AFTERCARE
the intention here is to prevent infection, to heal smoothly and quickly to ensure the best longevity of your tattoo. This way it can look it’s best for a lifetime. please take the time to read. although it’s thorough, this is the simplest aftercare routine with the best outcome.
STRAIGHT AWAY
I will wrap your tattoo with a new product I’m using called Fixomull Stretch Tape. This is a thin bandage originally used to dress and treat burns. It’s worn on the tattoo for up to 7 days and is worn in the shower. This product is not only breathable but also makes it possible to wash your tattoo through it through the wet healing process. This means it has all the benefits of wet healing by creating a protective layer but also extra benefits of being breathable and able to wash through it. This is the most low maintenance and yet most effective aftercare I have come across for my tattoos.
I can dress it for you for $5 or if you would like to buy a roll for yourself, you can buy it from Chemist Warehouse here (you can buy from multiple other pharmacies and more than likely a local one to you; some examples are listed here). Just remember to bring it with you every session and I’ll use it to wrap your tattoo. Please do not buy the Fixomull Stretch SENSITIVE. This adhesive doesn’t stick to tattoos.
If you have any sensitivities to adhesives, please buy a roll for yourself and do a patch test on yourself in the days before and if you have a reaction I will put a temporary bandage on your tattoo and discuss aftercare with you on the day. Fixomull is great because it’s generally fine, even on people who have had a reaction to Opsite, Saniderm or other plastic aftercare bandages. I’m severely allergic to adhesives and I even get a reaction to glad wrap on my skin. But I don’t get a reaction to this at all! Not saying that you won’t because everyone is different but so far with the clients I have used this on, I haven’t had anyone have a reaction thankfully.
You won’t be able to see through the bandage so I will take a photo on your phone before I wrap it.
After you’ve left with your new tattoo all wrapped up, you have about an hour and a half before you need to wash it. Within this time, if its hot, you’re more than welcome to ice the outside of the wrapping. Just wrap the ice pack with glad wrap for a clean barrier and paper towel so it’s not too cold.
FIXOMULL STRETCH
This is an example of what the tape looks like when it is applied to a fresh tattoo. You can see the fresh weeping/bleeding soaking up in the bandage.
This is the primary way I suggest healing my tattoos from now on.
AFTER FIRST HOUR
Once the hour and a half is up, please wash your tattoo with warm soapy water through the wrap. Don’t use water that’s too hot because it will be uncomfortable on tattoo and not only feel like it’s burning but it can potentially effect your tattoo. I strongly recommend using an antibacterial soap because it will clean all bacteria that may be on your skin. Try avoid soaps with strong perfumes in case of irritation. Using your hand instead of a wash cloth or loofah because they are too abrasive. Wash gently until you feel the slimy layer disappear. Shower as usual but always have quick washes and thoroughly wash the tattoo through the bandage every time. Do not soak your tattoo while healing.
AFTER FIRST WASH
After washing, pat dry with a clean towel and air dry. The bandage will stay a little wet but it’s okay because it will dry out. Your tattoo will weep through the bandage and may leak into clothes, this is also okay. The weeping will go hard on the surface which is fine and it will wash away next time you wash it. The bandage will rub on clothes and probably develop piling, this is still fine even though it’s not pretty. As long as the tattoo is still covered, it’s fine. If some bits lift up on the edges or lift up in the middle like a bubble, you may be able to add a patch on the edge with Fixomull to cover it up but if it lifts up too much or like a bubble in the middle of the bandage over the tattoo, you can remove the lifted panels and replace with new panels of Fixomull to keep it covered and flat against the tattoo until the 7 days are up. You don’t put aftercare cream on it while it’s wrapped.
If you are having a reaction to the Fixomull Stretch dressing, please have an antihistamine tablet. If that doesn’t work, please contact me and potentially remove the dressing and give the area a good clean if it’s really bad. If the rash/reaction doesn’t settle down please see a doctor ASAP. I have found it to be rare for anyone to have bad reactions to the dressing but under some circumstances (compromised immune system, sensitive skin, heat rash etc), these things can happen. This is why I recommend a test patch first, just in case.
If you are having any concerns, please contact me.
IF YOU CAN’T USE FIXOMULL STRETCH TAPE; please contact me directly or speak to me about this at the time of your appointment to discuss other aftercare alternatives.
WET HEALING
Using bright light coloured tones especially in areas on the body exposed to the sun, you want your tattoo to heal as well as possible for it to get the longest lasting lifetime. For my colour work, I prefer to wet heal my tattoos.
AFTERCARE CREAM
After 5-7 days of wrapping, peel the Fixomull Stretch Tape off your tattoo (you can follow the same directions as the removal of adhesive bandages like in my video example on this page), wash and dry as usual and then begin to apply your aftercare cream from this point. If you have a preferred cream that you know works for you, use that. I recommend antiseptic Bepanthon or Hustle Butter. I don’t recommend the Tattoo Bepanthon or the Nappy Rash Bepanthon. If you have a sweat rash, which is common for wet healing, I recommend Bepanthon antiseptic cream because it helps the rash as well as protecting your tattoo. A small amount will go a long way and only apply it as often as it needs. If it’s dry, apply a small amount. If it’s not dry, don’t apply much if any at all. If you apply too much, it can clog pores and have too much moisture to your tattoo which is bad for the healing process. Always use clean hands when applying cream and touching the tattoo area.
There are two videos on this page to show how to remove adhesive bandages comfortably. Although the bandage in these videos isn’t Fixomul Stretch specifically, the process is the same hypothetically. If you don’t see the videos click here and here.
There are also two other videos on this page to show examples or the amount of fluid that may build up under the waterproof bandage. This is normal and I have shared these videos to create awareness of how bad and gross it may seem. This is a good example of how much weeping can come through your Fixomull Stretch throughout the early days of the healing process. If you cannot see the videos, you can view them here and here.
AFTER 5-7 DAYS
After wet healing with the bandage, your tattoo will likely be very dry and peeling a bit like sunburn. You may also have small scab areas. It is important to let it peel on it’s own. Do not pick at your tattoo while it is healing. Be careful to not scratch your healing tattoo and gently pat it if it is itchy for relief rather than scratching. Continue to use a small amount of aftercare cream when it gets dry.
If your tattoo is hot and red in early days of healing, that is common. As long as you keep it clean, the hot redness shouldn’t be a sign of infection. I recommend using an ice-pack on the tattoo for as long as you feel it needs it. Icing it will make the biggest difference at this point because it reduces swelling, hotness, weeping and general pain throughout. It will feel much better after icing. If icing it doesn’t seem to help and its still painful after a few days, this is not common. Please contact me and/or potentially a doctor if you think it’s serious.
Do not go swimming in pools or beaches until your tattoo has pealed and has no scabs left.
Be mindful of the sun on your fresh tattoo because it will burn easily. Use sunscreen on it after it has healed to ensure the longevity as much as possible.
If your tattoo sticks to clothing or sheets, etc while it’s healing DO NOT pull it off because it will effect your tattoo dramatically. Please wet it so that it slides off and doesn’t pull at your healing tattoo. This isn’t as dramatic when using Fixomull because it creates a protective barrier.
Be mindful or clothing (eg. bra straps) rubbing on tattoos while they’re healing and when they’re freshly healed. This also isn’t as dramatic when using Fixomull because it creates a protective barrier.
You can still exercise while your tattoo is healing. Just be mindful of keeping the area clean; like excessive sweating and also any excessive movement that may irritate the area.
If you get a rash (potentially a heat rash from wet healing, which is common) please use Bepanthon antiseptic cream for your aftercare after wrapping and use it on the rash area. If this doesn’t seem to help your rash, please see a doctor in case of a reaction to aftercare cream, sweat rash, reaction to cling wrap, sticky tape or bandage. Your doctor may recommend a cortisone cream for the rash.
If I have recommended wet healing for your tattoo, it’s because its the best way I believe your tattoo will heal. It’s your job to look after it from there on out. I want my tattoos to heal the best and fastest they can.
After two to three weeks, your tattoo should be healed. I always love seeing healed tattoos. If you’re able to swing by the studio so I can see how it healed and so I can get a good photo if it’s healed perfectly. Especially black and grey tattoos, they’re always red when they’re fresh and difficult to see properly, so I love getting to see them healed and when they heal perfectly, they always look so much better! If you think your tattoo might need a touch up, let me know.
Every artist and every client have their own aftercare, this is how I recommend my clients tattoos to heal. Please do not hesitate to ask me any questions because I want your tattoo to heal as best as it can too, so i’m happy to help. Contact me with any questions if this page didn’t answer them for you.
Burnt skin reveals bright ink underneath
This person who burnt their hand revealed how bright their tattoo ink was still underneath. This doesn’t always happen because it depends how deep down in the skin layers the ink sits but it goes to show how the ink pigment isn’t what changed and fades over time, it’s the skin layers over the top. Sunscreen and moisturizer can prevent it happening more quickly but inevitable, your skin will thicken and darken over time and your tattoos will do this regardless.
Click the link on the image to read more on this subject.
Unknown photo credit, tattoo and photo not by me, just an example.