A F T E R C A R E

The quality of your healed tattoo can be greatly impacted by how you care for it.

Please follow these general instructions to make sure your tattoo will heal properly. 

(scroll to the bottom of the page for Tegaderm aftercare instructions)

  1. Remove the bandaging after 4-5 hours for smaller tattoos, next day for larger pieces, unless otherwise stated by your artist. DO NOT re-bandage.

  2. Wash immediately after un-bandaging with warm water, using finger tips and a mild soap.

  3. Pat dry with a clean towel. Do not rub.

  4. Wash 2-3 times a day for the first 2 days, once a day for the remainder of the healing time, or as needed.

  5. After first 2-5 days, when your tattoo has begun to dry out, apply only a light layer of unscented lotion (we recommend Aveeno) 2-3 times per day, until skin returns to normal (around 4 weeks).

  6. DO NOT pick or scratch scabs!

  7. NO DIRECT SUN, HOT TUBS, POOLS, OR TANNING for the first 3 weeks. Showering is fine, you just don't want to soak or tan your new tattoo!

  8. Touch ups are free for the first 3 MONTHS after your appointment, as long as the tattoo was taken care of properly... we will know if it has not.

  9. Always use a good sunscreen (SPF 30) on your tattoo after it has healed, but not during the healing time.

  10. Soreness, swelling and bruising are all completely normal and to be expected, but do not hesitate to contact your artist with any of your questions or concerns!


Please follow these instructions if you are healing your tattoo with Tegaderm.

Tegaderm is a breathable, flexible, adhesive medical film that is ideal for healing tattoos, as it locks in the body’s natural fluids and enzymes which would otherwise be lost to evaporation and scabbing. Tegaderm provides a barrier against external factors such as bacteria, grime and friction with clothing, which can have a negative impact on healing.

If your artist has applied the Tegaderm for you, skip to step 4.
If you were sent home with Tegaderm to apply yourself the following day, do as follows:

  1. Follow steps 1 - 3 as stated in the general aftercare instructions above, and allow tattoo to air dry for a few minutes.

  2. Remove white backing from Tegaderm, and place the sticky side over tattoo - you want it to be as centered as possible, and as smooth as possible (avoid air bubbles). You can lift and reposition if needed.

  3. Once it is in place, find the edge of the clear/blue grid plastic backing and remove. You may need to hold down the edges of the actual Tegaderm piece as you go so that the clear backing does not lift it.

  4. You may leave this on for up to 3 days at a time. No more than that. The tattoo should always be washed between applications.

  5. If your tattoo is “oozing” and a significant amount of blood plasma is pooling underneath the Tegaderm, it will need to be taken off and discarded. Steps 1 - 4 should then be repeated. Sometimes it will need to be replaced daily for the first 2-3 days.

  6. When removing Tegaderm, it is best to find an edge and roll it off of your skin rather than trying to lift upwards and peel. It can be quite sensitive feeling, and there will most likely be an imprint of your tattoo left on it - this is just excess pigment and sometimes dead skin that would normally have flaked off.

  7. You can stop using Tegaderm and resume the normal healing process at any time. Just remove the Tegaderm, wash your tattoo, and refer to the general aftercare above.

  8. Steps 7 through 10 as listed in the general aftercare section still apply even when using Tegaderm.

    NOTE: You do NOT need to lotion your tattoo at any time between Tegaderm applications. Your skin should always be free of oils and all substances before applying Tegaderm.