INSTRUCTIONS

It's important to take care of a new tattoo as soon as it's finished so that it heals quickly and retains its color well. Keep the bandage the tattoo artist put on you for at least a few hours before gently removing it and rinsing the tattooed area with warm water. Keep your skin clean and moisturized, avoid the sun, and refrain from scratching the tattoo so that it heals perfectly.

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TAKING CARE OF A TATTOO ON THE FIRST DAY

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1 . Keep the bandage. Leave it in place for 2 to 6 hours. Once the tattoo is complete, the tattoo artist will clean the area, apply antibacterial ointment, and cover your skin with a plastic bandage. When you leave the tattoo parlor, do not take off the bandage. It is there to protect your tattooed skin from dirt and bacteria and should be kept on for at least 2 hours before removal.

• Since the exact way to cover the tattoo depends on the tattoo artist, ask yours how long you need to keep the bandage on.

• If you remove the bandage before the date given to you by the artist, you are at greater risk of infections and the ink may leak.

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2 . wash your hands. They should be clean when you remove the dressing. Wash them just before to avoid infecting the tattoo by touching it. To make it easier to remove the dressing, you can wet it with a little warm water to loosen it from your skin. Take it off slowly and gently to avoid damaging your new tattoo.

• Throw away the dirty dressing after removing it.

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3 . Wash off the tattoo. Wash it gently with barely lukewarm water. Instead of soaking it, take warm water in the palms of your hands and pour it over the area. Apply mild antibacterial or antimicrobial soap in liquid form to the tattoo and rub it gently with your hands to remove any blood, plasma or ink that has smudged. This will prevent a scab from forming too soon.

• Do not use a washcloth, loofah, or sponge to clean the area, as these items may harbor bacteria.

• Do not place the tattoo directly under running water, as the tap stream may be too powerful for this very delicate area.

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4 . Let the tattoo dry. Let it air dry or dab it gently with clean paper towels. The best is to let it dry naturally after cleaning it, but you can also dab it very gently with clean paper towels until it is dry. Do not rub it, as you may irritate your skin.

• A bath towel can irritate the tattooed area or deposit lint or fibers there. It is therefore preferable to use absorbent paper.

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5 . Apply antibacterial cream. Use a fragrance-free product. When the tattooed skin is completely dry, apply a little antibacterial moisturizing lotion, preferably all-natural, on the tattoo. Form an even layer and gently dab the area until it has absorbed the product. If you're not sure what to use, ask the tattoo artist to recommend a product that's right for your skin.

• Bepanthene cream often recommended to moisturize tattooed skin.

• Don't use petroleum jelly-based products, such as petroleum jelly, as they will be too thick and may clog your pores.

• When you are done cleaning and moisturizing the tattoo, avoid covering it again.

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6 . Listen to the tattoo artist. Follow the instructions he gives you. He will explain how to take care of your tattoo right after you have it done. Try to follow all his instructions. The way to apply the dressing may differ from one artist to another. This is why it is important to listen carefully to the advice of your particular tattoo artist so that your tattoo heals well.

• You could write all these instructions on a sheet or save them in your phone so you don't forget them.

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PROMOTE HEALING

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1 . Maintain the tattoo daily. Wash and moisturize daily until the scab is gone. Wash the tattooed area with warm water and antibacterial soap two or three times a day until it is completely healed. This can take 2-6 weeks depending on the size and location of the tattoo.

• It is important to apply a moisturizing product (such as Bepanthene cream), but be careful not to use too much to avoid smothering the tattooed skin. A thin layer is enough.

• Continue cleaning the area with a mild fragrance-free soap.

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2 . Don't scratch yourself. Force yourself not to scratch the tattooed skin. As it heals, it will begin to scab over, which is perfectly normal. Let the scabs dry and fall off on their own, and don't try to pick or scrape them off to speed up the process. If they fall off too early, they might leave holes or slight stains in the tattoo.

• Dry, crusty or scaly skin can be extremely itchy, but if you scratch the tattoo, you risk tearing the scabs off.

• If you have severe itching, continue applying moisturizer.

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3 . Pay attention to the sun. Do not expose your tattoo to its rays. Harsh sunlight can cause your skin to blister and discolor the tattoo a bit. Keep it covered and out of direct sunlight for at least 3 to 4 weeks while the area heals completely.

• When the tattooed skin has healed, it will be important to put on sunscreen to prevent the tattoo from fading.

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4 . Avoid water. Do not leave your tattoo soaking for a long time. While waiting for it to heal, avoid swimming in a pool or the sea and taking baths. If the tattoo is exposed to a lot of water, the ink may run off your skin and the design may be ruined. It is also possible that the water contains bacteria, dirt or chemicals that could infect the tattooed skin.

You can resume these activities once the area is well healed, but in the meantime, just rinse it off in the shower or sink.

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5 . Wear loose clothing. Put on clean, loose clothing to avoid irritating the tattooed skin. Avoid tight-fitting or tattoo-tight items, especially in the beginning. As your skin heals, it will release plasma and ink, which could cause it to stick to your clothes. These items will hurt you when you remove them and could tear off any scabs that form.

If an item of clothing sticks to your skin, do not pull on it. Wet it with water to loosen it enough to remove it without damaging the tattoo.

Tight clothing will also prevent the oxygen essential for the healing process from reaching the tattoo in sufficient quantities.

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6 . Avoid physical exertion. Wait until the area has healed before doing intense physical exertion. If the tattoo is large or near a joint (like a knee or elbow), it may take longer to heal if the skin it covers moves too much during physical activity. This movement will crack and irritate your skin, which will slow healing.

• If you're doing something that requires physical exertion, like dancing or bricklaying, it might be wise to get a tattoo just before you have a few days off so the area can start to heal before you get back to it. work.

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ADVICE

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• Use clean, old sheets for the first few nights in case the tattoo oozes when you're in bed.

• If the tattoo needs touch-ups, return to the salon where you had it done.

• Make sure all your clothes and bath towels are perfectly clean during the healing period.

• Check the ingredient list of the soaps and lotions you use to make sure they don't contain any alcohol or synthetic fragrances.

• If the tattoo is in a hard-to-reach area, you may need someone else to help you fix it.

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WARNINGS

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• Do not wash a new tattoo in hot water.

• Do not keep the dressing on for more than 6 hours.

• Do not shave the tattooed skin until it is completely healed. If you shave the area around it, be careful not to get shaving foam or cream on the tattooed area to avoid irritating it.

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