Aftercare

Leave the bandage on for 3 to 12 hours depending on the size of the tattoo. During this time, I will be using an adhesive bandage or a non-adhesive bandage based on your preference.

After this, you can remove the bandage (if it is difficult to remove because of the tape, warm water or a shower can help).

Using only your fingertips, wash the tattoo with lukewarm water and unscented soap. Scented soap will sting. I highly recommend Hustle Butter Bubbles to wash it off with and Hustle Butter Deluxe for healing.

DO NOT re-bandage the tattoo! Let the tattoo dry out for 12-24 hours. This means no lotion but, you can still wash it. Showering is fine. Try not to submerge your tattoo in water and avoid hot tubs and saunas.

WASHING YOUR HANDS BEFORE APPLYING. Apply a VERY THIN layer of Hustle Butter Deluxe to the tattoo or other tattoo unscented lotion. A little goes a long way. Too much can cause problems; just a dab will do. Work it in well. Dab off all the excess with a paper towel. There should be just enough to keep the tattoo moist and to keep it from scabbing or cracking. Do not re-bandage the tattoo.

Wash, pat dry, and re-apply the Hustle Butter, as instructed above, 2-4 times a day.

Do not use lotions that contain color or fragrance at all until the healing is complete. (Usually anywhere from ten days to two weeks; Possibly longer for slower healers.

Typical healing time is 7 to 14 days, although it can take a full month for the skin to be fully healed. You must keep your tattoo moisturized! When the tattoo is kept moist it doesn't have a chance to form a scab but does form a thin membrane to protect the tattoo while it heals. This layer peels off very similar to a sunburn (do not peel your tattoo, you will pull the ink out!) and it is perfectly normal to see small flakes of colored skin falling off during this stage of healing.

Avoid submerging your tattoo in water until the initial healing process is over (once flakiness and scabbing has ceased). Showers are okay...and recommended! Prolonged soaking can and will loosen scabs if any have formed, or will soak through the soft tissue turning it into a soggy mess and cause your ink to flow down the drain. This includes swimming in the Ocean or a Pool, Hot Tubs, and Saunas. Short showers are best, under ten minutes if possible

Remember, the sun is BAD for your tattoo! Whether the tattoo is new or old, if you want it to look nice and heal properly, keep it out of the sun. A sunburn on a new tattoo can cause a lot of problems. It will dry out your tattoo and could cause it to form a horrendous scab resulting in fading before it is even healed. It will also take much longer to heal completely and promotes scarring in a new tattoo. Wait until it is fully healed to go back in the sun or a tanning bed and make sure you put on a high quality sunblock. Never put sunblock on a tattoo that is still healing. Wait until it is fully healed before going into the sun.

Following all of these simple steps will ensure that you end up with the best result with minimal complications and your tattoo will stay looking bright and beautiful for many years to come. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us.