Tattoo Aftercare

Your new tattoo is basically an open wound, you need to keep it clean and dry to avoid any infection.

Infection is caused by bacterial growth, which happens when the right conditions are met, bacteria+heat+moisture=potential infection that could ruin your tattoo and severely damage your health.

We have all heard about the horror cases floating around on the internet and we believe that its fundamental to try the most we can to reduce any risk of contamination as far as humanely possible.

Our Aftercare instructions may seem a little *extra* to some but they are in place to ensure we tackle as many critical control points we possibly can.

Contamination is still possible even when someone has been very thorough and for that reason we believe it is best to leave as little to chance as possible.

Phases of healing:

Open skin (Fresh Wound/Wet and Weeping ) - Keep your tattoo wrapped and clean it often.
Early Drying Stage (skin is drying up but it may sometimes still have weeping areas) - Dry out the weeping areas and keep the dry areas from over drying.
Late Drying Stage (peeling stage/early ointment routine)- It is safe to start applying cream if no areas are sticky and the tattoo looks dry.
Ointment routine stage (no peeling left, visible silver/shiny skin) - Continue to moisturise till the skin is no longer shiny under direct light and it's texture looks like the rest of your skin.
Settling Stage (your tattoo looks fully healed but it is still healing internally) - Keep up a skincare routine until your skin looks absolutely settled and back to its normal texture and matte sheen.
Healed Stage (your tattoo looks and IS fully healed and will now begin to age) - Protect your tattoo from the sun and practice good skin care, drink plenty of water and eat and sleep well to maximize your tattoos lifespan.

The duration of each stage will depend on your body and aftercare routine. They will also vary depending on style and technique of your chosen tattoo and chosen artist.

What is Weeping?

Weeping is a natural part of the tattoo healing process that happens during the first two stages of healing a tattoo.

Our immune system tries to heal your tattoo from the moment you get it, it will send bodily fluids like blood, plasma and lymph to the tattooed area in an attempt to heal it.

Your body is attempting to close the wound, sometimes these fluids will congeal and cause scabs which we need to prevent.

These fluids are amazing for the healing process when congealing can be avoided (as second skin bandages do) but these fluids do have an expiry date of 24 hours.

We prefer to recommend you keep your tattoo as dry as possible, for styles that are more likely to weep, like styles with a lot of shading or packing we might recommend you use Absorbent pads at the start before switching up to Second Skin Bandages so we can prevent your tattoo being "wet" for long periods of time.

For most people their tattoos weep the most during the first 2 nights so we recommend you keep your tattoo wrapped for at least that time.

Skin is a very complex organ so naturally healing tattoos has a learning curve, you will gain a second sense for what your skin is asking for as you get more tattoos.

What are the differences between Absorbent Pads and Second Skin:

The first application of an Absorbent Wrap is included with your tattoo, you will need to purchase the required amount of pads from us to apply at home.

You may also chose to pay extra for peace of mind and have a Second Skin Bandage on your new tattoo instead.

You may also be told to do a mix between absorbent pads and second skin, as sometimes its best to use the pads on a extremely weepy tattoo at first and then switch up to the second skin once the tattoo isn't weeping so much.

Some people prefer this because it offers more protection and its easier to wear than the bulky Absorbent Pad.

Absorbent Pads will keep the moisture away from your tattoo by absorbing it.
Second Skin Bandages will create a pocket inside the bandage that will keep body fluids wet and prevent them from congealing and forming a scab.
Absorbent pads have to be applied with cohesive grip tape or micropore tape or cling film and can be rather bulky .
Second Skin Bandages are sticky on the inside and smooth on the outside, skin-thin and clear so they offer a better wear experience as they don't feel "so in the way plus they allow you to show off your new tattoo without exposing it).
Absorbent Tattoo Pads will mean changing bandages more often than with Second Skin Bandages.

For the Absorbent Pads method we recommend changing the wrap 2 hours after your tattoo, then once again before bed and repeating this at a maximum of 12 hour interval for as long as the tattoo is still tacky and weepy, sometimes shiny and goopy looking at spots.

If this is the case you need to continue applying the bandages and keeping the tattoo clean and as dry as possible under wraps until it starts drying off, not exceeding 12 hours with the same bandage.

You may choose to apply some ointment under the bandage after the first 24 hours if you have any dry patches but avoid the parts that are still weeping.

Make sure you don't overapply the ointment.

Changing the bandages at the Early Drying Stage ensures nothing gets stuck on the tattoo or that the sticky parts don't get attached to your clothes or bedding.

For the Second Skin method we recommend changing it after the first 24 hours if a pocket of fluid has appeared from the tattoo weeping.

We recommend changing bandages every 24 hours until weeping of body fluids has stopped.

After the weeping has stopped the Second Skin Bandage can be left for up to 5 days as long as the bandage remains clean and uncompromised and the tattoo is not wet inside.

The corners getting curled up and darkened is normal but if any part of the bandage is pierced or the tattoo is exposed we recommend you change it.

You may choose to apply a tiny amount of tattoo balm on your tattoo if you think it is too dry and want to stop the second skin from sticking to any part of the tattoo but remember not to put any ointment around the tattoo where you will need the bandage to stick as creams and butters will prevent second skin from sticking to your skin.

For all aftercare methods:

How to wash your tattoo:

Always wash your hands thoroughly with antiseptic soap before touching a new tattoo. Carex or Simple have good options available in any drugstore or supermarket.
We recommend you wash your tattoo with warm water, using Butterluxe Tattoo Soap, sudsy it up in your hands, do not apply it directly to the tattoo.
Gently rub the soap suds on your fresh tattoo in circular motions, releasing any plasma, blood or ink that might be drying by now.
Rinse well with running water ensuring there there is no soap residue that may irritate your skin on and no body fluids that may lead to scabbing.
Be the most careful and gentle when cleaning it to avoid trauma to the tattooed skin.
Please avoid getting shower gel, shampoo or body creams on your fresh tattoo.
Pat dry your tattoo with clean kitchen paper towels, we recommend using the brand Plenty as they don't crumble off on the skin.
Let your tattoo air dry before you apply a new bandage or any ointment, we do not want to trap any moisture within it whilst the skin is open.

How to troubleshoot your tattoo:

If you notice anything out of the norm immediately send your artist a selection of photos and videos so they can help you out, you may be experiencing a combination of concerns and need a custom aftercare plan.

That is why it is important to update us with photos and any of your concerns.

As per your consent form and your own research you should be aware that materials used for your tattoo may cause reactions, we must know about these should they happen so we can understand what happened and prevent it from repeating itself in the future.

If you suspect your tattoo may be infected please contact us urgently.

Many reactions people fear are infections are just irritation and can be fixed easily so its always best to speak to the artist first and if we suspect infection we will let you know to escalate it to your GP.

Redness, Itching, Peeling - These things are normal with a healing tattoo but if anything feels too extreme please speak to your artist about this. Tattoos irritate the skin causing redness, the itching and peeling can be helped with oitment.
Not Dry enough for Ointment - This will be evident by sticky shiny patches on your tattoo. This happens where the tattoo is still weeping bodily fluids and you started applying oitment prematurely. The way to fix it is by either using a drying gel (speak to your tattoo artist to get an application of this) or by reverting back to the Wrapping steps until it stops weeping. We recommend you don't apply ointment to the tattoo at all if it is still tacky and shiny and that may promote bacterial growth and scabbing.
Overly moisturised or Exposed to too much water - Tattoo gets waterlogged and soggy, may blister up, will scab. We avoid this by not using any ointment for the first 24 hours at least and when applying the ointment we ensure layers are as thin as possible and worked into the skin. If the tattoo is waterlogged we recommend stopping the ointment for another 12-24 hours and then applying lesser amounts and massaging them in very thoroughly. Sometimes a rash or blisters may occur when too much ointment is used.
Overly Dry - Skin is cracking and dry, painful and red. People with already dry skin may need a heavier ointment routine, applying little amounts more often each time and don't wash the tattoo more than once a day.
Different kinds of rashes and skin reactions - May mean a sensitivity or allergy to a product, we may be able to tell what is happening through photos, videos or an in-person visit but we recommend you contact your GP and send them the same photos you send us.

Best Practices to Avoid Potential Risks and Complications:

It's essential to keep your tattoo away from any contaminants that may carry bacteria. AVOID AT ALL COSTS: Pet hair, unwashed hands, dirty clothes, dirty towels, dirty bedding, dust, not washing the tattoo often enough and not keeping it covered.

Wash your hands with antiseptic soap before handling a fresh tattoo and we encourage using tattoo appropriate products only. Use brand new products for a fresh tattoo and do not re-use products from previous tattoos to prevent cross contamination. We are against people sharing aftercare products on fresh tattoos for the same reason. Products that have been left open or exposed to moisture or heat may also change so that's another reason why it is best to use all new products, a tattoo is, after all, an open wound that needs to heal its best, with no scarring. Wear clean loose clothing around a new tattoo, nothing that rubs on it or is tight around the area. Sleep on clean bedding and don't allow pets in the bed for that time. Don't submerge your tattoo, no baths, no swimming. Showers are allowed but not with scalding water. Don't expose your tattoo to the sun whilst it is healing at all. After it is healed always wear SPF on it to avoid sun damage to your tattoo. Don't pick at your tattoo, let the healing take its course.

Don't follow anyone's advice that isn't your tattoo provider or your medical care provider. Follow our recommended aftercare methods and advice ONLY. Keep us posted if you have any updates or concerns.#

How to apply ointment to your tattoo:

When the tattoo is no longer producing any fluids under the bandages and its starting to look and feel dry you can then give it a few hours air dying and see if it is in fact dry or still producing fluid, if it is dry after 2 hours of airdrying you can start applying Butterluxe or A&D ointment in very small amounts, working them into the skin, ensuring you are not leaving a shiny layer of product sitting on the new tattoo which could negatively affect the healing by "waterlogging" your tattoo. Apply your balm or ointment 4 to 5 times a day, always ensuring both your hands and tattoo are clean and dry and the balm as worked into the tattoo as possible.
Long-Term Tattoo Care: Its best to adopt a daily long-term moisturizing routine for your skin when you have tattoos as your skin is like the frame on a picture, if the glass gets dusty and scratched you can't see the picture behind it as well, so if you take good care of your skin your tattoos will age better and keep their contrast a lot more. We recommend Palmers Cocoa Butter for long term use or anything you get on with. SPF must be used on your tattoos to prevent sun damage and premature aging.

Aftercare products:

A&D sachet - £1
15ml Butterluxe - £4
50ml Butterluxe - £10
150ml Butterluxe - £25
35g Butterluxe Soap - £3.5
Absorbent Pads (1 included with each tattoo)
Small - £1
Medium - £2
Large - £3
Second Skin
small - £4
medium - £8
large - £10
Hustlebutter - £12.50

We recommend using ointment and the appropriate soap cleansers for all aftercare methods.
We mostly recommend changing wraps at least once for the first 24 hours. Ideally for the full duration of the weeping process and then its a choice between air healing with ointment and risking some damage or using a second skin to avoid any scabbing being pulled for the full duration of the peeling process.

After you leave the shop your tattoo is entirely your responsibility so make sure you buy the appropriate aftercare otherwise there is no guarantee of a touch-up should you need it.