TATTOO AFTERCARE

Nickole typically uses Recovery Derm-Shield to bandage all body tattoos. If you are allergic to tape, band-aids, or medical adhesives, please let her know so she can bandage you with something else.

If you use the Derm-Shield, you can keep it on anywhere from 24 hours to a week. If it begins to feel irritating, uncomfortable, extremely tight, or you start to develop bumps/redness around the bandage: remove it. You can remove the bandage with soap and water, coconut oil, or you can peel it off dry by peeling up two opposing corners (enough to grab with fingertips) and pulling straight out like you would a command strip until it slowly releases itself.

After removal of any type of bandaging, you will want to clean it with clean hands, lukewarm water, and a soap that is dye free and scent free. Let the tattoo air dry. Never use a towel, paper towel, etc on a fresh tattoo as they are too abrasive and can have bacteria on them. After it has air dried a little bit, apply scent free and dye free water based lotion or other tattoo aftercare every couple of hours. If your tattoo feels/looks itchy and dry, you need lotion. You will need to lotion your tattoo during the entire healing process, even after all of the flaky skin has come off to keep scarring at bay (4 weeks total.) DO NOT USE AQUAPHOR, A&E OINTMENT OR WHATEVER YOUR BUDDY TELLS YOU TO USE. If you are unsure if a lotion is okay to use, please ask Nickole directly instead of asking friends, Facebook, or Google. DO NOT ALLOW TATTOO TO DRY HEAL/FORM THICK, HARD SCABS. YOU WILL CAUSE SCARRING.

NO SWIMMING, EXCESS SWEATING, SUN, CHEMICALS, DYES, FRAGRANCES, PETROLEUM PRODUCT, NO PICKING/SCRATCHING/SLAPPING, AND OBVIOUSLY NO ACTIVITIES/ENVIRONMENTS THAT ARE DIRTY FOR AT LEAST 3-4 WEEKS.

LONG TERM: KEEP SUNSCREEN ON YOUR TATTOO, EVEN IF YOU TAN!!! Keeping your tattoo out of the sun will dramatically improve the longevity of your tattoo. Having a good, healthy diet and regular exercise can also keep your tattoo looking great over time. Healthy body=healthy skin=lasting tattoos

With this method of healing, clients of Nickole’s rarely have to come in for touch ups. Nickole usually only does one or two touch ups per year!