Aftercare
Aftercare Basics
We want your tattoo to look the best it can for as long as possible! We have a lot of tattoos and we’ve seen a lot of tattoos — this is what we recommend for our clients.
Cal Tattoo is not responsible for how your tattoo heals / what happens to it once leaving our shop!
1. Always wash your hands thoroughly before handling your fresh tattoo to reduce germs / risk of infection!
2. Gently remove “bandage” after about 1 hour from completion. This is not a hard, fast rule — if your drive is longer, or something like that, you’re okay. Do not re-bandage!
3. Gently but thoroughly wash your tattoo with an unscented, antibacterial, liquid soap (we recommend Softsoap) and warm water. Do not use a washcloth, loofah, or anything abrasive. Only use your hands!
4. Shock the tattoo by applying a clean, hot compress for approximately 10 seconds, then quickly rub an ice cube over it or rinse with very cold water. This only needs to be done once. Do not use an ice pack!
5. Gently pat your tattoo dry with a new, clean piece of paper towel. Do not rub or use fabric with a rough surface!
6. Rub a small amount of healing ointment onto your tattoo. We highly recommend Aquaphor Healing Ointment. Always use clean hands and do not touch your fingers to the ointment container after touching your tattoo. Rub the ointment in so it is not goopy — you want a THIN layer.
7. Pat off any excess ointment with a new, clean paper towel. Do not use Vaseline / petroleum!
8. Repeat steps 3, 5, and 6 for the next four to five days at least 3 to 4 times a day to keep your tattoo clean and reduce risk of infection.
9. Wear clean, soft, and loose-fitting clothing over your tattoo for the first 2 weeks — nothing abrasive, tight, or irritating. For foot tattoos, go barefoot as much as possible and avoid wearing shoes as much as you can. The first 5 days are critical for healing. For hand / finger tattoos, avoid any extraneous activity.
Wait,
There’s More
Yeah, we know it’s a lot.
You’re going to have this tattoo forever, though! We promise the aftercare is worth it — trust us.
— After a few days, your tattoo may begin to peel and itch. Do not pick, scratch, peel, or rub your tattoo - EVER. Begin using a mild, unscented lotion, free of dyes for a minimum of 2 weeks, daily as needed. If it itches, lotion your tattoo again or slap the tattoo gently.
— Do NOT pick scabs or peel any flakes! We know there are a lot of scab pickers out there but this can pull pigment from your skin and damage your tattoo.
— You can (and should) shower but do not wash or scrub your tattoo with body wash or use a loofah / washcloth. Just let the soap and water run over your tattoo. Avoid prolonged exposure to extremely hot water.
— Do not soak your tattoo for at least 3 weeks. No swimming (in ANY body of water), no baths, and no hot tubs!
— Do not expose your fresh tattoo to the sun or UV light for at least 4 weeks. After that you must use a high SPF rated sun-block to protect the pigments and extend the quality life of the tattoo. You CANNOT put sun-block on a fresh tattoo.
— Avoid direct contact with anyone or anything potentially septic and / or bacterial; including animals, rest rooms, bodily fluids, gym equipment, lakes, rivers, etc. If your tattoo is exposed to any of these, wash with antibacterial soap immediately! You do not want your new tattoo to get infected.
— Beware of conflicting advice from friends, family, and the internet!
— Although rare, if you do not properly take care of your tattoo, it may become infected. Infections generally include excessive pain, excessive heat from the tattoo, spreading bright-red inflamed tissue around the outside of the tattoo that may also have thin red outward radiating lines, it may ooze yellow pus, or bleed abnormally.
If you think your tattoo is infected, we cannot help or do anything for you! Please seek medical attention immediately.