After 3 or 4 days of using the
After getting a new tattoo, it's generally recommended to leave the ointment (such as a healing ointment or tattoo-specific cream) on for about 3 to 5 days. During this initial period, apply a thin layer of ointment 2 to 3 times a day, or as directed by your tattoo artist.
You can continue to use both the Tattoo Goo Balm and Tattoo Goo Care Lotion daily for the life of your tattoo to maintain the color and vibrancy of your ink. THINGS TO REMEMBER: It can take several weeks to several months for your tattoo to completely heal.
After using ointment for a new tattoo, you should wait until your tattoo has completely healed before switching to lotion. This typically takes about 2-3 weeks (1).
Only apply ointment for as long as it takes for your tattoo to peel, usually 3-7 days. When the peeling begins, the tattooed skin will flake like a sunburn. At all costs avoid picking at the cracked and flaking skin. When the tattoo has fully entered the peeling phase you should NOT apply any more ointment.
Use the Aquaphor for the first 2-3 days then switch to a regular FRAGRANCE-FREE lotion such as Lubriderm, or any other fragrance-free brand. 5. Fresh tattoos sometimes “weep” during the first couple of days, meaning that plasma and ink form a thin moist coating on the skin. This can be DABBED with a clean paper towel.
Applying too much moisturizer restricts the skin's ability to breath, thus causing the pores to clog and can lead to consequent break outs. To avoid these symptoms, follow the aftercare instructions of your tattoo artist and apply the best tattoo aftercare moisturizer: your trusty Ink Nurse cream.
Do not use any healing ointment or moisturizer, only plastic wrap over your cleaned and dried skin. With this method, the tattoo is kept completely covered with plastic wrap 24 hours a day, for as long as it takes to peel—usually 3 to 5 days.
It is considered fully healed when all scabs have fallen off, and the skin has regenerated and closed up. This process generally takes between 2 to 4 weeks. At this point, you can stop washing your tattoo with soap, as it will be protected by its own layers of skin.
You can pat the tattoo gently with a clean paper towel, but you must let the tattoo dry, uncovered, for 15 to 20 minutes after each cleaning. Any extra moisture trapped by immediately covering the tattoo is an invitation for bacteria to multiply.
Even if you over-apply Tattoo Goo, it won't damage your tattoo because it does not contain lanolin or petroleum. Tattoo Goo Original (ointment) is a bit thick, which means you don't have to apply too much.
Until the surface of the tattoo is healed (at a minimum of two to three weeks), wash the area gently 2-3 times per day. After cleaning the tattoo during this two to three week period, gently apply a thin coat of a lotion-based care product. We recommend After Inked tattoo moisturizer and aftercare lotion.
While lotions are excellent for maintaining hydration and vibrancy after the tattoo has healed, balms are particularly beneficial when the skin is most vulnerable and in need of intensive care.
"You can gently cleanse the skin while it's in the peeling phase, but use a non-foaming, unscented cleanser," says Nazarian. "Perfumes and colognes can be super irritating to freshly tattooed skin or a peeling tattoo, so avoid anything with fragrance. After washing, gently pat dry and do not rub the area."
After the fourth day, switch over to using a plain white non-scented lotion 4 to 5 times a day or as needed when your tattoo becomes dry and flaky, which is normal at this stage.
Unfortunately, there's no way to control what your body does while you sleep, but keeping your new tattoo covered during the night will help mitigate the risk of causing any injuries by scratching it.
Use our tattoo balm or Dr. Pickles for 3 times a day for the next 2/3 weeks or until the tattoo is fully healed. After 3-4 days the tattoo will flake and get quite itchy.
Moisturizing your tattoo regularly is extremely important. You should moisturize your clean tattoo 3 – 6 times per day, for roughly two weeks (though proper skincare is always important, and most tattoo enthusiasts moisturize their tattoos daily for life!).
You can shower 3-4 hours after getting a tattoo, if you have a Saniderm bandage on, however, if you have a plastic wrap wait 24 hours to unwrap your tattoo and shower. In either case, shower in cold or lukewarm water and avoid prolonged soaking or submerging your tattoo in water for 3-4 weeks.
After your tattoo is completed, your artist will bandage your tattoo for your trip home. Leave the bandage on for one to three hours. When you take the bandage off, wash it with very warm water (as hot as is comfortable) and mild liquid hand soap (like Dr.