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Aftercare

  • Keep your tattoo clean

Keeping your tattoo clean is essential to avoid infection. Use a fragrance-free, hypoallergenic soap to clean it at least once a day. Touch your tattoo with clean hands only. Keep pet dander and all other contaminates away from your new tattoo. For the first week do not use a bath towel or cloth to pat dry your tattoo, as this can leave bacteria or fibers on your fresh tattoo. Soft paper towels work great. It’s recommended to wear clean, loose clothing during this stage.

  • Moisturize

Use an ointment or healing balm for the first few days, but after that you can switch to a lighter, un-fragranced moisturizer. Apply a thin layer, 3-4 times daily to keep your tattoo hydrated. (Pure coconut oil, which is an antimicrobial is great for the skin.) Just be sure to avoid products that contain fragrance, which can irritate your healing skin. Blot ointment or healing balm with a paper towel.

  • Hydrate

It's not a bad idea to drink more water. Staying well-hydrated is crucial to the healing process. Water helps transport nutrients in the blood that are needed for skin repair and regeneration. Plus, hydrated skin is healthier and can better showcase your new tattoo's colours and details. Try to drink at least eight glasses of water per day.​

Healing Process

Tattoos go through stages that are a natural and important part of the healing process. The healing process can be divided into distinct stages:

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1. Weeping and redness

It’s normal for your tattoo to be red and maybe even slightly puffy in the days after you get it done.
Once you remove the bandage you may notice fluid coming from your tattoo, or that the surrounding skin is very red. It’s also normal to see ink coming out of the tattoo, sometimes called “weeping.”

This will likely last for a few days or so, but if the redness and oozing doesn’t subside after a week, you’ll want to check in with your doctor.
2. Itching
It’s not uncommon for wounds to itch as they heal — and a tattoo is essentially a

wound. In the first and second week, your new tattoo will likely start to itch and flake.

3. Peeling
Day 4-8 your tattoo will probably begin to peel. This skin is sloughing off as the body’s natural response to what it perceives as injury.

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Which tattoos take longer to heal?

The length of healing time depends on your tattoo’s location. For example, a tattoo near a joint (like the hand or ankle) or anywhere that flexes (like a wrist) will take longer than a place that doesn’t move much.
Larger tattoos and ones with intricate color work will also take longer to heal vs a smaller tattoo with only line work.

However, keep in mind the healing timeline also largely depends on each person’s body.

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Special Attention

  • Don’t pick at scabs

Your tattoo will likely scab over and itch. Avoid the temptation to pick or scratch at the scabs. Scratching may change the look of the tattoo or cause scarring. You can apply moisturizer to help ease the itching.

  • Don’t submerge into water

Keep your tattoo out of hot tubs, pools, lakes, river, etc. for the first 2 weeks.

  • Wear sunscreen when your tattoo is fully healed

During warmer months and within the first few months after getting a tattoo, keep it covered with sunscreen or sun-protective clothing. Direct sunlight can cause your tattoo to fade, which can’t be reversed.

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