aftercare instructions vary from artist to artist. here's how i would like you to care for the tattoo you received from me. always be sure to follow the aftercare instructions provided by your specific artist for their pieces.

if saniderm was applied to your tattoo, you should keep it on for the duration of your trip home up until you take your next shower. do not leave the saniderm on longer than 24 hours, but over night should be just fine. to remove the saniderm, gently peel it down, not out, from your skin. take care to not pull on the saniderm too hard. if you are having trouble removing the saniderm, you can use a mild antibacterial soap to help loosen up the adhesive.

following your appointment, please wash your tattoo seperately from how you would wash the rest of your body for the entire duration of your healing process. use a mild antibacterial soap on your tattoo, preferably with no added scent, applied to your skin using just your hands with gentle pressure. i personally advise to not use anything exfoliating on the area, including but not limited to loofahs and/or shower poofs. if your tattoo is located in an area that will be in contact with clothing, make sure your clothes are clean and dry. if you need to touch your tattoo for any reason during this time, make sure your hands are clean with soap and water.

your tattoo will end up looking dry and flakey for the first few days during your healing process. this is normal. to moisturize your tattoo, use a fragrance-free, natural moisturizer like shea butter or coconut oil. tattoo balms are also viable, but make sure you choose one that agrees with your skin, as they could cause irritation. please take care to not pick at any scabbing, or scratch directly on your tattoo if it gets itchy, as doing so might remove the ink from your skin and could cause your tattoo to look patchy. please avoid anything that could cause further drying of your tattoo, including but not limited to anything that contains rubbing alcohol in the ingredients list.

for the duration of your healing process, please avoid putting your tattoo in direct sunlight for prolonged periods of time. if this is unavoidable, you are able to apply sunscreen a week after you receive your tattoo. also, for the entire duration of your healing process, i would advise against going swimming in any pools, lakes, ponds, oceans, hot tubs, soaking in baths, etc. please wait to swim until your tattoo is fully healed to prevent infection. please also try your best to avoid any pets or having pet dander touching the area of your tattoo. if this is unavoidable, be sure to wash and sanitize your tattoo immediately after contact.

for whatever reason, red ink tends to be the ink color that people are most allergic to, even if a person feels they have no prior ink allergy. this expresses itself with infection-like symptoms, that last only for the duration of the healing process. in the event of an allergic reaction, you are able to use a topical antiseptic, not unlike one you would use for first degree burns. if you feel weak or feverish at any point of your healing process, please seek medical attention immediately.

stick and poke tattoos tend to be more gentle on the skin, so the healing process is fairly short. your tattoo could be healing for anywhere between a week and a half to three weeks. for the purposes of this aftercare sheet, please treat your tattoo as if the healing process will take a full three weeks. following all of the instructions listed above will ensure your healing process is smooth and painless!