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Tattoo AfterCare
Congratulations! You now have a fresh piece of unique artwork forever embedded into your skin. For the next few weeks it
will be your good care that will make sure your tattoo heals properly.

1. Remove covering (if any) after 2 hours.
2.a Wash your hands well, FIRST!
2b. Wash your tattoo with luke-warm to cool water and mild soap. Remove all coagulate by scrubbing gently with your hand. (I prefer you use Noxema, or Ivory. Please avoid Antibacterial soaps except on your hands before washing your tattoo) Do not re-bandage tattoo.*

3. Blot dry with a clean paper towel. (Do not use your bathroom's cloth towel as it contains bacteria).
4. Air dry for 10 to 15 minutes.
5. Apply a thin coat of ointment.*(Thin is the keyword here) Repeat three to four times a day for the first 3 or 4 days, and as needed thereafter.*
NOTE! I cannot stress this enough! Although ointment is good to help you heal, in the first few days you must NEVER reapply ointment without washing your tattoo, first. Ointment, although protecting your tattoo also acts as a dirt and germ magnet. If you don't wash the old stuff off before applying new you are rubbing these contaminants into a fresh wound.
6. Don't touch or play with your tattoo while it is healing, and don't let anyone else get their dirty hands on it, either. It needs to stay clean to prevent infection. Only your attention and care can guarantee this. Do not pick at scabs or dried skin while tattoo is healing. Do not scratch or abrade. (If it itches terribly, a quick, stinging slap will alleviate the itch for awhile)

*In general I do not recommend that you re-bandage after this point. There are only a few times when you may need to cover the tattoo. The most critical one being just before bedtime. If your tattoo is still oozing when it comes time for bed, you will want to protect your sheets as well as your tattoo. If feasible, cover the
tattoo with a clean item of clothing before hitting the sheets. If, like me, you just have to sleep naked; change the sheets. Dirty sheets are full of icky old skin and bacteria.
While your tattoo is healing you will also need to cover it during any work in which you're in an environment where there is a risk of your tattoo becoming infected. Any dirty work
such as construction, welding, asbestos removal, ditch digging, spray painting, etc. If you're not sure whether the tattoo should be covered it probably should be. A teflon coated bandage is best here, because clear plastic hold in too much moisture.

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