Aftercare
It is important to remember that all bodies heal differently and what may work for one person, may not work for another. Not only as an artist but as a tattoo collector myself, this is what I recommend to clients and what I also follow when receiving a tattoo from other great artists. These methods ensured that my tattoos healed well after the session, and as a colour tattoo collector, kept my tattoos vibrant.
Second Skin:
(Above: One of the Brands of Second Skin I use on Clients)
One of the aftercare processes I recommend the most now is second skin. It comes in a variety of different names such as Saniderm, Dermalize, Yayo (as seen on the left), the list goes on! As the name suggests, it acts as a second layer of skin to protect your new tattoo from being contaminated by any bacteria and external factors that you may find with traditional open heals. I find this method to be fool-proof, the most low maintenance, with the better result!
Second Skin:
(Above: One of the Brands of Second Skin I use on Clients)
One of the aftercare processes I recommend the most now is second skin. It comes in a variety of different names such as Saniderm, Dermalize, Yayo (as seen on the left), the list goes on! As the name suggests, it acts as a second layer of skin to protect your new tattoo from being contaminated by any bacteria and external factors that you may find with traditional open heals. I find this method to be fool-proof, the most low maintenance, with the better result!
After I have wrapped you with second skin, I recommend leaving this on no longer than 6 days, or until there is no soreness or heat coming from the tattooed area. I will give you your sticker of bravery after your appointment (aka an extra patch, in case of lifting or any leakages). Please try to keep your second skin away from being submerged in water, and avoid strenuous activities that may affect the healing process.
After removing the second skin, wash your tattoo with a mild, anti-bacterial, and perfume-free soap, pat dry with a clean towel, then moisturise to ensure a completely successful heal! See below for moisturising recommendations.
If you notice any signs of irritation from the second skin such as redness, rashes, any signs of a puncture in your second skin or that your second skin is lifting beyond patching up, remove immediately and follow the steps for open healing below.
Open Healing:
Open Healing:
Open healing is the process that is most commonly used within the industry, you may use this method if you personally do not like second skin, have a reaction to second skin, or may have gotten a tattoo in an area in which second skin would not successfully heal the tattoo such as the hand as it moves around a lot, is submerged in water, etc.
To successfully heal a tattoo using the open healing method, remove the cling film when getting home and wash the tattoo with a mild, anti-bacterial, perfume-free soap. Pat dry, and leave to breathe. Wrap the tattoo when going to bed, this will also stop any blood, ink or plasma from getting on your bedsheets, or any bacteria to enter the tattoo whilst sleeping. When waking up, remove the cling film, wash again, pat dry and leave to breathe.
Do not apply any lotions for at least the first 24 hours, as a tattoo is an open wound, it may cause issues such as an infection if applying lotion too early and/or too generously. Leave the tattoo to scab over before beginning to apply any lotion.
Apply lotion as needed for as long as possible (of course, always keep them moisturised even after they've healed), and DO NOT PICK YOUR TATTOO! I know it's hard, I have given into temptation myself, but I promise you the picking will cause drop outs and will end up requiring touch ups in future. So it is better to resist the urge!
Aftercare Product Reccomendations:
Apply lotion as needed for as long as possible (of course, always keep them moisturised even after they've healed), and DO NOT PICK YOUR TATTOO! I know it's hard, I have given into temptation myself, but I promise you the picking will cause drop outs and will end up requiring touch ups in future. So it is better to resist the urge!
Aftercare Product Reccomendations:
Speaking of lotions, I have recommendations of products that can be bought on the high street, and products made specifically for tattoos and their aftercare.
If you are looking for a basic lotion that does the job that you can get from any shop, I recommend Palmers Cocoa Butter. Please be aware that I only recommend the hard butter that is found in a tub, and not the lotion bottle. (Please see photo above for reference) The reason for this is the lotion bottle has more chemicals which can affect the tattoos healing process, however, the hard butter only contains natural ingredients that do not cause issues to the tattoo unless used in excess. A little goes a long way with this product, so use in small quantities when needed!
As for specialised aftercare products, during your appointment with me I have used Butterluxe balm, the great thing about butterluxe is that it can be used at any point during the tattoo process, including the aftercare. Not to mention they all smell amazing! If you are taking a look at the Butterluxe site to get a balm, I also recommend the foam soap. It is a gentle way of cleansing your tattoo with all natural ingredients. A note to add is that a little goes a long way with this product, so use little and often if needed!
Extra Advice and Complications:
After getting tattooed, there are certain rules that apply depending on the time of year you're getting tattooed, and there is always the possibility you may experience issues with your tattoo during the healing process.
Extra Advice and Complications:
After getting tattooed, there are certain rules that apply depending on the time of year you're getting tattooed, and there is always the possibility you may experience issues with your tattoo during the healing process.
Some extra advice would be if you're getting tattooed in the spring or the summer, please refrain from showing off your new tattoo with no suncream, especially during the first few weeks of the healing process, this can seriously damage your tattoo and lead to poor quality long-term healing. I promise you, you're still gonna look badass with that tattoo covered up whilst it's healing. This is why tattoo artists recommend getting tattooed in the winter seasons when you are going to be covered up, giving the ink time to settle into the skin as it takes at least 6 months for a tattoo to completely heal. Once your tattoos are completely healed, please apply a minimum of 30SPF to keep them from getting sun damaged.
IMPORTANT!!!!
IMPORTANT!!!!
If you experience any of the following symptoms during your healing process, please get in touch with me immediately. For these kinds of emergencies please directly message me on Instagram or Facebook, to ensure I see it swiftly and can advise as soon as possible, as you may be experiencing an infection, or an allergic reaction:
- Redness, swelling and/or irritation that does not improve over time.
- Hives, or any kind of rash that has appeared since your appointment around the tattooed area.
- Drainage or Oozing from the tattoo that progressively worsens after the appointment. Please note: You may experience leakages from larger pieces in the first 48 hours, however if you are still concerned please contact me as instructed above.
In rare cases that you may be experiences a severe infection or reaction such as anaphylaxis, fever, chills, streaking, or blistering, seek immediate medical attention before informing me, and keep me updated of medical advice provided, including medications, etc.
If you have any other concerns about your tattoo during the healing process, or after it has healed, please do not hesitate to get in touch with me.