TATTOO AFTERCARE

Every artist has their own way of doing things when it comes to aftercare, and it’s always best to follow their advice to keep your tattoo looking its best and healing smoothly. Here’s how I recommend taking care of your new tattoo:

Recovery Derm Shield Instructions

If you got tattooed by me, you probably went home with Recovery Derm Shield on your new tattoo, plus an extra sheet. This clear, breathable, waterproof film protects your tattoo from anything that could mess with its healing. (If you’ve heard of Tegaderm or Second Skin, this is the same kind of deal—just a different brand.)

If my verbal instructions didn’t stick because you were riding that adrenaline high, no worries—here’s the recap:

  1. First 24 hours:
    Leave the Derm Shield on for a full day. If you see some colorful liquid building up under there, don’t freak out—it’s totally normal. That’s just your body doing its thing, pushing out a mix of blood, plasma, and ink to help the healing process.

  2. Wear the shield for 2-3 days:

    • By now, it should look pretty dry under your bandage. I like to use this as an indication that the Derm Shield is ready to be removed. If it doesn’t look dry, thats okay too, it just shouldn’t still be actively producing more fluid at this point.

    • Gently peel the film off by pulling it away from itself, similar to how you would remove a Command strip.

    • Doing this in the shower can help since the steam loosens the adhesive and keeps any liquid mess from getting everywhere if some is still present.

    • Wash your tattoo with warm water and a gentle, unscented soap (no bar soap—it’s a bacteria trap). I recommend Dial Antibacterial Gold (pump) or Dr. Bronner’s Natural Soap (just dilute it—it’s strong stuff).

    • Pat your tattoo dry with a clean paper towel—no bath towels, they can harbor bacteria! Get the area as dry as possible.

    • After that, peel it off (don’t panic if it looks like your tattoo is on the film—that’s just dead skin cells). Switch to moisturizing with a white, unscented lotion like Lubriderm, Aveeno, Curel, Eucerin, or Cetaphil. Keep it hydrated until it’s no longer peeling, itchy, or dry. Most tattoos heal in about three weeks, but some spots might take a little longer. Only apply moisturizer when your skin is feeling tight, dry or itchy.

If your additional piece of Derm Shield is needed:

    • Peel the white backing off and stick the shield over your tattoo, leaving about an inch of overlap around the edges. Don’t stretch it—just press it gently from the middle outward to smooth out air bubbles.

    • Peel off the top layer using the orange arrows. The shield should be clear and comfortable on your skin. If your tattoo’s bigger than one piece can cover, repeat the process until it’s fully sealed.

What NOT to Do:

  • No swimming, hot tubs, baths, sun exposure, gym equipment, or shaving for at least two weeks.

  • Keep pets off your fresh tattoo (I know it’s hard, but fur and claws aren’t your friends right now). If your pet does make contact, wash your tattoo immediately.

  • Don’t pick or peel flaking skin—let it come off naturally to avoid pulling out ink.

Ointment Heal (if Derm Shield isn’t your vibe):

For those who can’t use adhesives or just have outlines:

  1. Take off the wrap I applied after our session and gently wash the tattoo with warm water and unscented antibacterial soap (Dial Antibacterial Gold (pump) or Dr. Bronner’s Natural Soap—no bar soap).

  2. Pat dry with a clean towel or paper towel.

  3. Apply a small amount of ointment 3 times a day for the first 4 days. I recommend Redemption Aftercare Ointment (organic, smells great, buttery texture).

  4. After 4 days, switch to lotion and keep your tattoo moisturized with a white, unscented lotion like Lubriderm, Aveeno, Curel, Eucerin, or Cetaphil until it’s fully healed. Only apply moisturizer when your skin is feeling tight, dry or itchy.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out—I’m here to help make sure your tattoo heals beautifully and stays looking amazing!