How to Care for your new Tattoo
The development of your tattoo doesn’t finish when you walk out of the studio, looking after your new ink is just as important as picking the right design! If you are lost for what to do or just want to check you’re heading in the right direction, have a read through this page…
Disclaimer; The following information is just what worked best for us, an accumulation of opinions merged from several tattoo artists, websites and experience. This is not medical advice, for that please seek a medical professional.
The best technique will differ from person to person, different tattoo techniques, ink used, your day to day life etc. The chances are you picked a professional tattoo artist, so they will know what’s best for their style, ask them, talk to them, text them, tweet them, follow their instructions, remember it’s in their best interest too!
Immediate Aftercare Basics
- Your fresh tattoo is essentially an open wound, treat it like one. Only touch it using clean hands, clean wipes etc.
- The bandage or film that is placed on the skin immediately after getting tattooed is to stop nasty germs penetrating the damaged area. Leave this on for 3-6 hours. When you take it off, wash it following the below instructions, it will look like ink has come out of the design, this is completely normal.
- Wash your tattoo several times a day, if it looks a little extra ‘goopy’, wash it more frequently. Try to avoid hitting it directly with a jet of hot water from the shower or soak in the bath, this will not only hurt but may irritate the area, use water run off and non-scented soap to wash the area, or use mild medical wipes to gently wipe the area clean, if needed, pat dry with clean towel.
- For the first two days we leave the tattooed area completely free from anything after washing. Your body is an incredible machine, it will push bacteria out of pores and produce just enough oil to start repairing skin, so where we can, we leave open. Covering it with anything will block pores, create a perfect environment for bacteria to grow and also may draw out some ink.
- After about 2 days, when it starts to appear dry, you’ll know when this happens, that is when we start using Diablo Balm. After washing, and once completely dry, apply the balm and gently massage into the area, use just enough to allow some to be absorbed into the skin whilst leaving a thin clear layer on the surface.
- Repeat this process 3-4 times a day, if the tattoo looks clean and without ‘gunk’, there is no need to wash it, just reapply the balm.
- SCABBING IS NORMAL! The body will produce a scab as part of the healing process, this is natural, continue to apply balm gently and whatever you do, DO NOT FORCE OR PICK ANY SCABBING OFF THE AREA. No matter how itchy it gets. This will pull the tattooed skin off and leave behind scars. You should find the chamomile in Diablo Balm alleviates most of the itching. After a week or so the area will clear up (usually during a shower).
- Continue to use balm to moisturize the area for weeks even after it looks healed, the skin layers are still forming and will continue to for 3-4 weeks. Avoid continued exposure to direct sunlight, if necessary, apply a high factor sunblock (the most natural you can find).
Remember, anything that is going to, or likely to touch your new tattoo should be clean. This includes, clothes, bedsheets etc. This may seem like a lot of work, but it will become second nature, and a month later when you look in the mirror and see your perfectly healed awesome new ink, you’ll see it’s totally worth it.
Obviously life throws all sorts of curveballs, if you have any trouble keeping to the basics listed above, talk to your tattoo artist, they will be impressed that you are so keen to look after their hard work, and they will be more than happy to help.
Please Note – If you are worried (or know) that the tattooed area is infected, speak to your tattoo artist or go directly to your GP, they will either confirm and help you to deal with it, or just put your mind at ease.