Welcome back to our Analysis of Aftercare series! Last time we looked at the expected healing stages of your fresh, new tattoo. Today, we’ll dive into the 13 DON’Ts of the aftercare process. Let’s get started! 

• DON’T share/take ointments or creams with/from anyone during the tattoo healing process. 

We recommend using Hustle Butter, Curel, CeraVe, and Lubriderm for moisturizers. Administer the amount suggested by your tattoo artist. 

• DON’T rub, pick, or scratch the tattoo. 

A normal albeit irritating part of the healing process is scabbing and flaking of dead skin. However, picking and scratching your healing tattoo risks the tattoo fading or being completely pulled off. It’s important to let all the scabs and dead skin fall off on their own. An alternative to scratching the direct area is to slap the surrounding area to alleviate some irritation. 

• DON’T let anyone touch the tattoo. 

Please, don’t do it. It’s an open wound! 

• DON’T let household pets come in contact with your new tattoo. 

We’re sorry. We all love our pets, but when you get that fresh, new tattoo, it’s an open wound susceptible to infection. This means no licking, sniffing, scratching, or contact with fur for a little while.

• DON’T ask your friends or family members if you have any questions or concerns. 

Please, contact your tattoo artist or the studio instead. Trust the professionals on this one. Nothing is more important to us than your health and safety. 

• DON’T put alternative bandages on your tattoo. 

Listen to the advice from your tattoo artist and keep the bandage administered for the prescribed amount of time. This lowers the risk of infections and the potential of the ink bleeding out. 

• DON’T share your used towels with anyone. 

Towle exchange isn’t a good idea since it increases your chance of an infection. 

• DON’T use too much moisturizing cream. 

It’s going to be itchy and irritated, but it’s important to regulate the amount of moisturizer used because overuse can oversaturate the tattoo. Counterintuitively, using too much moisturizer can cause the tattoo to scab even more and make the preexisting scabs shed too soon. More is not better in this case. 

• DON’T expose to direct sunlight for 30 days. 

We all love a good tan, but a sunburn over a tattoo is far from ideal. It’s recommended to keep your fresh ink out of the sunlight and to apply sunscreen with a high SPF if the tattoo is exposed when you go outside. We recommend Balm Tattoo sunscreen (50-100 SPF). 

• DON’T submerge the tattoo in water for a month.  

This includes avoiding the bath, pools, the seas, the ocean,hot showers and all hot tubs. Take short medium temperature showers instead and follow the washing guidelines given to you by your tattoo artist (this step will be fully covered in our next part of the series!). 

• DON’T do active sports. 

It is recommended to avoid strenuous activities for a month after your tattoo appointment because it can affect the skin’s healing process. This is especially the case for any tattoos that are near or cover joint areas. For those who work in physically demanding jobs, consider taking a few days to a week off work so that the skin can begin to heal. 

• DON’T drink alcohol for at least 24 hours after your appointment. 

Alcohol causes your blood to thin and can delay healing due to excessive bleeding. It may also cause you to feel incoherent the next day as well. It is stressed that you don’t consume any alcohol before receiving your tattoo because the excess bleeding can cause visibility issues for the artist and potentially thin the ink. Avoid wine night for a few days. 

• DON’T wear any jewelry or accessories over the tattooed area. 

Avoid harsh fabrics, zippers, buttons, and all materials that can potentially irritate the tattooed skin. Taking extra precautions increases your chances of a smoother healing process. 

There are quite a few DON’Ts to the tattoo healing process but following each of them ensures that your fresh ink will stay fresh through it all. If you have any questions or concerns, contact your tattoo artist or call the studio for any assistance. Your health and safety are our top priority, and we are always happy to help!

In our next blog, we’ll continue this series by looking at the DOs of tattoo treatment for small/medium, and large and highly detailed pieces.

As always, stay tuned!