TATTOO AFTERCARE
The cover I apply is incredibly effective in reducing the healing time of your tattoo, meaning a better outcome once it’s healed. It also reduces your risk of getting an infection as the surface of your skin will have mostly knitted itself back together by the time you take it off. The aftercare of your tattoo is incredibly important and you must only ever touch your tattoo with clean hands!
WHAT TO DO IMMEDIATELY AFTER:
Immediately after your tattoo I recommend that you have some food AND a sugary drink. Depending on the duration of your session you may feel tired or a little lightheaded, food and sugar helps with this. I don’t recommend making any substantial plans for after your tattoo or any excess consumption of alcohol. Your body will need rest.
Please leave the cover on for 5 days! You can shower with it on but don’t scrub it, don’t pull at it and don’t soak it.
IF IT LEAKS:
The cover may fill up with blood and excess ink and look a little unsightly but don’t worry, this is normal. Your body will release fluids to help you heal which will then be reabsorbed after around 48 hours. If any of this fluid escapes the protective cover then dry the area that it is leaking with kitchen roll, removing a little, but not all of the fluid in the cover, and the cover should reseal itself. If it doesn’t you can patch the area up with a small amount of micropore tape or a waterproof plaster.
If the cover peels up at the edges (this can happen when you are getting dressed or in bed so please be careful!) you can trim the excess off with very clean, sharp scissors, (please be careful) providing your tattoo isn’t exposed.
If the cover doesn’t reseal itself after a couple of hours or your tattoo becomes exposed at all then remove the cover early. If you have to remove the cover early (you will be at a higher risk of infection so please be extra careful and only remove early if you have to) follow the steps for removing the cover (see below):
REMOVING THE COVER AND WASHING YOUR TATTOO:
After 5 days (or sooner if your tattoo becomes exposed) remove the cover in the shower.
Let the cover soften in warm water in the shower and begin peeling it off gently, it will be stuck well so take your time.
Gently wash the tattoo with warm soapy water. Use only a mild soap and nothing perfumed. Rinse clean with warm water. It is normal for the first shower after removing the cover to be a little sore so be gentle.
There may be some sticky residue left on the tattoo from the cover, don’t worry, this is normal. Don’t scrub it, it’ll come off after a few showers.
Once clean, pat your tattoo dry with kitchen roll (not a towel) and apply a thin layer of one of the below creams. I do not recommend anything else personally but if there’s something you’ve tried and works for you then by all means stick with that. Please consider using an aftercare cream that is designed for use on tattoos, it really does make all the difference!
Wash your tattoo daily and apply a thin layer of cream 2 - 4 times a day. It should only be a very thin layer, your tattoo shouldn’t be sticky or wet after you’ve applied the cream. Only ever touch your tattoo with clean hands and don’t allow anyone else to touch it. Your tattoo is an open wound and infections can occur at anytime after if you aren’t looking after it properly.
THINGS TO AVOID WITH A NEW TATTOO:
For the first 2 weeks or until your tattoo is completely healed, please avoid:
Baths or soaking your new tattoo
Swimming.
Gym/running/weights/cardio/dancing/etc.
Tight or restrictive clothing on your tattoo - ensure socks and trouser/top cuffs don’t sit on top of your tattoo.
Perfume or deodorant on or near your fresh tattoo. Consider switching to a roll on deodorant if your tattoo is on your upper arm, shoulder or chest where deodorant can come in contact with it.
Resting your tattoo on any surfaces (such as desks, bars, sofas, etc) - really important to consider for lower arm tattoos.
Pets - They can cause nasty infections if they get too close! Don’t allow your pet to lick or scratch your tattoo and keep pet fur away. If you have pets it is incredibly important that you keep the cover on for the length of time advised.
Bepanthen, Vaseline and Savlon are some the worst things you can put on your tattoo, I do not recommend that you use any of them. I also don’t recommend Palmers cocoa butter or coconut oil. They don’t do a good job of healing your tattoo and they are not designed for healing, please avoid these.
Sun/sunbathing/fake tan/tanning beds - keep your tattoo covered and away from any direct UV.
Scratching/picking - your tattoo will be itchy during healing and scratching it is one of the worst things you can do. It can lead to ink loss and infections. I will be able to tell if you have scratched!
Over washing. You need to keep your tattoo clean but if you wash it too often it can cause irritation and slow down your healing. Please only wash your tattoo 1-2 times a day.
Advice from family and friends - as well-meaning as they are, they aren’t professionals and the advice they give may not be from a good or reputable source! It’s always best to follow the advice of a professional.
THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR:
Excess pain with redness and swelling across the entire tattoo and surrounding area can indicate an infection or an allergic response. If you are concerned at all please email me and contact your GP.
Excessive itchiness and redness where the cover is stuck to you (not on your tattoo) can indicate an allergic reaction to the glue. You may need to remove it early.
RECOMMENDED CREAMS:
Yayo:
This is what I use during the tattoo and it’s the main one I recommend. There are other options on the website, including a shower gel to wash your tattoo so please feel free to browse and see what suits you best.
ACRIFLEX:
This is a budget version that you can get from Boots, Savers and some pharmacies if you need it in a hurry. You’ll find it in the burns section and it comes in a box with the tube inside. It comes in 2 versions, the original red one and a blue one which is a cooling gel. Both do the same job but I recommend the red one.
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