One of the most important parts of getting tattooed is the immediate care you take of your new tattoo. A tattoo is a wound that must be treated as so since your tattoo will only look as nice as the day you got it, if you heal it properly. It takes an effort from both the artist and client to result in a great tattoo. Everyone has different types of skin and luckily there are various options when it comes to products and techniques for tattoo healing. Here are some suggestions that we’ve found over the years to work well.

• The initial bandage that your artist put on for you should stay on for no longer than 4 hours. Wash your hands thoroughly with liquid anti-bacterial soap and gently remove the bandage.
• Rinse your tattoo with warm water for a few seconds, then gently lather your tattoo with liquid anti-bacterial soap and rinse thoroughly.
• DO NOT SCRUB.
• Gently pat your tattoo dry with a clean paper towel. DO NOT dry your tattoo with a cloth towel to avoid fuzz and bacteria from sticking. Let the tattoo air out for a few minutes.
• 2-3 times a day for 3-5 days, you will apply a very thin layer of your ointment or care product of choice. Non-petroleum based healing ointment is the standard here, but there are many other great options for those with sensitive skin. It is important to keep your healing tattoo moist, not wet and gooey, as your body will do most of the healing, you just need to assist it. You can lightly blot your tattoo with a clean paper towel to remove excess ointment, but be sure to never wipe, only blot lightly.
• Wrapping your tattoo with a non-stick bandage while you sleep for the first 2 nights is strongly recommended. Your tattoo is most prone to infection and irritation in those first few days and the last thing you want is to wake up with your new tattoo stuck to the sheets. If you can’t get a bandage, you can use plastic wrap. DO NOT EVER REUSE BANDAGING!
• After 3-5 days your tattoo may begin to flake and peel. This is completely normal and expected. DO NOT PICK OR SCRATCH IT! Once this has started you can keep your tattoo moist with the lotion of your choice. We recommend staying away from those that are heavy in fragrance. Use the lotion at your leisure. The more you keep your tattoo moist, the better it will look for the life of the tattoo.
• With any open wound there is always a chance of developing an infection. Signs of a possible infection may include excessive pain or redness, foul odor, pus-like discharge, fever, chills, or nausea. If you experience any of these symptoms it is important for you to contact Daruma immediately. From there we will refer you to our physician or you may seek guidance from your own family physician or local hospital if necessary.

Please follow these directions to successfully heal and preserve your tattoo. If you have any questions at all regarding this process, please feel free to contact us at any time. THANK YOU and please be safe!