After you get a tattoo

My method of use is very common, and has proved to work well. After you get your tattoo, the artist is most likely going to put some sort of dressing on it, bandage, saran wrap, etc. This should be removed after about 3 hours, if your tattoo session has ended later in the day, you can leave the bandage on overnight to protect your bed sheets. Do this only if your bandaged up (most bandages are absorbent, and breathable). If you have been saran wrapped take it off after a couple hours (saran is not breathable or absorbent). It is very important that your new tattoo is not exposed to the sun, or any sort of dirt (keep it clean), treat it like a wound. You should wait to remove the bandage until you can properly clean it with mild soap and warm water. Rinse it well, and pat it dry, then allow it to air-dry before applying moisturizer. If you left the bandages on overnight, make sure to clean it when you wake up, as plasma has had a chance to build up.

You should apply moisturizer regularly throughout the day, keeping the tattoo slightly moist, but NOT smothered. Regular “hand lotion” is good, use basic moisturizer e.g. Lubriderm, Jergens, etc. Make sure it has NO FRAGRANCE. If you have access to A&D ointment, or vitamin Ointment, those work great too, almost better for the first couple of days of healing. For the first day or two, your tattoo will require more cleaning, as it will lose fluid at first, NOT PUSS, best way to describe it as weeping. If this occurs, don’t be alarmed, this is normal. You want to make sure that moisture doesn't get trapped under the ointment (hence the air-drying), and that the tattoo doesn't stay submerged in water either. We recommend washing your tattoo a couple times throughout the day, using only mild soap, and rinsing and drying well. Frequency of cleaning depends on your lifestyle, use your best judgment, but don't overdo it.

You should only apply ointment for as many days as it takes for your tattoo to peel, this process will take anywhere from three days to 1 week, depending on your body and the area of skin. It will begin to flake like sunburn, just let this happen on its own, and don't pick at it. The area will become dry and itchy, usually the moisturizer will help ease the itch, but if it doesn’t DON’T SCRATCH IT. That means it’s healing, again, apply the wound terms to it, you wouldn’t scratch at a healing wound, would you?

If scabs develop, they can remove the color beneath them. When these scabs get brushed off prematurely that’s when the color gets pulled out attached to the scab. It is very important that they are allowed to dry out completely, and not at any time get water-logged. The scab will eventually fall off by itself, and your tattoo should be fine if you keep the scabs dry.

BASIC OVERVIEW

NO SUN
NO POOLS, BATHS ETC
KEEP CLEAN
KEEP MOISTURIZED

If you can follow these steps with common sense, your tattoo should heal fine.