Congratulations, you have just received a micro dermal pigment transplant procedure.
It’s not JUST A TATTOO
Tattoo Aftercare & Healing Protocol
Proper healing is 50% of the tattoo process. Once you leave the studio, the longevity and quality of your artwork are entirely in your hands. Following these instructions is mandatory to prevent infection, avoid complications, and ensure your tattoo qualifies for our touch-up policy.
🛒 Required Supplies (Gather Before Your Session)
Please purchase these items prior to your appointment so you are fully prepared to begin your aftercare routine immediately:
Scent-Free Liquid Antibacterial Soap: (e.g., Dial Gold or Cetaphil). Do not use bar soaps, which collect bacteria.
Scent-Free Lotion: (e.g., plain Lubriderm, Aveeno, or Cetaphil). Do not use heavy ointments, Vaseline, or scented body lotions.
Disposable Paper Towels: Standard kitchen paper towels. Cloth bath towels and hand towels harbor bacteria and must not be used on an open wound.
🛡️ Phase 1: The First 24 Hours
Leave the Initial Bandage On: Keep the temporary protective wrap on for the exact timeframe discussed at your session (usually 2 to 5 hours) to protect the open skin from airborne bacteria.
Removal: Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water before removing the bandage. Gently take it off—never let anyone else touch your fresh tattoo.
The First Wash: Immediately wash the tattoo using warm water and your liquid unscented antibacterial soap. Gently use your clean fingertips to wash away any dried blood, plasma, or excess ink. Never use a washcloth, loofah, or sponge.
Extended Air-Drying: Gently pat the area with a clean, disposable paper towel. You must allow the tattoo to air-dry completely for a minimum of 30 minutes to 1 hour before applying any moisturizer. Locking in moisture before the skin is thoroughly dry will cause bubbling and trap bacteria.
🧼 Phase 2: Daily Maintenance (Weeks 1–3)
Moisturize Sparingly: After the extended dry time, apply a microscopic layer of your scent-free lotion. The tattoo should never look wet, shiny, or greasy. Over-moisturizing suffocates the skin, traps bacteria, and causes the design to bubble or lose ink.
Frequency: Wash and moisturize the area 2–3 times a day until the skin finishes peeling and flaking naturally. Always observe the 30-minute to 1-hour dry time after every single wash.
The Flaking Stage: After a few days, your tattoo will begin to flake and peel like a sunburn, and it may become very itchy. This is completely normal. Do not slap, scratch, or pick at the skin.
🚫 The Absolute “No-Fly” Zone (Critical Restrictions)
Failure to follow these rules will ruin your tattoo, risk severe infection, and completely void your complimentary touch-up window:
NO Picking or Scratching: Let the dead skin drop off naturally. Picking at scabs pulls the raw ink right out of the deeper layers of your skin, leaving permanent blank spots in your fine lines or custom shading.
NO Submerging in Water: Absolutely no swimming, hot tubs, baths, or lakes for at least 3 weeks. Plain showers are perfectly fine, but soaking a healing tattoo melts the defensive scabs and introduces dangerous bacteria into an open wound.
NO Direct Sun Exposure: Keep the healing tattoo entirely out of direct sunlight. Do not apply sunscreen to a healing tattoo. Once it is 100% healed (after 4 weeks), apply SPF 50+ daily to protect the fine lines and prevent the ink from fading.
NO Tight Clothing or Heavy Friction: Avoid tight straps, waistbands, or gym gear rubbing against the fresh ink, which can cause irritation and scarring.
🩺 Medical Safety & Infection Notice
⚠️ Inherent Infection Risks:
Because tattooing breaks the skin barrier, it carries an inherent risk of infection if proper hygiene and aftercare are not maintained. You must monitor your healing closely. If you experience any signs or symptoms of infection—such as excessive or spreading redness, severe swelling, skin that feels unusually hot to the touch, throbbing pain, yellow/green discharge, or a foul odor—you must seek immediate professional medical attention from a physician or clinic to rule out or treat a potential infection.
⚠️ Inherent Infection Risks:
Because tattooing breaks the skin barrier, it carries an inherent risk of infection if proper hygiene and aftercare are not maintained. You must monitor your healing closely. If you experience any signs or symptoms of infection—such as excessive or spreading redness, severe swelling, skin that feels unusually hot to the touch, throbbing pain, yellow/green discharge, or a foul odor—you must seek immediate professional medical attention from a physician or clinic to rule out or treat a potential infection.
⚖️ Touch-Up Policy Notice
⚠️ Important Policy Notice:
I offer a complimentary touch-up within the first 6 months only if there is a minor error in the application process, such as a technically missing piece of the approved design or inadequate artist application.
A free touch-up is not offered for ink loss, fading, or color dropouts that happen during the healing process. Your tattoo is designed to heal and look exactly as it did on day one; any ink loss or physical damage sustained while the skin is actively peeling and flaking is a direct result of improper client aftercare or neglect (such as picking scabs, ignoring drying times, friction, or moisture issues). If you require a touch-up due to healing complications or aftercare damage, the session will be billed at our standard flat rate of $150/hour.
