Tattoo aftercare

How your tattoo heals is half of how it looks. Follow these steps and the instructions Char gives you at your appointment.

If you leave with a clear bandage (Saniderm)

• Leave it on for the time Char tells you, usually 3 to 5 days. Fluid under it is normal.
• Remove it slowly in a warm shower, peeling it back along the skin.
• Wash gently with fragrance-free soap and pat dry with a paper towel.

Daily care for the first two to three weeks

• Wash two to three times a day with clean hands and fragrance-free soap.
• Apply a thin layer of unscented lotion. Too much suffocates the skin.
• Let it flake and peel on its own. Do not pick or scratch.
• No swimming, baths, hot tubs or tanning until fully healed.
• Wear loose, clean clothing over the tattoo.

For life

Keep it out of direct sun and use SPF 30 or higher once healed. If you see signs of infection such as spreading redness, heat or pus, contact a doctor.

Questions while you heal? Email chartattoo@gmail.com.