1.     Two to four hours after being tattooed remove bandage and discard in trash. Do not remove bandage any sooner than one to two hours after being tattooed.

2.     Wash tattoo with soap and water using your hand. Be gentle, do no use wash clothes or rags. Do this twice a day for the next two weeks.

3.     Pat tattoo dry with a clean, dry towel or paper towel. Do not use the towel that’s been hanging up in your bathroom. Let tattoo air dry for a few minutes before moving on to next step.

4.     Apply a small amount of  Vitamin A&D ointment to your tattoo and rub ointment all the way into your skin. Do this two to three times a day for the next two weeks.

5.     Get a paper towel and pat excess ointment off the surface of your skin. All the ointment needed to heal your tattoo is rubbed into your skin. Any ointment sitting on top of your tattoo will stop the healing process.
If your tattoo looks wet or shiny, or if you touch your tattoo and it feels greasy, you need it pat it dry again with a clean paper towel.

6.     If you prefer hand lotion you may switch over after the first three days. Use any brand of unscented, dye-free hand lotion you prefer. Rub the lotion into your tattoo every 4 to 6 hours, which means 4 to 6 times a day. There is no need to pat the tattoo dry with hand lotion, just make sure to rub it completely into your skin.
We recommend using A&D ointment for at least the first three days, or you can use it for the full two weeks. This is usually better for clients who do not want to deal with the higher maintenance of hand lotion.

7.     Do not pick, scratch, or let anyone else touch your tattoo.

8.     Wash your hands before touching your tattoo.

9.     Showers only for the next two weeks. Do not immerse your tattoo in water until it is fully healed. No bathtubs, pools, spas, rivers, lakes, or oceans.

10.    If your tattoo is going be exposed to direct sunlight for any period of time longer than a few minutes you must keep it covered with clothing until it is fully healed. Do not re-bandage your tattoo for any reason.

11.    Your tattoo was applied under sterile conditions and with a lot of care and effort by your artist, but it is up to you to make sure it is properly cared for during the healing process. If you follow these instructions your tattoo will look as good when it is healed, as it did when your tattoo was first completed.

12.    Enjoy your new tattoo!