How do I care for my tattoo?
We will provide you with care instructions after our appointment but generally you want to keep the bandage on for 24-36 hours unless you are allergic and severe redness occurs. Tattoo will be seeping blood, plasma and ink during that time and the bandage will fill up, which is normal.
Those first 24 hours are important because we want the tattoo to stop seeping and for that liquid to stay in liquid form without scabbing which is what the bandage helps with. Liquid will also contains plasma which will kick start the healing process. After 24-36 hours, take the bandage off (warm water helps so it's best to do it in the shower), wash, dry and keep the tattoo clean.
After another 24 hours with the bandage off, you can start applying tattoo ointment (play it by ear - if it feels really dry, you can start earlier or it feels fine, you can start later). Do not overdo it with the ointment as humid environment will encourage bacteria growth. It is better that you keep it a little on a dry side versus keeping it too wet. Don't put any ointment on scabs and don't itch or pick at the tattoo.
Tattoo is basically a wound so treat it as such. For two weeks minimum, don't sleep with your pets and keep them away from it, no swimming, baths, saunas, tanning or excessive sweating and irritation and avoid sun exposure. Sun is a big one for long term care as well. It can massively fade away your tattoos so if your piece is on a particularly exposed area, wear tattoo specific sun block or cover up.