1. Important Info

Prep & Aftercare

Take care of your tattoo

Your artist will provide instructions for taking care of your tattoo, follow their specific guidance and contact them if you have any questions.

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

HOME SUPPLIES
  • Gentle fragrance-free soap
  • Fragrance-free moisturizing cream
  • Paper towels
  • Clean loose fitting clothing, and clean bedding that can get stained
PREPARATIONS AND THE DAY OF THE TATTOO
  • If you are feeling ill reschedule as soon as possible, come in well rested and relaxed
  • Moisturize your skin daily for at least a week, do not moisturize on the day of the tattoo
  • Do not drink alcohol 24 hours before your tattoo, instead stay well hydrated with water
  • The evening before, gently shave the area that is to be tattooed if the area is easy to reach and only if your hair is significant
  • Wear appropriate, clean, loose fitting clothing that can get stained
  • Eat a nutritious meal about an hour before you come in
  • Plan on leaving with a bandage on, do not remove it before your artist tells you to
DAY 1, 2, AND 3
If your artist put cream on your tattoo and wrapped you in plastic wrap, keep this on for either a couple hours or overnight (whichever your artist tells you)
  • When it's time, wash your hands before removing the bandage
  • Clean your tattoo with hot water, soap, and your fingertips 
  • Using a paper towel dab your tattoo dry
  • Apply a very thin layer of moisturizer
  • Wear clean loose clothing over your tattoo
  • Repeat the above steps once or twice per day
  • Refrain from exercising the area of your body that was tattooed, keep out of the sun, no soaking/swimming
If your artist put an adhesive bandage on your after your tattoo, leave this on for the length of time your artist specified. When the adhesive bandage is on you do not moisturize your skin. Shower gently, wear loose clothing, keep out of the sun, no soaking.

DAY 4 UNTIL YOU ARE NO LONGER PEELING
  • Clean, dry, and moisturize your tattoo as above as long as you do not have the adhesive bandage on
  • Never pick at the skin, or scratch at the tattoo
UNTIL 6 WEEKS PASS AFTER TATTOO DAY
  • Keep it clean
  • Apply moisturizer whenever the skin feels dry
  • Do not submerge in water; no swimming, soaking, tubing, sauna, or hot tubs
  • Do not expose to direct sunlight
After 6 weeks you should be fully healed and can go back to your usual activities. Remember to always wear sunscreen to protect your tattoo and to limit fading. 
The Texas Department of State Health Services requires that we provide these minimum instructions: 
  1. For at least two weeks, minimize exposure to the sun
  2. Do not go swimming
  3. Properly cleanse the tattooed area
  4. Apply antibiotic ointment
  5. Use sterile bandages or other sterile dressings when necessary
Consult a health care practitioner at the first sign of infection or an allergic reaction, and report any diagnosed infection, allergic reaction, or adverse reaction resulting from the application of the tattoo to the artist and to the Texas Department of State Health Services, Drugs and Medical Devices Group at 1-888-839-6676.
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