Here are a few essential tips to follow so that your tattoo heals quickly and well, and you can still enjoy it many years later.

PREFACE: A fresh tattoo is a wound, so it's perfectly normal that:

• It burns, stings, and hurts, even hours after the tattoo session.
• In the first hours to days, wound fluid, mixed with a little expelled color, will leak out.
• It will be swollen and warm for a few days,
• Sometimes bruises may form around the tattoo, especially if you are prone to them.
• A scab forms after a few days, which gradually falls off.

 

TATTOO CARE

We've wrapped your new tattoo with a special film dressing. The film should remain on the tattoo for at least 48 hours. Your tattoo artist will tell you the exact time required, as it depends on the size, location, and amount of fluid oozing from the wound.

Wash

After removing the bandage, rinse the tattoo with lukewarm water and pH-neutral soap. Gently remove any smudged ink, wound fluid, and residual blood to prevent premature scab formation. Do not use a washcloth or sponge to clean the tattoo, as these can harbor bacteria and remove the scab too quickly, potentially leading to scarring and color loss. Avoid direct contact with your skin (especially with high water pressure), as this can damage the tattoo. It's better to hold your hands under the tap and then gently splash the water over the tattoo.

 

Please do not use conventional shower gels, as they contain too many chemical additives that could harm the wound.

Recommended products include:

● Sebamed Shower Gel pH 5.5

● Hypoallergenic washing lotions for babies or for sensitive skin

Once you've washed your tattoo, gently pat it dry with a piece of kitchen roll. Then let it air dry.

 

The cream

Once it's completely dry and you can feel it starting to feel tight, you can apply tattoo aftercare cream. Apply the cream thinly and very carefully, only until it's absorbed into the skin. Apply the cream thinly but frequently; otherwise, it can have the same effect as plastic wrap, trapping bacteria and promoting their growth. Please do not use petroleum jelly, body lotion, zinc ointment, or greasy creams!

 

We recommend: TATTOOMED “after tattoo” or Hustle butter (available at our studio)

                

You should wash and moisturize your tattoo 3 to 4 times a day. Continue moisturizing until the wound is completely healed. If your tattoo is on your hands or feet – areas more exposed to bacteria – you should clean it more frequently.

 

It's normal for applying the cream to sting and hurt a little the first few times.

IMPORTANT: Within the first 72 hours after getting the tattoo, it's normal for it to ooze a little from time to time. It's very important that the fluid doesn't dry out or cause clothing/sheets to stick to it. If it continues to ooze and doesn't stop, wrap it in a plastic dressing continuously for the next two days (see step 1) and change it every 12 hours (remove the plastic, wash the area, apply cream, and re-wrap).

WARNING: If a thin scab has already formed on your tattoo, you must not apply any more foil, otherwise the scab will soften under the foil and come off too soon -> risk of scarring!

 

The first week

After 3-5 days, your tattoo should no longer be red or swollen. The weeping should also have stopped. Depending on your skin type, a scab will now slowly form, which can be kept thin by repeatedly and gently washing and applying cream. The thicker the scab, the more ink will be lost and the longer the healing process will take!

Continue applying your cream to the tattoo four times a day and wash it regularly with lukewarm water and the cleansing lotion. Everyone's skin is different; some people heal very quickly, while others take a little longer. Generally speaking, the further the tattoo is from the center of the body, the longer it will take to heal.

 

The second week

After 6-10 days comes the nerve-wracking phase of the healing process: The scab loosens and falls off gradually, causing annoying itching and is a good sign, as your body is working on repairing the skin.

 

Warning: Do not be tempted to pick or scratch off any scabs that form.

PLEASE be strong, hang in there, and don't pick at the scabs on your tattoo. Otherwise, you'll remove unnecessary ink, causing it to become patchy, scarred, or, in the worst case, infected.

 

Continue applying cream to the tattoo 3-4 times a day. It's normal for scab particles to gradually flake off, especially when washing and applying cream. The important thing is that this all happens naturally, without using your fingernails.

 

The third week

After 2-3 weeks, most of the healing phase is over. Depending on skin type and location, the scab may already be completely gone. However, this doesn't mean the tattoo is fully healed; that takes about 6-8 weeks! As long as there's still a scab on the tattoo, apply a thin layer of cream three times a day and wash it morning and evening with the cleansing lotion. Approximately three weeks after getting the tattoo, applying cream twice a day for another two to three weeks is sufficient.

To notice!

Within the first 4-6 weeks after getting a tattoo:

• Do not put it in the bathtub or shower for too long. The tattoo must not get wet!
• Do not expose the tattoo to the sun or UV light (solarium).
• Do not swim in the sea, lakes, chlorinated water or thermal baths!
• Avoid excessive sweating, at least not on the tattooed area (sauna = taboo!).
• Exercise: The skin should not be stretched, moved, or subjected to excessive friction. Please refrain from exercise or reduce it to a minimum for the next few weeks.
• Caution is advised for professions where the fresh tattoo may come into contact with dirt, dust, chemicals, or food. Cover the area of skin adequately to avoid problems during healing.

 

After about 4 to 6 weeks, you should come to our studio for a follow-up appointment so we can see if your tattoo needs a touch-up. If you have a long journey, please send us a good close-up photo of your healed tattoo via email or WhatsApp. Even with meticulous aftercare, it's possible that a little ink may fade here and there, and we'll need to touch up a few areas; this is free of charge.

ATTENTION: If the tattoo is very patchy or even scarred due to insufficient aftercare, and we have to do a lot of touch-up work, the appointment will be subject to a fee! And yes, we can tell if you haven't taken good enough care of it.

 

IN CONCLUSION

We hope that we have provided you with all the information you need about your new tattoo.

Please only listen to your tattoo artists regarding the care of your tattoos, and contact us if you have any questions or are unsure about anything concerning your tattoo.



 

Goodbye! 😉

Your New Culture Ink Team