Healing your tattoo with CLING FILM:
(A step by step guide)
1. Keep on the cling film that was originally placed on you at your appointment for a 3-4 hours or leave on and remove before you go to sleep the night of.
2. When taking off your cling film on the first night wash your tattoo.
Please first wash your hands and use UNSCENTED soap and tepid water to wash the tattoo area.
3. Either leave your tattoo to FULLY air dry or pat dry with a paper towel (kitchen roll). *We say a paper towel because using a fabric/bath towel can be unclean and get fibres stuck in your new tattoo.
4. If you wish to re wrap your new tattoo please use FRESH cling film. DO NOT reuse cling film. Wash and dry your tattoo before re wrapping. *You can skip this step if you wish to dry heal your tattoo.
5. Repeat steps 2 and 3 every day for the first 3 days of having your tattoo.
*You should be cleaning your tattoo 2-3 times a day, washing, drying and then re wrapping if that is your personal preference.
After 3-4 days your tattoo will start to feel dry and tight. This is your sign to start using a light moisturiser, I recommend using PALMERS COCO BUTTER (or your preferred tattoo healing balm by a trusted supplier, if your want to know if the balm you have is right for this, please contact your artist directly.)
Please use as little cream as you can, a pea sized amount or enough to cover the tattoo lightly is more than enough.
Using too much moisturiser can encourage infection and irritation. The signs of this are red and inflamed skin or white heads around the tattoo (NOT ON THE ACTUAL TATTOO) if you experience this please stop moisturising and let your skin dry out for 24hrs before putting on cream again very lightly.
You will need to moisturise for 2 weeks.
*Please do not bathe in baths or swim in body’s of water for at lease 2 weeks when your tattoo is healing. This can cause infection, irritation of lead to your tattoo not healing properly.
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Healing your tattoo with SECOND SKIN/ADHESIVE TATTOO PATCH:
1. You can choose whether to keep your second skin patch on for up to 3 days after it has been put on by your tattooist. *please do not keep on any longer than the advised time frame.
2. When you choose to remove the patch it is recommended you do it either in a tepid shower or under tepid running water.
3. Pull at one of the corners of the second skin patch to release it slightly, then like a command strip stretch off the plastic slowly allowing water to run over it to help release the adhesive.
If at any point before step 1 your second skin becomes loose or exposes part of your fresh tattoo please remove immediately, as the protection barrier has already been breached and can be at risk of infection or irritation if not cleaned.
**DO NOT pull off the patch like you would with a plaster this could damage your tattoo and pull out any ink that hasn’t settled into your skin yet.
* Should you notice any red irritation around the corners of the second skin patch cease use immediately this could indicate an adhesive irritation/allergy. This should affect your tattoo but should you have any concerns please contact your artist for advice.
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PLEASE DO NOT USE THESE PRODUCTS WHEN MOISTURISING YOUR NEW TATTOO:
BEPANTHEN/SAVLON/OILS/E45/CREAMS FOR SKIN CONDITIONS on your healing tattoo
These types of creams will not penetrate the skin properly and will smother your skins pores, increasing your discomfort and not actually moisturising your tattoo.
*If you experience white heads around the tattoo (NOT ON THE ACTUAL TATTOO) please stop moisturising and let your skin dry out for 24hrs before putting on cream again very lightly.
You will need to moisturise for 2 weeks.
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Extra Tips
- Please don't pick at your tattoo. This can lead to drop out (compromised areas of skin where the tattoo falls out and looks lighter in areas affected)
- Please don't soak your tattoo in water. No baths or swimming for 2 weeks until your tattoos heals.
- If you require touch ups please wait a month after your tattoo appointment to let your tattoo heal and settle into your skin.
Your touch ups are free for 6 Months after your appointment only.
when requesting this please send me a photo of your tattoo beforehand so we can discuss the touch up.
- Avoid excess sweating (active activities such as the gym and exercise) for a week after your appointment.
- Make sure you wear loose clothing around the are that has been tattooed this will allow your skin to breathe and ensure your tattoo will heal without irritation.
- Keep your tattoo out of direct sunlight. Cover with loose clothing if you plan to be outside on warmer days. DO NOT put sun cream on a fresh tattoo, wait for 2 weeks and then you are free to do so.
**Drop out can be a normal part of the healing process, sections or dots of the tattoo can drop out in the healing process from knocking or catching your healing tattoo if this happens don’t worry its totally normal but if larger areas are affected please contact your artist.
Most importantly, enjoy your new tattoo!