Tattoo Aftercare

A tattoo is just a ridiculously good looking wound.

Wounds typically heal faster and better when they are kept moist and clean. When skin dries out, scabs can form, affecting the colour and quality of your tattoo.

Small Tattoos

This is why for small tattoos that are easy to self-monitor, and that are not fully saturated, in areas over 2 square inches, we usually opt for a medical-grade, transparent, adhesive bandage dressing that prevents infections and speeds up the healing process, as well as prevents scabbing, when used correctly.

Keep the film dressing on for 3-4 days for optimal healing results. However, if the bandage starts to lift before this time period, risking leaving a piece of the tattoo exposed, remove the dressing immediately.
If you are sweating a lot while wearing the dressing, it is recommended to remove it sooner than the 3 – 4 days (2 – 3 days should be fine) but immediate removal after sweating is not necessary.
Once the dressing comes off, you don’t need to apply a new dressing but depending on your lifestyle, you may choose to apply new one while the tattoo is still healing. We sell 6” strips, as well as full rolls (see in store for exact dimensions of full rolls)
If you have an allergic reaction or sensitivity to the dressing, remove the dressing immediately. If you remove the dressing for this reason, inform us asap at 613-213-2361 and do not apply a new adhesive dressing.

No matter the reason, once ready to remove the transparent dressing, make sure your hands are clean when removing the dressing and move on to stage two of our aftercare instructions.

Medium & Large Tattoos

For medium and large tattoos, and even heavily saturated small ones, we have switched from using a transparent adhesive bandage to an absorbent pad. Leave the absorbent pad covering the tattoo for 12 – 24 hours before removing or replacing.

Depending on how much saturation is in your tattoo, and your body’s personal healing rate, 12 hours may be too soon to apply lotion to the new tattoo. 24 hours should be fine to start moisturizing for most people with most tattoos.
If you want to apply a new absorbent pad at the end of the 12 – 24 hour period, use clean hands to remove the first absorbent pad. Gently wash the tattooed area with gentle soap. Air dry or gently pat dry with clean paper towel. Then apply a layer of tattoo aftercare lotion to the entire fresh tattoo before recovering with the second absorbent pad.
We sell a small, but diverse selection of the best soaps and lotions for tattoo aftercare, as well as absorbent pads to take home with you.

Stage Two

Remove dressing after the recommended length of time.
Use your clean hands to wash the tattoo (not a cloth). Wash with gentle, unfragranced, or hypoallergenic soap. Strong soaps will likely cause irritation.

Wash your tattoo once or twice daily to prevent infection. If tattoo has come in contact with known bacteria, wash immediately, even if this means washing more than twice in a day.

Over-washing the tattoo will cause it to dry out more than necessary and can cause irritation and extra itchiness. Avoid over- washing when possible. In most cases, washing once daily is enough.

Air dry or blot tattoo with single use paper towel after washing. Never rub a tattoo or use a previously used bath towel to dry after washing.

Moisturize the fresh tattoo each time it is washed. Only use gentle, unfragranced, or hypoallergenic lotion or cream.

Strong scents will likely cause irritation, discomfort, redness. Check out our selection of aftercare products, in store.

Always review tattoo aftercare ingredients for potential allergens before use.

You can apply lotion as many times as needed. It is best not to suffocate the tattoo with thick layers of lotion as it needs air to heal. Apply thin layers more frequently.

Thing To Avoid

Do not submerge covered or uncovered healing tattoos in water. Exposing the tattoo to water for too long will cause water-logging; where the healing skin gets soggy and fragile. The soggy skin rubs off and tears very easily, causing unnecessary bleeding, scabbing, significantly longer healing times and could result in holes in your healed tattoo where the skin has torn and caused scar tissue.
Do not put sunscreen on a new tattoo for at least two weeks as it can cause serious irritation.

Do not expose a fresh tattoo to direct sunlight as a sun burn will cause severe pain during healing, look and feel similar to an infection, and can cause the tattoo to take significantly longer to heal. Please remember that, especially for black ink tattoos, your tattoo will absorb more UV rays than the surrounding un-tattooed skin, and can burn in significantly less time than the rest of your skin, especially before your tattoo completes the shedding process.

Do not expose new tattoo to the sun at all before the skin is healed enough to apply sunscreen. After the tattoo has fully healed, you should always apply sunscreen to the tattoo as the sun is the number one cause of fading.

Skin usually begins to shed and peel between day 5 and day 14. Shedding your top layer of skin is a normal part of healing but scabbing does not need to be.

Irritation, Abrasion, and early stages of Infection all look and feel the same. The area will be sore to touch, usually red, and sometimes slight swelling will occur.

Irritation is caused by harsh soaps and lotions. You will likely feel a burning or stinging sensation shortly after washing or applying the lotion to the tattoo area. Please be advised that it is still possible to get an infection from soaps and lotions that have been contaminated. Opt for soap and lotion dispensers with a hand pump instead of tins or jars requiring you to put your hands or fingers in. Always check the expiry on products prior to use.

Abrasion is caused primarily by tight clothing and straps but can be caused by any object or material rubbing against the tattoo, including swinging your arms when you walk. Please be conscious of your tattoo at all times for 2 – 4 weeks and specifically the first 7 – 10 days.

Infection is caused by bacteria coming into contact with your open skin. A tattoo is a wound and needs to be treated as one to ensure proper healing. If you are concerned at any time during the healing process that your tattoo might be infected, please seek medical advice immediately. The early signs of infection look just like irritation and abrasion; If you are uncertain which you are experiencing, please accept the possibility that it could be an infection and seek medical advice immediately. If left untreated, swelling, more severe pain and redness will likely occur. The area will begin to feel hot to the touch. You may begin to have fevers and chills if left untreated.