A new tattoo is an open wound, it typically takes around 2 weeks for the outer layers of skin to heal.

Avoid wearing your favorite clothing or sleeping on your best sheets for a few days because a new tattoo might get ink on clothing or sheets, this ink will stain.

During the first 2 weeks you should avoid sun, baths, swimming, saunas and any dirty activities. After two weeks your tattoo will be healed or close to healed on the surface. Continue to protect your tattoo from the sun, especially in the first 6 months - sun damage to a newer tattoo could cause scarring, giving the tattoo a raised/bumpy feel to the touch. Sun exposure to a fresh or healed tattoo will cause ink fading and blurring - always wear SPF 50 or higher in the sun.

You can take short showers but do not let the fresh tattoo (scab) get soggy. Always use gentle, un-scented cleansers and lotions on your healing tattoo.

Tattoo does not need to be re-bandaged. Let the tattoo get lots of air and if you need to cover it to keep it protected you can wear a clean, loose article of clothing over it. Choose an item that is not fuzzy, nothing that would leave fibers sticking to the tattoo.

Your tattoo artist will send you home with a bandage over your tattoo. Below are instructions for different kinds of bandages.

These are instructions for if your artist sent you home with cling-wrap or a sterile pad protecting your tattoo.

Leave tattoo wrapped for a few hours, longer if you will be out and about - wait until you are home and ready to relax.

• wash hands thoroughly

• remove bandage

• Cleaning: quick rinse tattoo with warm soapy water. Be very gentle, do not rub or scrub tattoo. Liquid Dial Soap is recommended.

• Clean tattoo once a day for first 4 days. Additional cleaning is necessary if tattoo is exposed to dirt or sweat.

• air-dry completely, minimum 20 minutes.

• apply very thin layer of lotion. Recommend Aquaphor for the first couple days then switch to Cetaphil or Lubriderm.

• Re-apply lotion as needed, when tattoo feels tight or itchy.

• Around day 5 your tattoo may become very itchy. If this happens you can begin applying lotion more liberally, this will help with the itchiness. Do not scratch tattoo.

These are instructions for if your artist sent you home with a Tegaderm bandage.

Tegaderm is a medical-grade clear adhesive film, originally developed for healing burns.

Tegaderm can remain on the tattoo for 4 days. Okay to exercise and shower with Tegaderm bandage on. Avoid sun, swimming, baths and saunas.

Remove early if:

• bandage peels back enough to expose tattoo

• Liquid build-up under the bandage is normal; if the liquid leaks out though you can remove the bandage early

If bandage needs to be removed early please reference after-care instructions for “Saran-Wrap/Sterile Pad.”

Bandage Removal & Cleaning:

• wash hands thoroughly

• Remove bandage. Do not rip-off bandage, pull around edge of bandage in direction parallel to skin to loosen. Take your time and remove slowly.

• Rinse tattoo with warm soapy water. Do not scrub. Liquid Dial soap is recommended.

• Air dry completely. Minimum 20 minutes

• Apply very thin layer of lotion. Cetaphil or Lubriderm is recommended. Re-apply lotion as needed, when tattoo feels tight or itchy.

• If tattoo begins to feel very itchy (day 5 - 7ish), this is normal. You can apply lotion more liberally at this point in the healing process to combat the itchiness.