***PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT EVERYONE HEALS DIFFERENTLY! IF AFTER FOLLOWING THESE INSTRUCTIONS YOU STILL HAVE QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS, PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT YOUR ARTIST; THEY WILL HAVE MORE INSIGHT OR TIPS ON YOUR HEALING***

TRADITIONAL BANDAGE (SARAN WRAP / BLACK BANDAGE)

1. Keep your bandage on for a minimum of 3 – 4 hours, the longest you can keep it on is overnight until the morning.

2. When you take off your wrap, make sure to clean off any plasma, blood or extra ink. You can get in the shower to wash your tattoo with gentle and unscented soap. You don’t need fancy brands unless you want them, some affordable brands include Aveeno, Lubriderm or Dove.

3. Rinse your washed tattoo with cool water, pat or air dry, do not rub (that’ll hurt!)

4. You can gently blot your tattoo if it leaks a little or develops more plasma over the first 3 days of healing, with a damp, clean, soft cloth or paper towel.

5. Avoid lotion for the 1st 2-3 days. The drier your tattoo is during this time, the more it is healing.

6. Keep tattoo covered with loose breathable clothing while healing, do not rebandage. If you have to be out where you’re worried particles or dust might get into your tattoo, wrap it loosely with saran wrap but remove as soon as you are home and safe from anything getting into it.

7. You can use a mild skin lotion after day 3 (gentle and unscented again, the same brands as above can be used). Wash your hands first, apply sparingly only 3 times or less daily.

8. Wash tattoo in the shower daily, 5 min shower only (too much soaking/steam is bad) ICE your tattoo to reduce swelling. Make sure you put a clean cloth in between the ice pack and skin, do not over-ice.

THINGS TO AVOID WHILE HEALING:

- Touching your tattoo with your hands (or anyone else’s). This is an easy bacteria transfer and the most common cause of infection and poor healing. Also avoid contacting your tattoo with ledges, countertops, public washrooms, keyboards, etc.

- Avoid direct sun, soaking (hot tubs, pools, saunas, etc.), soaps or lotions with too many fancy ingredients, excessive sweating, sunscreen, scratching, picking, peeling, irritating or restrictive clothing on the tattoo area, animals, dusty or dirty environments, chemicals.

- Avoid scraping your tattoo through sleeves or having the waistline of your pants, undergarments, etc. as these can constrict the healing of your tattoo.

- DO NOT PICK EVER! Improper healing will result in potentially irreparable damage to your tattoo.

After Healing: moisturize your tattoo every day to keep it bold and bright! Avoid sunlight even after it is healed to prevent fading. Use a good sunscreen daily and avoid tanning. Your tattoo is an investment and should be taken care of if you want it to last your lifetime.

SECOND SKIN (HYPAFIX / TEGADERM / SANIDERM / TATTOODERM)

Second skin is a clear bandage that goes over your tattoo like a strong sticker. This is a hospital product that acts as a second skin, so your tattoo heals underneath without scabbing. It also protects the tattoo from scraping against clothes, and potential contaminants like dirt, dust, and infection. You can shower quickly with second skin on, and makes it much easier to sleep, dress, and work.

1. Leave your post tattoo bandage on overnight. Remove in the morning the next day and dispose. If your tattoo is simpler (i.e., small linework with no shading or colour), you can keep the second skin on for 2 - 3 days.

2. Wash your tattoo in the shower with soap and water and your fingertips, making sure to get rid of any plasma or extra ink. Try to avoid direct shower spray on your tattoo; you can gently splash cool water on with your hands. Let the tattoo air dry.

3. Once dry, put a very thin layer of Vaseline or coconut oil over the tattoo area only, using clean hands. Leave the edges around the tattoo clean, so the second skin can stick. (Vaseline or coconut oil may not be necessary with larger sessions as the tattoo will produce enough dew on its own.)

4. With clean hands, peel off the white backing to reveal the adhesive side of the second skin and apply to the tattoo. Press the middle down first and spread outward, pushing firmly to skin. Avoid creases and air pockets. Secure any areas or seams with more second skin strips or medical tape, as needed. Cut second skin into smaller pieces with sterile scissors for easier application.

5. So long as you have no leaks in or out of the wrap, you can leave this on for 2 – 3 days. Any openings could potentially trap bacteria inside resulting in infection, so mind your edges and re-dress if required (following all steps from the start again.) If your bandage acquires a lot of fluid underneath the surface, a change may be needed. (This is a wet heal, so some fluid build-up is normal, just not anything excessive.) If you have any kind of reaction to adhesive or bandage, you may have to remove sooner and try a traditional dry heal. Use your discretion on this length of time and whether you need to remove the second skin.

6. When you remove your bandage, you can use coconut oil to help ease the adhesive off or remove it in the shower. Wash the tattoo and air dry. The tattoo will be peely and flaky once the second skin in removed, but generally the healing is done underneath.

After Healing: moisturize your tattoo every day to keep it bold and bright! Avoid sunlight even after it is healed to prevent fading. Use a good sunscreen daily and avoid tanning. Your tattoo is an investment and should be taken care of if you want it to last your lifetime.