Aftercare Guide

Always wash your hands with an anti-bacterial soap before handling your fresh tattoo.

DO NOT ever scratch, pick, or re-wrap your tattoo. Peeling and scabbing are normal in the healing process. When your tattoo is fully healed, please wear sunscreen.

Traditional/Dry method (No Second Skin): I recommend washing your tattoo a minimum of 3 times a day with an anti-bacterial soap with no fragrance. Do not scrub, wash by gently rubbing in circular motions. Dry by dabbing with a clean paper towel. Apply a light moisturizer such as Lubriderm. It is important to not use too much moisturizer on your tattoo- only a light layer (As if you were moisturizing your face). Reapply as needed throughout the day with clean hands. Do not re-wrap your tattoo in any way. You can decrease the frequency of this routine after the tattoo progresses to the dry stage.

I offer Dermshield to my clients- but I don’t always recommend this healing method for everyone or every tattoo. I recommend against this for clients who have sensitive skin, allergies to adhesives, skin conditions, a history of bleeding a lot, or already have experience healing the traditional way. I can always do a patch test on you at the beginning of your session.

If you have a simple tattoo and I’ve applied Dermshield: keep this film on for 5 days. On the 5th day in the shower, gently pull the corner of the film parallel to your skin (like a command strip). Slowly and gently remove it. Wash the tattoo with an unscented antibacterial soap. Rub in circles to remove any extra adhesive. Dry by dabbing with a clean paper towel. You will only have to lightly moisturize it from this point on.

If you have a color tattoo or some kind of saturated tattoo and I’ve applied Dermshield: keep this film on for 2-3 days. By the 2nd/3rd day, the Dermshield is typically full of ink, blood, and plasma. Remove in the shower by slowly and gently pulling the corner of the film parallel to the skin (like a command strip). Wash the tattoo with an unscented antibacterial soap. Rub in circles to remove all extra ink, blood, and extra adhesive. Dry by dabbing with a clean paper towel. Continue washing your tattoo with an unscented antibacterial soap minimum 3 times a day followed by a light application of moisturizer such as Lubriderm. It is important to not use too much moisturizer on your tattoo- only a light layer (as if you were moisturizing your face). Reapply as needed throughout the day with clean hands. You can decrease the frequency of this routine after the tattoo progresses to the dry stage.