm Shield bandage, take it off and wash the area thoroughly with unscented soap.
Derm Shield aftercare:
Leave bandage on for 3 days (72 hours).
You can shower normally with the bandage on. Just leave it alone while showering.
Avoid exercise and avoidable sweating during this time.
No swimming, surfing, sauna, sun tanning, or bath taking.
You may notice fluids collecting under the bandage (blood, plasma, and ink), this is normal and nothing to worry about.
The tattoo can start to appear blurry because of the fluid in the bandage, don’t worry. The tattoo has not changed!
After 3 days, take the bandage off in the shower under warm water. It can still be stuck on pretty good, find the loosest corner and slowly peel it back until you get the bandage off.
Once the bandage is off, wash the tattoo thoroughly with unscented soap (my favorite is cetaphil cleanser). Pat dry with a clean towel or paper towel.
Apply a very small amount of hustle butter deluxe tattoo ointment to the tattoo and rub it in. You are just trying to get a little moisture in there. It is important to not overdo it. Less is more!
From here, just make sure you wash it once or twice a day with unscented soap and apply a very small amount of the hustle butter ointment.
The tattoo will begin to feel dryer and dryer over the next week. You might experience itchiness, peeling, and scabbing. This is ok! Just try and leave it alone. If it is super itchy, you can give it a light slap. If it is scabby, avoid applying ointment to those areas. If it feels really dry, you can alleviate it a bit by using a very small amount of the hustle butter ointment (always apply with clean hands).
It takes 2-3 weeks for the tattoo to heal enough to swim, take a bath, and sauna.
It’s best to keep it out of prolonged sun exposure for a month. Sunscreen is good, covering with clothing is better.
It can take up to 12 weeks for solid black areas to “settle in” i.e. not raised, not shiny. It is common to find variation in the solid black areas of a healed tattoo. However if there are spots where the ink is missing, let me know and we can touch it up.
Dry lock - no stick gauze bandage aftercare:
This bandage is only left on for 2-4 hours.
Take off the bandage and wash the tattoo under warm/hot water and wash it with unscented soap.
Let the tattoo sit under the warm/hot water for a while to bring blood to the area (which promotes healing).
Dry the tattoo off with a clean paper towel.
Apply a very small amount of hustle butter and rub it into the tattoo.
Continue to wash the tattoo once or twice a day and moisturize with hustle butter ointment.
The rest of the aftercare is the same.