Got a new tattoo, now what?

Main Takeaways:

Keep your new tattoo dry, clean, and hydrated. 

Do not pick or scratch.

Do not submerge new tattoo in water or expose to extreme sweating or sun.

Tattooed area may be swollen, red, tender for the first few days.

Basic Healing Rules:

Avoid  lakes, pools, hot tub, baths or submerging the new tattoo in water for 2 weeks. 

Avoid heavy steam in showers, no saunas, sweating or heavy workouts while healing. 

No picking, itching, or scratching  at your tattoo.

Avoid touching tattoo as much as possible, and wear loose fitting clothing over body tattoos to avoid friction. 

Do not scrub your tattoo with anything abrasive such as a washcloth or loofa for 4 weeks.

No shaving or exfoliation on area of tattoo for at least 4 weeks. 

DO NOT GET A SUNBURN ON YOUR NEW TATTOO! Ouch

Avoid cosmetic treatments on tattoo as they may alter the color of your tattoo.

Avoid makeup and skincare on tattoo for two weeks while the skin is closing up.

Certain skincare may cause premature fading and color change since most anti-aging and active ingredients are meant to increase cell turn over.

SUNSCREEN USE AFTER HEALING IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Your job in after care is to keep your new permanent makeup treatment clean and dry, and only getting it wet when they are being washed. 

This is a wound that needs to be cared for. Over washing, too much aftercare ointment, or opposite; too dried out, thick scabbing and picking as well as introducing sweat and steam can negatively effect the healed results.

You will wash your permanent makeup twice a day. 

Before bed and in the morning til flaking and healing is complete, which may take up to 14 days.

Avoid getting service area wet when showering and only wash with clean hands and cool-warm water.

Use a very small amount of cleanser and be gentle, no scrubbing back and forth or using a wash cloth. 

Be sure to rinse the soap off with water and you may pat dry with a clean disposable paper towel.

After allowing the tattoo to air dry for a few minutes, apply a small amount of the after care ointment. Typically a rice size or less.

Apply this ointment through out day as needed in thin layer.

*If you have oily skin, use less ointment per day, if you don’t feel dry or itchy.

DO NOT PICK AT FLAKES

It is normal for the color to be uneven during healing

IMPORTANT SPECIFIC INFORMATION:

BROWS will go through a dark to light to normal healing phase. 

LIPS will fade from the inner side to the boarder, the color will fade and then return in 6-8 weeks.  

Avoid spicy and salty foods as well as any hot coffees or drinks for 24 hours

Lips will be vibrant the first few days before they peel. Swelling is normal. Your lips will be tender!

NO FOREIGN BODY FLUIDS IN OR AROUND THE LIPS FOR 7 DAYS. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

EYELINER will flake off within one week. Do not use any face creams or heavy make up on the eyes for 10 days. ( I recommend buying a new mascara) Avoid treatments such as eyelash tinting, perming, lifting or Eyelash Extensions for 4 weeks. Please keep in mind your follow up appointment. Lash glues and serums may cause irritation or worse a chemical burn if done before the skin has had adequate time to heal.

All permanent makeup needs a minimum of 6 weeks before we can tattoo skin with more pigment. Lips need a minimum of 10 weeks. 

Typically you will be bandaged after your appointment - this bandage ideally should stay on up to 24 hours but you may leave it on for up to 7 days. If you wish to remove your bandage after 2-4 hours you can. You may have some fluid secreting out of the tattoo, that is normal and under the bandage it make appear the tattoo is fuzzy or blurred, that is just the bandage doing its job. 

When you remove it, pull and stretch the bandage close to the skin, do not pull it up and away. 

If you opt out of bandage,  an alternative wrap is used or nothing at all.

Once bandage is removed you must follow cleaning instructions. If bandage leaks, remove it immediately. 

Wash fresh tattoo with clean hands, cool-warm water and a gentle fragrance free antibacterial soap in circular motions. 

Rinse all soap and pat dry with a paper towel. 

Allow tattoo to air dry for a 10-15 minutes then apply your aftercare ointment. 

Fragrance free lotion, shea butter, or specialty tattoo balms are all fine —  the main take away is that you use it sparingly and in a thin layer. You want to moisturize but not smother. 

Continue to wash and apply aftercare a few times a day for about 10-14 days. You can continue to hydrate your tattoo after 14 days to help keep it conditioned and improve the hydrating in that area of the skin as it moves through its full healing process.

Full heal can be anywhere between 4-10 weeks depending on size, style, saturation levels, color pack, etc. 

*Fine line tattoos can be fickle and need extra care during healing to allow the very thin lines to settle and not be disrupted by abrasive clothing or movement. 

*Working out, exercise and a lot of movement during healing can move the pigment and cause loss of color before its healed, this is especially relevant to thin line tattoos.