We guarantee the highest possible standards on all our work. However, how your tattoo will heal up and look later will also depend on you look after it!
The Process
- Before leaving the artist will wrap your tattoo, keep this wrap on for the first 4 hours, cleaning and changing the wrap as necessary. Clean your tattoo at least once a day, even once the wrap is off.
- After the first 4 hours of being covered your tattoo needs some time to air out, the time depends on your body, keep an eye on it for when it starts to dry. This could be at the end of the day of 2 days later.
- Once the tattoo has started drying you need to maintain a moderate level of moisture in the tattoo by applying one of the recommended aftercare creamsas necessary. Ōtautahi Tattoo sells After Ink Cream and a Paw Paw ointment, we also recommend Tinkture or Vitamin E cream.
- It is very important not to overuse the cream, whilst it is important to use some, too much will damage the tattoo so be careful. Use so sparingly that it all absorbs with only the lightest shine, there should not be a thick shiny layer, this prevents the tattoo breathing.
- Your tattoo will scab up and then flake off over the next week or two, keep applying the cream 3 times daily or as needed until the last scabs have come off. It’s fine to keep applying cream or a moisturizer after this as the new skin will be dry.
Things to be aware of
- Avoid touching your tattoo, unless applying cream or cleaning. Dirty fingers are the most common cause of infected tattoos. The tattoo will get itchy whilst healing too so avoid picking or scratching, this will result in loss of ink.
- Avoid Swimming. Chlorine and salt water will both damage your tattoo, avoid both of these until healing is complete. Showering is fine though, wash your tattoo every day.
- Avoid direct sunlight. While your tattoo is healing, and for around 4 weeks after it will be extremely vulnerable to fading due to sun exposure. Once healed you can apply sunscreen to reduce fading.
- Dress appropriately for the area. Foot tattoos mean you can’t wear shoes until healed, other areas aren’t as bad but be aware of how tight your clothing is, any rubbing increases the risk of damaging your tattoo.
- Choose a good soap. Antibacterial unscented flowing soaps are best, but any body wash, shower gel or flowing soap will do the trick. Just avoid bars of soap as they dry the skin excessively and have been in contact with dirty hands.
If you have any questions please let us know, and if anything looks unusual come back in, give us a call on (09) 337 0694 or email [email protected] . Touch ups are free but the better you look after your tattoo the easier it is for both of us!
