Keep bandage on for 3 hours, and after that remove the bandage and THOROUGHLY clean off all traces of blood, plasma and excess ink. Then gently wash with a unscented soap and warm water. Please take note that if you get a reaction with the soap you are using, you are to discontinue its use immediately. After washing, rinse thoroughly to ensure that you remove all traces of soap or detergent. Then gently use a dry tissue and blot dry. DO NOT RE-BANDAGE & REMEMBER TO KEEP IT CLEAN AT ALL TIMES. DO NOT TOUCH THE TATTOO WITH YOUR HANDS (unless you have washed your hands with an anti-bacterial soap).

Wait about 30 minutes to allow excess water in the tattoo to evaporate, then gently and evenly apply moisturizing cream over the tattoo. Gently rub in for best effect. Do not leave a thick layer of cream on the skin, just use enough to ensure that the whole tattoo is slightly moisturized (it will look slightly shiny, but not wet). Take note that you have to gently wash and clean the tattoo daily (once or twice a day) to ensure its cleanliness, wait about 30 minutes to dry, and then apply the cream provided over the tattoo. You must apply the cream about 3 – 4 times a day for the next 7 days (in order to prevent or minimize scabbing), after which you have to switch to an unscented body lotion for the following 3 weeks. After 1 month it is still advisable to rub in some body lotion (once daily) to give your tattoo that extra shine.

In about 5 – 7 days time, the tattoo will start to peel. This will be accompanied by a very bad itch.DO NOT PICK AND DO NOT SCRATCH THE TATTOO OR ITS SURROUNDING AREA as this will cause a loss of color. If the itch is unbearable, you can use your hand to slap the tattoo, or simply wet a piece of clean tissue and gently wipe/wash the tattoo, taking care not to cause any peeling skin to fall off.

Please ensure the following:

1) You must not re-bandage the tattoo.

2) You must not swim (pool or sea) or go to the sauna for 2 weeks.

3) You must not expose your tattoo to the sun – keep covered with your clothing. After full healing, always use a sun-block lotion (at least SPF 50) if you have to expose your tattoo to the sun. Whenever possible, just avoid the direct rays of the sun.

4) Do not touch the tattoo with your hands, unless you have thoroughly washed your hands with an anti-bacterial soap

5) Wear clean clothes, but avoid close fitting or off-the-rack clothes.

6) Avoid chlorine, soaking in a bath tub, scratching, salt water and oral contact.

7) Do not apply any other stuff that are not recommended by your artist, or you may risk ruining your tattoo.

Be aware that how your tattoo will heal depends on how you take care of it during its healing cycle. You must ensure proper hygiene in order to avoid any bacteria infection. Please note that a single bacterium in ideal conditions will multiply and become millions in just a matter of hours.

Tattoo aftercare is as important as selecting the proper tattoo design and its placement. A beautiful tattoo can become a complete mess if you fail to properly follow the instruction given by your tattoo artist on the aftercare process. You are under the special care till you are with your tattoo artist but the responsibilities becomes as soon as you step out of the tattoo shop. It is your duty and completely depends on you how you take care of your new emblem inked on your body that enhances additional attraction to your looks.

It is very important to follow the guidelines your tattoo artist has given you and in case if you did not receive a care packet, then immediately follow-up call to your artist on the proper care of your tattoo. Make sure that none of the instructions given by your tattoo artist should be replaced by any means. For instance people often feel uncomfortable with bandages tied around area of the body where it has been inked to prevent air-born bacteria from infecting the fresh wound. People tend to remove before the stipulated hours which they should not do. They should leave the area untouched for at least two hours.

Besides this extra care of the area where is to be taken after the removal of the bandage. Use luke-warm water, and mild liquid antimicrobial soap to wash away any ointment, plasma, or dry blood from your new tattoo. Take care not rub that area with anything abrasive. While washing that area use your hand or soft paper towel. The same care should be taken while drying that area. Just pat but never make the mistake of rubbing that area with clean towel or dry paper towel. Then you need to apply a thin layer of D&D ointment, Bacitracin ointment, or H2Ocean. Avoid using Neosporin because it can causes excess healing and dry out. This further causes cracks and pigment loss. Such aftercare should be practice for 2-3 times daily and should be continued for 5-7 days until the skin is smooth. You can then apply un-scented lotions such as Lubriderm after the stipulated time of treatment.

Other activities like showering and bathing, swimming in swimming pools, lakes, or ponds and hot tubs, scabbing and getting expose in sun also requires certain type of precautions. While taking shower avoid soaking your tattoo for 2-4 weeks. Avoidance of contact with the chemicals present in the pool, and hot tub environment for at least 4-6 weeks after getting your tattoo is very important. Even swimming in lakes and ponds should be avoided as you may get infected through the untreated water. Do not pick, or scratch at the scabbing and protect your tattoo from harmful sun rays with an SPF of 30 and by your clothing.