Aftercare Instructions

We carry Lovestruck Aftercare Kits full of everything you need to care for a new tattoo!

“Traditional” Aftercare Instructions:

• When you get home: remove the bandage/wrap within 3-4 hours after receiving your tattoo. DO NOT re-bandage your tattoo. You may have been instructed to leave your tattoo wrapped until the following morning. If so, remove the bandage in the morning and continue with instructions as follows.

• Wash your tattoo with an anti-bacterial, unscented liquid soap. Be gentle and only use your hands; do not use a washcloth, sponge, luffa, or anything that will exfoliate your tattoo.

• Gently pat your tattoo dry with a clean paper towel. Do not rub or use a fabric with a rough surface.

• Allow your tattoo to completely dry before applying a thin layer of ointment. Make sure to completely rub in the ointment so it is not greasy/shiny.

Ointment recommendations: Redemption, Hustle Butter, Crybaby ointment, Aquaphor

For the next 3-4 days:

• Continue to wash your tattoo with an anti-bacterial, unscented liquid soap once-twice a day (in the morning, before bed, or immediately after working out), pat dry, and apply a thin amount of ointment

• Apply ointment 3-5 times daily as needed

• ALWAYS use clean hands when washing and applying ointment to your tattoo

For the next 2 weeks:

• Your tattoo will typically start peeling and feeling itchy on the 3rd or 4th day of healing. This is normal! Do not pick or scratch at the skin.

• Start using a gentle lotion instead of ointment. Aveeno, Lubriderm, Jergens, Cetaphil, Cerave, Olay, Johnson’s Baby Lotion are all good options.

• Moisturize your tattoo for a minimum of 2 weeks, 1-2 times daily, more as needed

Recovery Derm Shield Instructions:

Recovery Derm Shield is a transparent film adhesive bandage. It allows breathability and flexibility, optimal conditions for gentle healing and skin renewal. It prevents exposure to bacteria, dirt, and abrasions while eliminating scabbing and reducing the risk of scarring. It is waterproof but allows skin perspiration, so it can keep up with everyday activities. It works by locking in your body’s plasma (what normally dries into a scab) allowing the skin to reabsorb the fluid for an accelerated heal. You can wear it for several days while your tattoo heals. It allows you to skip out on the frequent washing and ointment applying involved in traditional tattoo aftercare.

If you generally have sensitive skin, particularly with adhesives, Derm Shield is NOT recommended for you. If at any point in the healing process you notice redness around the edges of the Derm or the skin underneath becomes bright red, remove immediately

• A Derm Shield bandage may be applied before you leave the shop

• During the first 24 hours, fluid will gather underneath the bandage. This is a mix of ink, plasma, and a minimal amount of blood, and is completely normal!

• When you’re ready to remove your Derm Shield, wash your hands, and gently peel it off in the direction of hair growth. It is recommended to remove the bandage in the shower for easier removal.

• Wash your tattoo with an anti-bacterial, unscented soap and warm water

• Gently pat the tattoo dry with a clean paper towel. DO NOT use a bath towel or cloth as bacteria or fibers may stick to your tattoo

Things to Avoid:

• Do not pick, scratch, peel, slap, rub or irritate your tattoo

• Please shower, but avoid soaking your tattoo for 2 weeks. This means no baths, pools or hot tubs

• Avoid unnecessarily exposing your tattoo to the sun for at least 3 weeks, afterwards it is highly recommended to use a sunscreen to protect the tattoo from fading

• Do not wear abrasive materials, jewelry, or shoes that rub against your tattoo for 2 weeks

• Do not let anyone touch your tattoo while it is healing

• Do not work out 24 hours after your tattoo, afterwards be wary of gym equipment and sanitize it well before using it

Common Concerns:

My tattoo is swollen and painful after my appointment

This is completely normal as a tattoo is technically a medical procedure. Your tattoo may be swollen, red, and painful to the touch in the days following your tattoo. You may ice your tattoo and begin taking ibuprofen immediately following your appointment to help with the swelling and pain. Things to watch out for: if swelling and pain persists for more than 3-4 days and is accompanied by white spots, fever, puss filled blisters please seek medical attention immediately.

There are small red bumps or small pimples on or near my new tattoo

Small red bumps or pimples in the week following your tattoo is normal. This is due to the use of ointment clogging your pores.

Things to watch out for: if you have a red, bumpy, itchy rash that does not go away, then you may want to speak to your physician. This reaction is not uncommon due from the use of ointment.

Your tattoo still feels raised weeks later

Your tattoo may remain raised for weeks or even months following your procedure. Causes for this range from your specific body chemistry to the weather. Often times the only solution is to wait it out.

Things to watch out for: if the skin surrounding the tattoo remains raised, this can be a sign of an allergic reaction to the ink itself. While this is extremely rare, you should seek medical attention or consult your physician if you believe you are having an allergic reaction.

Your tattoo looks scarred

If you generally heal poorly from cuts and grazes, or suffer from certain medical conditions, you may not heal as well as required, and some scarring may appear within the tattoo. Some people scar more than others and no technique will modify this risk. If you are prone to keloids or excessive scar formation, avoid getting tattooed in an area of tension where it will be repeatedly stretched as this will increase the risk of scarring.