1. Remove covering (if any) after 30-60 minutes.

2. Wash hands thoroughly before handling your tattoo

3. Wash your tattoo with any gentle, unscented soap, 3 times a day for the first week.

   • It's usually easiest to wash your new tattoo in the shower, but try to limit water exposure as much as possible. ​It's best to keep the tattoo out of the water until you wash it quickly and gently right before getting out of the shower.

   • Towels can carry bacteria, so always let your tattoo air dry.

   • After it's dry, put on just enough ointment to coat your tattoo. A thin layer is important to avoid suffocating it.

     • Hustle Butter aftercare ointment is preferred, but can usually only be found online. Aquaphor is a great local alternative which can be found at any pharmacy.

4. After the first week has passed, you may notice some peeling/scabbing from your tattoo. This is completely natural! Once this happens, repeat the same washing steps above once a day for one more week.

   1. The skin is very fragile in this phase, so extreme care must be taken to wash it and moisturize it gently. You must avoid picking at or scratching your tattoo, because it can pull ink out of the skin.

5. After the first two weeks of healing, your tattoo may be treated as regular skin! It may have a thin, shiny layer of dead skin which will naturally fade over the course of a couple more weeks.

6. Always apply sunscreen to your tattoo during sun exposure. The sun's UV rays break apart and fade ink particles, so sunscreen greatly improves the life and quality of your tattoo! This applies for all shades of skin.

7. Contact GravesBroderickTattoo@gmail.com for any questions or concerns about healing. We take pride in our work and will gladly touch up your tattoo if it needs it!

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Important Notes:

• DO NOT rebandage tattoo.

• DO NOT pick at or scratch tattoo.

• AVOID soaking (swimming, bathing) the tattoo for 3-4 weeks.

• NO prolonged exposure to the sun for 14 days.

• NO intense physical activity for a week after the procedure.

• Ensure airflow to the tattoo, avoid heavy, tight, or high-friction clothing.

• Consult a physician at the first signs of infection, which include major swelling, allergic reaction, fever, or headache.

 

*How a client takes care of their new tattoo will dictate how it looks for the rest of their life. Any tattoo damage caused by a client immediately voids any future touch-up agreements, and future sessions must be confirmed by the artist. Graves Broderick Tattoo assumes no responsibility for poorly healed tattoos, or for potential infections.