Tattoo Aftercare:
A beautiful, long-lasting tattoo requires careful attention—especially in the early stages of healing. Follow these guidelines to help your tattoo heal optimally and retain its vibrancy for years to come.
What Not to Do:
• Do not pick or scratch your tattoo, no matter how tempting. (Gently pat if it itches.)
• Do not wear tight clothing over your fresh tattoo; it needs room to breathe.
• Do not submerge your tattoo in any body of water (pools, tubs, lakes, etc.) for at least two weeks. Showering is okay.
• Do not expose your fresh tattoo to direct sunlight for any length of time.
• Do not apply sunscreen to your tattoo until it is fully healed.
• Do not sleep on your fresh tattoo.
• Do not listen to advice from anyone other than your tattoo artist.
How to Care for Your New Tattoo:
1. Initial Covering
Your artist will apply a protective covering immediately after your session. Leave it on for 2–3 hours, then gently remove it.
2. First Wash
Using unscented, antibacterial soap and clean hands, softly cleanse the tattoo. Avoid scrubbing; instead, gently dab or pat with a soft cloth.
3. Drying
Air dry or gently pat dry with a clean, soft cloth. Do not wipe, as this can irritate your new tattoo.
4. Apply Ointment
Wash your hands thoroughly before touching the tattoo. Apply a thin layer of your artist-recommended ointment (e.g., Aquaphor, Tattoo Goo, Hustle Butter). Think of it like lotion—less is more. Reapply 3–4 times a day or whenever the tattoo feels dry, continuing for up to two weeks or until fully healed.
5. Icing Option
If needed, you may lightly ice the tattoo over the wrap for short periods to help reduce swelling or discomfort.
6. Long-Term Care
Once fully healed, always use sunscreen on your tattoo when outdoors to keep it bright and bold for years to come.
Key Principles:
Clean, Moisturize & Protect!
These three steps form the foundation of proper tattoo care. Keep your tattoo clean, maintain hydration with a gentle, recommended ointment, and protect it from irritants—including direct sunlight—until it’s fully healed.
Following these guidelines will help ensure your tattoo looks just as striking years from now as it does today. If you have any questions or concerns, contact your tattoo artist—we’re here to help you every step of the way.
Piercing Aftercare Instructions:
Cleaning Your Piercing
✅ WASH your hands thoroughly before touching your piercing for any reason.
✅ SALINE RINSE as needed throughout the healing process. For some piercings, applying saline solution with clean gauze may be easier. Afterward, do a quick rinse to remove any residue.
✅ SOAP can be used, but choose a gentle, fragrance-free, dye-free soap (avoid antibacterial soaps with triclosan). Lather around the piercing and rinse thoroughly—do not twist or rotate the jewelry.
✅ RINSE thoroughly to remove all traces of soap.
✅ DRY the area by gently patting it with a clean, disposable paper towel. Avoid cloth towels, as they can harbor bacteria or snag on jewelry.
What to Expect:
During the First Few Days:
- Slight bleeding, swelling, tenderness, or bruising.
During Healing:
- Some redness, itchiness, and a whitish-yellow fluid (not pus) that may form a slight crust on the jewelry.
- The tissue around the piercing may feel tight as it heals.
Once Healed:
- The jewelry may feel snug and not move as freely—this is normal. Never force it.
- If you neglect regular cleaning, natural body secretions can build up and cause odor.
⏳ Healing takes time:
• Earlobes: 6-8 weeks
• Cartilage & Others: 4 months to 1 year
⏳ A piercing may look healed on the outside before it’s fully healed on the inside. Keep up with aftercare for the full recommended healing time.
⚠️ Even fully healed piercings can shrink or close within minutes, even after years of wear! If you want to keep your piercing, always wear jewelry in it.
Important Do’s:
✔️ Wash your hands before touching your piercing. Only touch it when necessary.
✔️ Keep bedding clean and changed regularly.
✔️ Wear clean, breathable clothing that won’t irritate the piercing.
✔️ Showers are safer than baths, as bathtubs can harbor bacteria. If you take a bath, clean the tub beforehand and rinse your piercing afterward.
✔️ Exercise is fine—listen to your body and avoid excessive friction on the piercing.
What to Avoid:
❌ Harsh cleaning products like alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, antibacterial soaps, iodine, or ointments. These damage cells and slow healing.
❌ Bactine® and benzalkonium chloride (BZK) solutions, as they are too harsh for long-term healing.
❌ Over-cleaning—twice a day is sufficient. Too much cleaning can cause irritation and delay healing.
❌ Friction & trauma from tight clothing, excessive movement, rough handling, or sleeping on the piercing (especially cartilage piercings).
❌ Oral contact, rough play, and exposure to bodily fluids on or near the piercing during healing.
❌ Stress, drugs, and excess caffeine, nicotine, or alcohol, as these can slow healing.
❌ Submerging your piercing in pools, hot tubs, lakes, or other unclean water. If necessary, use a waterproof wound-sealant bandage (available at most drugstores), especially for nipple, navel, or surface piercings.
❌ Beauty & personal care products (lotions, sprays, cosmetics, etc.) near the piercing.
❌ Dangling charms or decorative attachments on healing piercings.
❌ Sleeping on cartilage piercings. Use a travel pillow (place your ear in the hole) to avoid pressure and irritation.
Things to Watch Out For:
No matter how perfectly a piercing is done, everyone heals differently. Our bodies are unique, and healing times and reactions vary. Keep an eye on your piercing for any of the following issues, and take action early if needed.
Keloids vs. Piercing Bumps vs. Hypertrophic Scarring
One of the most common concerns with piercings is unwanted bumps. However, not all bumps are the same, and treating them correctly depends on the type:
1. Hypertrophic Scarring (Most Common)
- Small, firm, raised bump near the piercing
- Typically red or pink, often forms due to irritation or trauma
- Does not grow beyond the piercing area
✅ How to Treat It
✔️ Reduce irritation – Avoid sleeping on the piercing or bumping it.
✔️ Use saline soaks – 2-3 times a day with a clean, warm saline-soaked gauze pad.
✔️ Chamomile tea compress – Brew a chamomile tea bag in hot water, let it cool slightly, and place it on the bump for 5-10 minutes daily.
✔️ Jewelry Length – If your jewelry is too long or moves too much, it can cause irritation. If your jewelry is too short it can cause blockages, this can bacteria and if it doesn't leave room for swelling can be absorbed into the body and need surgical removal.
2. Piercing Pimples (Fluid-Filled)
- Small, clear, or white pus-filled bump near the piercing
- Caused by trapped bacteria, oil, or debris
✅ How to Treat It
✔️ Warm saline compresses – Help draw out trapped fluid and reduce swelling.
✔️ Leave it alone – Avoid popping it, as this can introduce more bacteria.
✔️ Make sure jewelry isn’t too tight – Pressure can cause blockages.
3. Keloids (Rare but Possible)
- Thick, raised, dark pink or brown scar tissue that grows beyond the piercing site
- More common in people prone to keloids (especially those with a family history)
- Can continue to grow larger over time
⚠️ Important: Keloids are a genetic condition, not just a piercing issue. If you or your family are prone to keloids, consider avoiding high-risk piercings (cartilage, industrial, etc.).
✅ How to Treat It:
✔️ Seek professional medical advice – Keloids typically require medical treatment like steroid injections, silicone patches, or laser therapy.
✔️ Avoid irritating the piercing – Friction, pressure, or trauma can make it worse.
✔️ Use silicone sheets or gels – Available at most drugstores, these can help flatten scars over time.
✔️ Some have found tea tree oil helpful, but always dilute it with a carrier oil and patch test first, as it can be too harsh for some skin types.
Signs of Infection (When to Seek Help):
While mild irritation is normal, infection is serious and should be addressed immediately. Watch for:
⚠️ Signs of Infection
❌ Persistent redness, warmth, or throbbing pain beyond the initial healing phase
❌ Thick, green or foul-smelling pus (whitish or yellow fluid is normal, but green is not)
❌ Severe swelling that doesn’t improve or starts spreading
❌ Fever, chills, or swollen lymph nodes
✅ What to Do
✔️ Don’t remove the jewelry – This can trap the infection inside.
✔️ Increase saline soaks – 3-4 times daily.
✔️ Consult a doctor if symptoms worsen – You may need antibiotics.
