BONES TATTOO
Aftercare
Proper aftercare is crucial for maintaining the appearance and health of your new tattoo.
Follow these steps to ensure the best results:
Always care for your tattoo with clean washed hands.
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When you arrive home (ideally straight after your tattoo appointment), remove the wrap. Don’t leave the wrap on for more than 3 hours. The wrap is just to protect your tattoo while you travel home.
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Wash your tattoo with an antibacterial soap and warm water. Showering is usually easiest, just don’t let any high pressure water directly hit your tattoo.
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Pat your tattoo dry with a clean paper towel.
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Apply a thin layer of Bepanthen twice a day, morning and night. Bepanthen is a thick cream so a small amount will go a long way. You still want your skin to be able to breathe. Bepanthen is recommended as it is antibacterial.
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While you are asleep wear clean clothing that covers your tattoo to protect it overnight.
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From the day after your tattoo appointment until your tattoo has scabbed over, gently wash your tattoo twice daily (once in the morning and once before bed) and continue applying a thin layer of Bepanthen twice daily (morning and night).
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Once your tattoo has scabbed over you can switch to a mild unscented moisturiser. Moisturise as required if your tattoo feels dry or itchy until your skin returns to its pre-tattooed condition.
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Your tattoo should be healed in around 10-14 days.
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Remember tattoos are open wounds until they have scabbed over.
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Fresh bed sheets are recommended.
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Avoid wearing tight clothing until your tattoo is healed and the scabs have naturally come off.
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In the first few days of healing your tattoo there will be excess ink, blood and plasma
that will wash off as you clean your tattoo.
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Scabs may come off as you wash your tattoo or apply Bepanthen, this is absolutely normal,
just be gentle when cleaning and applying aftercare cream.
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Larger or heavily saturated tattoos
If you have a larger tattoo or heavily saturated tattoo you will have more ink, blood and plasma that will come out of the wound. These excess fluids may solidify onto your clothing overnight while you sleep. Wrapping a larger/saturated tattoo overnight is recommended. Before bed, clean and pat dry your tattoo, apply a thin layer of Bepanthen and glad wrapping your tattoo (unroll and discard the first 30cm of the glad wrap to ensure what you use is clean). Use medical tape to secure the edges of the glad wrap to your skin to avoid the wrap moving and exposing your tattoo while you sleep. When you wake up, remove the wrap, clean, pat dry and apply Bepanthen to your tattoo.
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DO NOT:
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Pick at the scabs. This may cause ink to be removed with the scab or reopen the wound which may cause infection, let the scab fall off naturally. Your tattoo will start to itch, this is part of your healing as the scabs dry out and start peeling, you can soothe the itch by applying mild unscented moisturiser.
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Submerge/soak your tattoo in water or go swimming while your tattoo is healing.
This may cause ink loss or infection. Showers are ok.
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Sunbathe or use sunbeds while your tattoo is healing.
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Share your aftercare cream with anyone, and don't use anyone else's cream.
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Consult your doctor if any signs or symptoms of infection develop such as: pain that increases over the next few days while healing rather than decreases, redness at the site, green/yellow discharge (foul smelling) and/or fever.
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To ensure your tattoos remain vibrant and last longer, it's important to keep them shielded from the sun and apply sunscreen regularly. Prolonged sun exposure can cause fading and dullness.
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During the healing process, if you have any concerns or questions, feel free to contact me.
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After a month, I'd love if you could send me a photo of your fully-healed tattoo.
If you notice any areas that need touch-ups, simply email me a photo of the affected area and I’ll schedule a free touch-up appointment if you've followed my aftercare instructions.
However, if you have not followed proper aftercare, there may be an additional charge for the touch-up service.