TATTOO AFTERCARE ADVICE

1. YOU MAY REMOVE THE TATTOO COVER AFTER 2 HOURS AND BEGIN THE AFTERCARE PROCEDURE,  ALTHOUGH YOU CAN LEAVE IT ON LONGER OR EVEN OVER NIGHT IF YOU'D PREFER. 

2. AFTER TAKING THE COVER OFF, YOU SHOULD LIGHTLY WASH THE TATTOO AREA WITH WARM SOAPY WATER - THE SOAP CAN BE ANTI-BACTERIAL BUT IT'S NOT STRICTLY NECESSARY, ANY MILD SOAP WILL SUFFICE.

3. THEN PAT THE AREA DRY WITH SOME CLEAN KITCHEN ROLL - DO NOT USE ANYTHING THAT WILL DISINTERGRATE OR LEAVE RESIDUE SUCH AS TOILET PAPER!

4. APPLY A THIN LAYER OF YOUR PREFERRED TATTOO AFTERCARE CREAM -      BEPANTHEN NAPPY RASH CREAM, HUSTLE BUTTER, NATURAL SKIN/BODY OIL AND COCOA BUTTER ARE GOOD OPTIONS. THIS SHOULD BE APPLIED LITTLE BUT OFTEN, THROUGHOUT EACH DAY FOR 2 WEEKS.

5. AVOID GETTING YOUR NEW TATTOO WET - DO NOT SOAK IT OR SUBMERGE IT IN ANY WATER. WHICH MEANS NO SWIMMING,HOT TUBS, JACUZZIS ETC. PLUS  AT LEAST 2 WEEKS OF VERY CAREFUL BATHING! SHOWERS ARE USUALLY FINE AND FEW SPLASHES OF WATER WILL BE OK. WHAT YOU DON'T WANT IS A SOGGY TATTOO THAT ATTRACTS GERMS AND NASTIES THAT COULD LEAD TO AN INFECTION, SKIN & INK DAMAGE AND PROLONGED HEALING TIMES.

6. YOU SHOULD ALWAYS KEEP A NEW TATTOO OUT OF DIRECT SUNLIGHT WHILE IT IS STILL HEALING, YOU DO NOT WANT TO RISK THE TATTOO GETTING SUNBURNT OR DAMAGED - IT MAY IRREPAIRABLE!   IT IS ALSO GOOD PRACTICE TO USE SUNBLOCK ON HEALED AND OLD TATTOOS TO PREVENT LONG TERM DAMAGE.

7. TRY NOT TO WEAR TIGHT CLOTHING AND FABRICS THAT MAY IRRITATE THE TATTOO OR LEAVE FIBERS EMBEDDED IN OR STUCK TO THE TATTOO.

8. IF YOU KEEP YOUR NEW TATTOO WELL MOISTURISED AND FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS YOU ARE NOT LIKELY TO HAVE ANY SCABBING OR SEVERE DRYNESS, BUT SHOULD YOUR TATTOO PRODUCE A SCAB YOU SHOULD NEVER PICK AT IT, SCRATCH OR RUB THE TATTOO AREA FOR THE DURATION OF THE HEALING TIME. IT CAN LEAD TO PIGMENT LOSS AND SCARRING. 

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ALTERNATIVELY YOUR TATTOO MAY BE COVERED IN A CLEAR, THIN, SELF ADHESIVE FILM OFTEN CALLED 'SECOND SKIN', IF THAT IS THE CASE YOU SHOULD LEAVE IT ON FOR 7 - 10 DAYS (UNLESS IT COMES OFF BEFORE THAT) THEN PROCEED TO CLEAN THE TATTOO AND APPLY AFTERCREAM  REGULARLY WHILST FOLLOWING STEPS 6 ONWARDS.

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EITHER WAY; STICKING TO A GOOD TATTOO AFTERCARE ROUTINE IS CRUCIAL TO YOUR NEW TATTOOS HEALING FAST AND SETTLING IN WITH A HIGH QUALITY FINISH. HAVING GOOD SHORT TERM AND LONG TERM SKIN CARE ROUTINES WILL ONLY EVER HELP PRESERVE YOUR BODY ART AND SKIN!

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