Its important to take some extra care with your new tattoo for the first 2 weeks as it heals be gentle with the area, this will ensure it heals correctly and looks its best
Day 0 – On that day and night after your tattoo
Keep Wrapped Up Overnight as you sleep, dont touch or wash it for 10+ hours
Wait for the next day before you first wash your tattoo
Day 1 – Next day and night
Wash in morning and night
Ensure your hands are clean and washed and then:
Hand Wash tattoo with slightly luke warm water and use minimal amounts of water, cup hands and gentle pour the water over the tattoo from ur hands
Use an Anti bacterial (Fragrance free) (Such as Dove Antibacterial Bar or Carex Antibacterial Sensitive or Simple (Lather the foam in your hand first and gently apply the soapy foam in your hands to wash the tattoo area, dont submerge the tattoo under water just cup hands and gentle pour a small amount of clean water over the tattoo from ur hands
Wash all soap off with lukewarm/cool water (not hot or cold)
Let air dry or Pat dry with a kitchen paper towel (Do not use a towel to dry)
Take extra care in the tattoo area for the first couple of days to first week dont let it rub against anything for the first few days as the area is a freshly healing open wound
If showering try limit the amount of time to short as possible that the tattoo is under the water or around steam
If Bathing do not submerge the tattoo area under water in the bath at all
Avoid going to the gym or working out or any sweating inducing acitvities or contact sports for the first week
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Day 2 to Day 14, After the 2nd day and onwards for the next 2 weeks :
Maintain washing the tattoo in morning and 1 hour before bed
Switch from using antibacterial soap to a normal sensitive soap
Such as:
CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser Bar,
Dove Sensitive Soap Bar,
Dr Bronners PURE-CASTILE BAR SOAP – BABY UNSCENTED
These can be found online such as Amazon or in many high street stores
Continue to Air dry or gently pat with kitchen paper towel (avoid towel use for the 1st week prefeably longer)
Gently Mositurise the tattoo after each wash (wait for skin to dry fully first) rub moisturiser in gently with your hands use:
Palmers Cocoa Butter lotion, which can be found online or in high street stores
Do not submerge or soak the area in water for 2 weeks+
Limit time the tattoo area is under water in the shower around steam, and avoid submerging the tattoo area under water in the bath for 2 weeks+
DOS:
Do Use a sensitive soap/ or hydrating cleanser
Do Wash tatoo twice a day in morining and an hour before bed, air dryiny or kitchen paper towel patting gently to dry
Do Use a safe breatheable mosituriser after each wash
DONTS:
– dont use hot or cold water only luke warm for the first week,
– dont scrub your tattoo area and dont use a towel only air dry or paper towel gently pat,
– DONT soak your tattoo area underwater or submerge the tattoo in water for any extended period of time such as a bath or a long shower, limit the amount of water over the tattoo to as short peroids as possible for the first 1-2 weeks)
Avoid hot tubs or swimming for at least 2 weeks to 1 month (longer the larger the tattoo area is)
– Dont use scented cleansers or harsh soaps or anything that irritates your tattoo when washing it
– Dont wash tattoo area more than 3 times per day max
– Dont over moisturise
– Dont let the new tatoo area become too dry
– Dont pick or scratch your tattoo, allow it to heal itself
Notes:
The first 4 days are very important to keep your tattoo clean and avoid bacteria
The next 7 days are then very important to keep your tatoo moisturised and avoid picking or scratching it or rubbing it harshly
Everyone heals slightly differently and each area of your body may heal differently to another area this is all normal
Your tatoo may scab, flake or peel at different times, this is very normal and part of the healing process and shows the tattoo is healing correctly, continue with the after care. Its important to avoid picking at any scab or purposely peeling any skin, allow the skin to naturally fall off itself such as when washing it.
For the first few days the area might have swelling and redness and feel sore, this normally stoos after 3+ days
A new tattoo can sometimes take a month or more to fully heal, your tatoo may look brighter or duller during this process, allow a month+ for the healing process to fully finish
Certain areas are more prone to requiring a touch up, the tattoo must fully heal first
If the soap or moisturiser you are using is causing irritation, stop using that product and find a more sensitive less irritating one
If tattoo becomes itchy you can wrap a kitchen paper towel around the tattoo area at night to avoid itching or you can apply a sensitive itching relief cream after your moisturiser
(Its important to keep a fresh new tattoo free from bacteria and irritations, and then its important to avoid lots of water or sumberging under water which can introduce bacteria or cause drying and wrinkling of the skin which will negatively effect the healing process)
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