As you know by now, a lot of thought, planning and a certain amount of discomfort have gone into your new tattoo.
With a little time and care, it will continue to look great for years to come.
The following information is crucial.
Follow it carefully and your tattoo will look great, but fail to care for it and you can expect
to have something with you for the rest of your life that will look nothing like you expected.

1. When you leave, you may have a sterile dressing over your new tattoo - leave it on for 2-3 hours and avoid wearing tight clothing over the dressing.  If a person is in a situation where the tattoo may become irritated immediately after the tattoo, a dressing is applied.  Situations where a customer may be riding a motorcycle, or the tattoo could possibly rub on clothing on the way home is an example.  For all other instances, the tattoo does not need to be covered and will heal faster if it is allowed to be in fresh air.

2. After 2-3 hours, remove the dressing carefully and once uncovered, take a soft washcloth and run it under cool water. LIGHTLY run the washcloth over the tattoo. This will serve to remove any built up medication and to clean any dried residue. DO NOT OVERDUE THIS PROCESS!!

3. With your supplied packet, take a small amount of ointment (as directed by your artist), and apply to the tattoo. IT IS IMPORTANT NOT TO PUT A HEAVY COATING ON, THIS WILL ONLY CAUSE COLOR/DEFINITION LOSS!

4. Starting on the day after you get your tattoo, in the morning repeat the washcloth procedure followed by re-applying the ointment as outlined with the same precautions in the previous step.

5. DO NOT SHOWER AND ALLOW THE WATER TO BEAT ONTO THE TATTOO FOR AT LEAST ONE WEEK!

6. When bathing, for the first week, apply soap/water to the tattoo with your hand and do not scrub with a washcloth or similar item. DO NOT SOAK YOUR TATTOO!

7. For the first 3 days, it’s ok to re-apply the ointment in the morning and once in the evening.

8. Starting the 4^th day, switch from the ointment to a GOOD hand/body lotion. Remember, it’s important to keep your tattoo moist, BUT NOT SEEPING! At this point, it’s ok to put the lotion on several times a day. Remember, only put enough on to make the tattoo glisten.

9. NEVER PEEL ANY LOOSE SKIN OR SCABBING. If you do, you will loose color and could result in additional expense in re-coloring. Any loose skin will work itself off without any help from you.

10. It’s perfectly normal after a couple of days, for the skin on the tattoo to take on the appearance of "onion skin". This will precede the skin to actually peel, just like a sunburn. This will mark the point not to pull skin loose. ABOVE ALL DO NOT SCRATCH!

11. This period will only last a short while and the use of the ointment or lotion will subside a lot of the effects.

12. Avoid chlorine. No swimming in pools for at least 1 month and after the tattoo is fully healed, a sunblock of at least 30 is recommended to prevent burning and fading your tattoo.

13. Remember your new tattoo is an open wound UNTIL COMPLETELY HEALED. If you use the above guidelines, and some common sense, in a very short while, you won’t even know it’s there......

EXCEPT FOR WHEN YOU ARE SHOWING IT OFF!!
It’s a work of art and something to be proud of.

If you have any questions or concerns, please call.
I’d rather answer a seemingly unimportant question than have a devastating result.