Tattoo Prep & Aftercare

Before Your Tattoo

Getting a tattoo can be draining! Here are some tips for the best experience and end result:

  • Don’t drink alcohol within 24 hours of your tattoo appointment. Alcohol can cause excessive swelling, bleeding, and make the whole process generally more unpleasant.

  • Make sure you are well hydrated and well fed. Drink lots of water in the days leading up to your appointment, and make sure to have a good meal shortly before. You can also bring a water bottle and snacks to munch - personally, I always bring a bag of dried mango to tattoo appointments!

  • Get a good night’s sleep!

  • Do not take Ibuprofen or Aspirin before your tattoo - they act as blood thinners and can increase bleeding as well as your chance of fainting. Acetaminophen is a safer option, but isn’t one that I would personally recommend.

  • As a general rule, let your tattoo artist know in advance if you are planning on using a numbing cream. At this point, I cannot tattoo you with numbing cream as it makes the process much more challenging and I am still learning.

  • Consider bringing comfort items, especially for longer tattoos; headphones, tablets/small gaming devices, books, a pillow and/or blanket, and even a stuffed toy can be really nice to have around. :)

After Your Tattoo

Second Skin/Saniderm

  • Leave the Second Skin/Saniderm bandage on for 3-5 days

  • After the 3-5 day period, remove bandage under running water (the shower is the best way to do this) with clean hands. To minimize pulling on skin, pull the bandage parallel (more sideways) to your skin rather than perpendicular (directly away) to your skin (the exact same way you’d remove 3M double sided tape from a wall, if that helps!)

  • Once the bandage has been removed, gently wash the area with unscented soap and warm water, making sure to rinse thoroughly. Pat (don’t rub/scrub!!) the area dry with paper towel or a freshly cleaned towel. Wait 15 minutes and then apply a very small amount of water-based, unscented lotion.

  • Note: If you have left the bandage on for at least 3 days, you won’t need to keep washing your tattoo as it will have formed a protective layer by then. (Personally I still like to wash it about 1/day or whenever I shower for the first week or so!) That being said, if you have to remove your bandage before 3 days, I would recommend washing the area as described above every 12 hours until you reach the 3 day mark.

  • A small bulge/sac in the bandage is totally normal - that is blood, ink, and plasma (blegh!) Don’t poke at it or try to burst it!

  • If your bandage does burst or rip before the 3-5 day period ends, remove the rest of the bandage immediately and wash as described above. If it has been less than 3 days, continue washing as above every 12 hours until you reach the 3 day mark.

  • If your skin becomes red/inflamed around the edges of the bandage, you may be experiencing irritation or an allergic reaction to the adhesive in the bandage. Remove the bandage immediately and wash as described above. If it has been less than 3 days, continue washing as above every 12 hours until you reach the 3 day mark.

Traditional (Plastic/Cellophane wrap)

  • Leave the wrap on until you go to bed or overnight the first night. I personally prefer to leave it on overnight to prevent ink/plasma leakage as much as possible.

  • Immediately after removing the wrap, gently wash the area with unscented soap and warm water, making sure to rinse thoroughly. Depending on where the tattoo is, this can be done at a sink or in the shower. Pat (don’t rub/scrub!!) the area dry with a paper towel or freshly cleaned towel. Wait 15 minutes and then apply a very small amount of water-based, unscented lotion.

  • For the first 3 days following your tattoo, wash & lotion the area as described above every 12 hours.

Both!!

  • As your tattoo heals, it is totally normal for it to become scabby and/or flaky.

  • Don’t scratch or pick at your tattoo - this will cause poor healing and may increase your risk of infection. If your tattoo is very dry and/or itchy, apply a very small amount of water-based, unscented lotion. If the itching is driving you utterly mad, you can give the area a few light smacks rather than scratching (it helps, I promise!)

  • Don’t submerge your tattoo in water for a minimum of 10-14 days. (No pools, baths, lakes, hot tubs, etc)

  • Don’t expose your tattoo to direct sunlight for a minimum of 4-6 weeks. After 4-6 weeks, always use sunscreen to protect your tattoo!

  • Avoid strenuous activity (anything that makes you sweaty basically) for 3-5 days after your tattoo. I would also recommend staying away from public exercise situations for at least a week as well (your sweat is one thing but you really don’t want to be getting other people’s sweat on your tattoo until it’s got a reeeeeal good scab on it ;)

  • Don’t let animals or people touch your tattoo while it’s healing!

Most importantly, remember that your tattoo is a fresh, open wound that is healing. Treat it as such!

Signs of Infection

If you see any signs of infection, contact a medical professional immediately. You can also let me know as I definitely want to know how things are going, but much more importantly you will need to contact a medical professional (I would recommend going to a walk-in clinic). Here are some signs to watch out for:

  • Increased swelling/redness after 2-3 days (some swelling/redness in the area is normal for the first few days, but it should steadily decrease over time)

  • Continuing discharge (pus/blood) from the tattoo after you have removed the bandage and washed the area

  • Fever (feeling a bit wiped out after a tattoo is normal, a fever is not)

  • Red streaks, rash, or skin discoloration on or immediately around the tattoo (note that rash/redness around the edges of a Second Skin/Saniderm bandage is a sign of skin irritation/allergic reaction, not infection)

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at alyssamayart@gmail.com if you have any questions or concerns at all!

Note: There are many schools of thought on the best way to care for tattoos in the days, weeks, and months after getting them. My recommendations are based on both Manitoba’s high standards for health and safety, as well as my own experience as a person with tattoos.