Pre and Post tattoo care

• Before you come in, have ready:
  • Mild anti-bacterial soap, like Dial Liquid Gold or Dove
  • Burt’s Bees Fragrance Free Lotion with Shea butter and Vitamin E OR Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula
  • Mild unscented skin lotion, like Cetaphil Lotion
  • Clean paper towels
  • Get a good nights sleep
  • Eat well before you come in
• Day of tattoo:
• Relax and enjoy your tattoo
• You will leave with a bandage on, keep this on for the rest of the day or preferably overnight
• Day 1 of healing:
• Wash your hands very well before removing the bandage in a clean environment
• Clean your tattoo with hot water, anti-bacterial soap, and your fingers, completely removing all of the ointment and blood
• Using a paper towel, dab your tattoo dry, do not wipe
• Apply a small amount of the Burt’s Bees lotion (or Palmer's Cocoa Butter) to your tattoo, covering it with a thin layer
• Repeat the above steps about every 2 hours, at least 6 times a day
• Day 2 & 3 of healing:
• Repeat the steps from Day 1 every 2 hours, at least 6 times a day
• Day 4 and on:
• Repeat the Day 1 steps only 2-3 times per day, but instead of Burt’s Bees lotion, apply a thin layer of the Cetaphil lotion
• You may start seeing the tattoo peeling like a sunburn around this time
• Do not pick at the skin or scratch at the tattoo
• Follow these steps until the tattoo is no longer peeling and looks slightly shiny
• Ongoing until 6 weeks from your tattoo date:
• Baby your tattooed skin
• Keep it clean
• Apply a thin layer of the Cetaphil lotion whenever the skin feels dry, or after taking a shower
• For at least 4 (preferably 6) weeks, do not:
• Cover with another bandage
• Submerge in water
• Expose to direct sunlight
• Wear tight clothing over the tattoo, you don’t want anything rubbing on it
• Put neosporin on your tattoo
• Scratch or pick
• After 6 weeks:
• Always wear sunscreen to protect your tattoo