Inkpulsive Custom
Tattooing |
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Because
a tattoo isn't completed until it is fully healed. |
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Wash
your hands!
Remove
the bandage after one hour, two maximum.
All wounds need to breathe if they are to heal properly.
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Wash
the tattoo using your fingertips or hand only.
Use a mild antibacterial soap and warm water.
Take care to remove all traces of blood to decrease your chances
of scabbing.
Do not scrub the tattoo with a washcloth during the two week
healing period.
Always gently pat the tattoo dry with a clean soft cloth or
just let it air dry. |
Apply
a thin coat of ointment to the tattoo...
Aquaphor, A&D Ointment and Tattoo Goo are all very good.
(Just enough to make it shine, a little goes a long way...
less is more.) Work it in well.
Dab off all the excess with a paper towel. You should
barely be able to tell that it's there... This is just enough
to moisturize the tattoo and to keep it from scabbing.
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Please
Note: There's a difference between "moisturizing
your tattoo" and "keeping it moist." Moist implies
'wet', which is bad. It's the same as soaking it in water. Your
body will absorb what it needs where it needs it. Your
body heat can liquefy the ointment and it may become glossy
looking or runny. This means there's still too much on there.
Dab more off. Too much ointment will only suffocate the tattoo,
clog pores and liquefy any scabs that may have formed causing
the ink to fall out and look blotchy. There is no need to re-bandage
the tattoo. |
Ointment should be applied twice a day for two to three
days then switch to moisturizer like Aveeno, Eucerin,
Keri, Lubriderm, Curel, Jergens, or Vaseline Intensive care.
Apply moisturizer twice a day for the remainder of two weeks.
Do not use lotions that contain color or fragrance or sparkles
until the healing is complete. (Usually anywhere from ten days
to two weeks; Possibly longer for slower healers.) |
Your
skin will form a protective layer no matter what you do. Most
of the time the tattoo will probably be more on the dry side
than wet/moist. If you keep it too moist and then
let it dry out repeatedly it will form a thick,
hard scab that may crack when you move. When you
form this kind of a scab the ink sits within it and slowly heals
into the skin. When the tattoo is kept moisturized it doesn't
have a chance to form a scab but does form a thin membrane to
protect the tattoo while it heals.Under ideal circumstances
it's very thin, almost like an onion skin. It usually begins
to flake off by the fourth or fifth day. Very similar to a flaking
sunburn (do not peel your tattoo, you will pull the ink out!)
and it is perfectly normal to see small flakes of colored skin
falling off during this stage of healing. During this stage
of healing, it's common for the new skin beneath to look milky,
causing the tattoo to look lighter. This will adjust within
the next week or two. |
You
must keep your tattoo clean, however, long showers or baths
must be avoided for 2 weeks. Prolonged soaking can and
will loosen scabs if any have formed, or will soak through the
soft tissue turning it into a soggy mess and cause your ink
to flow down the drain. This includes Swimming in the Ocean
or a Pool, Hot Tubs, and Saunas. Short showers are best, under
ten minutes if possible. |
Please refrain from scratching or picking at the tattoo.
This can cause damage. Scrubbing with a washcloth can be very
harsh on a tattoo and will cause your colors to fade. Disrupting
the tattoo while it's healing can also cause scar tissue. It
is normal for the tattoo to become very itchy during the healing
time. To relieve this, spray the tattoo with rubbing alcohol
or slap it with your hand (this will sting it and take away
the itch). |
No
but's about it, the sun is BAD for your tattoo,
even if you've had it for a loooooong time. A sunburn on a new
tattoo can cause a lot of problems. It will dry out your tattoo
and cause it to form a horrendous scab much of the time causing
the tattoo to fade before it is even healed. It will take much
longer to heal completely. It promotes scarring in a new tattoo.
Wait until it is fully healed to go back in the sun or a tanning
bed and make sure you put on a high quality SUNBLOCK (not sunscreen).
But, do not apply sunblock while the tattoo is healing.
Keep it out of the sun The tattoo is under your skin, and your
tan will form above it. If you get too dark, some colors (white,
yellow, pink, and orange) may not show up as brightly as they
could. Over time, excessive exposure to excessive sunlight will
cause your tattoo
to fade no matter what colors are used. |
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Remember
that hands and feet reproduce skin cells much faster than other
parts of the body. A tattoo in these areas will sometimes take
an extra two weeks to heal. During this time refrain from washing
dishes, wearing gloves, or wearing socks and shoes (sandals
must not rub the tattoo). Any friction of this type WILL wear
away the tattoo within a very short period of time.
Tattoos in these areas are almost never guaranteed. |
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Heavy
Scabbing |
Individuals
heal in so many different ways, it's hard to tell (especially
for first-timers) exactly what will happen - whether the tattoo
will scab or peel. A tattoo in one spot may heal completely
different from a tattoo in another spot. The way an artist works
the skin can also make a difference in the way a tattoo heals.
There is no way to fortell exactly what every tattoo is going
to do while healing or how to heal it. |
Yes,
it's probably better for a tattoo to peel, but sometimes people
just don't heal this way. Sometimes a scab will form no matter
what you do. For some, it's hard to tell whether or not a scab
is forming. Sometimes a piece will look like it's scabbed over
but will peel, other times it's obvious that a thick, hard scab
has formed. If a scab does form you may have to do things a
bit differently... You should always check with your artist
before you change any of your aftercare procedure. Each artist
has their own methods of aftercare.In most shops, if you follow
their directions and the tattoo heals badly, they are responsible
for a touch up. If you deviate from their aftercare without
seeking their advice and the tattoo heals badly, you forfeit
that guarantee. |
Almost
all artists will advise you to keep the tattoo moist.
This can keep it from forming a scab. But what happens if that
doesn't work? |
We
notice a lot of people getting tattooed and then over-applying
ointment and lotion - too frequently or just too much
of it. Keeping it too moist, to the point that it's nearly turning
any repairing tissue to mush. Then, while they sleep the mush
hardens, turning to a scab. Morning comes and on goes more goo...
that then absorbs into the scab turning it to mush again...
and later, dries out to form a thicker scab. |
Sometimes
a tattoo just needs to scab- whether it's because the artists
technique or the clients particular skin type or a rough healing
area... sometimes it just happens. . If it does form a scab
discontinue the ointment or moisturizer. Let the tattoo 'dry
heal'. You will have to keep an eye on it and baby it to keep
any scabs from getting pulled off prematurely, but personally,
I find it to be the best way should scabbing occur. If anything,
apply a sparing amount of moisturizer once a day or
less, if at all. No matter what, your body will heal. Touch
ups are always available.
(This is why we guarantee all of our work. :) |
Each artist at Inkpulsive guarantees their own work and will
touch up the tattoo within 3 months of the original date at
no cost - unless it's obvious that you abused the tattoo. |
