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Aftercare
Caring for your new tattoo
New tattoo? Need healing advice? We got you!
first things first, there is a few rules to remember:
1. Clean hands = happy tattoo
Don’t be a grub, ALWAYS ensure that your hands are clean before touching, poking or prodding at your fresh tattoo.
2. Aftercare cream matters
Each tattoo aftercare cream will be different and each body will react differently to healing. It’s important to know what works best for you, and what should be avoided.
Our team always recommends Ink Nurse for your aftercare needs; it’s smooth, moisturiser-like formula makes for easy application and fast healing.
Ink Nurse is available for purchase at Emporia Tattoo online at www.ink-nurse.com or at a Chemist Warehouse near you.
Thicker creams can be hard to spread over and work into the skin, as well as leaving a tacky layer on top of the skin - effectively suffocating it.
We recommend steering clear of paw paw based ointments such as Dr Pickles, Lucas Paw Paw, and Bepanthen because of this.
3. Less is more
Simplifying your aftercare routine will eliminate the variables.
Keep it clean, don’t keep it too wet for too long (please shower, don’t be stinky - just don’t submerge it by going swimming in the Tamar), ect.
Your chosen aftercare cream won’t perform miracles - you might think, “If I apply more cream, it will heal quicker”... and you would be wrong.
Over saturation of aftercare cream will suffocate your skin that is desperately trying to form a light ‘scab’ to allow the layers of skin below to heal underneath.
By slip slop slapping cream over your fresh wound, you would effectively be keeping your skin wet - and this can prolong the healing process, and allow the skin to remain open for longer. Prolonged healing can and will increase the risk of infection.
It is also worth noting that bacteria loves warm And most environments.
That’s the long way of telling you to keep the aftercare cream reasonably minimal; treat your new tattoo as though it is dry skin tht needs a moisturiser.
For tattoos wrapped in cling film:
- Once your tattoo is wrapped up and you’ve sailed off into the sunset, you will need to remove the cling film no longer than 2 hours after your appointment completion.
- Using clean hands, lightly wash your tattoo with a liquid, unscented soap and warm water.
- Dry your now clean tattoo with non-fibrous paper towel. You may also allow the skin to air dry for a further 20-60 minutes before the next step.
- Apply a small amount of your chosen aftercare cream - something thin and easily spreadable is optimal. We recommend Ink Nurse (stocked in studio, at Chemist Warehouse or online at ink-nurse.com. Ink Nurse is a moisturiser type texture and will allow an easy application without a tacky residue.
Things to avoid:
- Sun exposure and sunburn
- Swimming, prolonged submersion in water, baths and spas.
- Scratching or picking
- Heat
- Friction (including tighter fit clothing)
- Exercise or sweating for at least 3 days
For tattoos wrapped with second skin/adhesive film
Once your tattoo is wrapped up and you’ve sailed off into the sunset, you will need to remove the second skin film within 4 days of your appointment completion. In most cases, we recommend keeping the film on for 1-2 days.
- When it’s time to remove the film, using clean hands, gently pull the film toward the corner you start with (think about stretching the film rather than peeling it off - in the same way you might remove 3M tape from a wall).
- Once fully removed, lightly wash your tattoo with a liquid, unscented soap and warm water.
- Dry your now clean tattoo with non-fibrous paper towel. You may also allow the skin to air dry for a further 20-60 minutes before the next step.
- Apply a small amount of your chosen aftercare cream - something thin and easily spreadable is optimal. We recommend Ink Nurse (stocked in studio, at Chemist Warehouse or online at ink-nurse.com. Ink Nurse is a moisturiser type texture and will allow an easy application without a tacky residue.
Remove your second skin immediately if:
- A section or corner begins to roll or peel away
- If the skin is abnormally red or patchy
- if the skin becomes red near the edge or corners of the film
- If water or other contaminants make their way between your skin and the film
- If you have any other concerns about your tattoo, skin or it’s healing.