Aftercare Instructions

Once your tattoo is finished, I’ll give you one of two Aftercare options for you to follow.

Each has their own advantages; but depending on the size, location and skin sensitivity, one method may be more suitable for you.

Regardless of which method you use while healing:

*Your tattoo can get wet under the shower to clean it but strictly no bathing, soaking or swimming for 4 weeks.

*Avoid the gym or sweaty activities for the first 5-7 days

*Keep your tattoo out of the sun while it’s healing! Your tattoo is still really fresh and UV Rays can cause damage your fresh tattoo, causing it to heal poorly, patchy and faded.

*Do not allow your tattoo to come into contact with dirty surfaces, pets/pet hair or unwashed hands!

Colorful tattoo of a mythical bird with floral and foliage elements on skin.

  • Second skin, dermal wrap, tattoo film wrap. There are many different brands/names out there but I offer FYT Tattoo Derm wrap to my clients.

    I still call it second skin though because that’s the name that most people recognise it by.

  • After your tattoo is finished, I will clean the area, pat it dry with paper towel and a piece of second skin to your tattoo.

    This first piece stays on for roughly 24 hours.

    Some areas are known for swelling and excess bleeding, so during this time if you see blood escaping from under the second skin, the second skin lifting up and over your tattoo or instense itching, please remove it straight away and wash the tattoo with mild soap and let air dry.

    If you have intense itching you may be allergic to the adhesive and even see red marks (like an angry red square around the tattoo), in which case- follow the cling wrap method in the next section.

    If it’s been 24 hours of you had to remove your piece early, make sure to clean your tattoo in warm water with a mild soap. You’ll feel that the tattoo is clean when it doesn’t feel slimey or slippery, a sign of plasma and blood which was present on the skin.Pat dry with a clean paper towel, let your tattoo airdry for 10 minutes and once dry, you can apply the second lot of second skin to your tattoo. You want to make sure there’s enough of a boarder around the tattoo so it wont peel up and over it.

    Try to keep your second piece on for 4-6 days. You might experience a little itching during this time (completely normal) but swelling, irritation and bleeding should settle by this point.After 4-6 days, remove the second skin and give your tattoo a wash.

    Make sure for the next week you are washing your tattoo 2-3 times a day and using an aftercare cream.Please read the next section how to apply aftercare cream if you are unsure.

  • After the second skin is removed,please wash the tattoo 2-3 times a day, using an aftercare cream.

    You only need to apply a very small amount of aftercare cream, a little goes a long way. A very thin layer is all that’s needed, if its too wet or saturated it’s going to have a hard time healing and could result in an infection.

    After a week your tattoo should be well into the scabbing and itching phase.

    Try your best to keep thick scabbing to a minimum. Anytime your tattoo feels overly dry or tight, make sure to wash and apply a bit of aftercare cream.

    Continue this method until your tattoo feels more like your skin again.

  • *Ask a friend or family member to help you apply the second skin if it’s in a difficult spot.

    *Try to line up the second skin over the centre of your tattoo so all of it is under the film. Stick the centre down first and smooth slowly outwards.

    *Air bubbles are ok, please refrain from popping them though.

    *For easy removal, run the corner of the second skin under the shower and carefully peel it back at an angle. Work slowly!

  • Every brand uses a different adhesive and sometimes we get unlucky.

    If you start noticing a red square around the second skin (not related to tattoo redness) or intense itching under the film, remove the second skin under running water and begin washing 2-3 times a day with and applying an aftercare cream.

    Any rashy redness should begin to calm down and fade within the next week.

    Please let me know if you experience a rash and if you are concerned, please see a doctor or dermatologist.

Colorful tattoo of a flaming, spiked mace on a person's forearm.

  • Your fresh tattoo may feel slippery and slimy to the touch as you’re washing it, that’s usually a sign of plasma and blood on the surface that needs to be cleaned off.

    To do this, make sure to clean your hands thoroughly first, then lather up liquid soap on your fingers and gently wash the tattoo under warm running water.

    Once your tattoo no longer feels slippery to the touch, it should be clean.

    NEVER use a bath towel or flannel to dry.

    ALWAYS let the tattoo airdry (at least 10 minutes before applying second skin) after patting the tattoo dry with a clean paper towel.

  • *Be mindful that your tattoo is an open wound and be consious of what surfaces your tattoo is coming into contact with.

    *Have clean clothes, bed linen and towels prepared before your appointment. Having clean sheets or towels you don’t mind getting a bit bloody when you go to sleep will make everything less stressful.

    *Arms and legs can sometimes swell a lot! To reduce swelling, try keeping the area elevated with a pillow or rolled up towel when on the couch or sleeping for the first few nights.

    *Itching sucks!

    But please DON’T SCRATCH YOUR TATTOO!

    Picking scabs, lifting dead skin off or scratching the surface can lead to infection, pulling ink out of your healing tattoo and/or scarring your skin.If you do get itchy try-Washing your hands and gently scratching unbroken skin near the tattoo, but not on it.

    *Gently slapping near the tattoo if you have fresh clothes on. Wrapping a cold pack in a clean flannel or paper towel and applying some cooling relief for a couple of minutes.

  • If you are unsure of anything at any point during the healing phase, please don’t hestitate to email me at maycattatts@gmail.com

    I will get back to you asap.

    If you suspect any signs of infection occuring, please seek medical attention straight away and keep me updated.

    What isn’t normal:
    *Red streaks radiating from your tattoo or redness that is intense or spreading

    *A foul odour or signs of white or yellow pus

    *deep cracks in the skin, fresh blood after several days or throbbing pain days later.

    (Tenderness and swelling are normal in the first few days and should start to subside, please monitor or take photos of anything you are unsure of and email me)

    Your health always comes first!

Tattoo of a cat dressed as a fantasy knight, holding a sword and a wand, with a laurel wreath surrounding its head.

  • Tattoo Armour is specific aftercare product I like to give clients after a big session of heavy colour work/shading, if you have some swelling after the tattoo or are a bleeder.

    It’s a absorbent medical pad that is designed to keep your tattoo protected while soaking up any excess fluids during the first few hours of the healing process.

    After the tattoo is complete, your new tattoo will be cleaned, pat dry, then a generous amount of balm will be smoothed over the area with the Tattoo Armour pad placed on top. I’ll either tape it in place or wrap you in cling wrap so it stays in place.

    Depending on the time of day applied, you may be able to sleep with it on and remove it in the morning.

  • The easiest way is in the shower or over the bathroom sink.
    Unlike second skin, there’s no adhesives on the Tattoo Armour pad itself so you won’t have to worry about it getting stuck to you!

    However, please peel the pad gently away from your skin and if you do find any resistance, running warm water between your skin and the pad should easily allow it to come loose.

  • After the Tattoo Armour is removed, please wash the tattoo 2-3 times a day, using an aftercare cream.

    You only need to apply a very small amount of aftercare cream, a little goes a long way. A very thin layer is all that’s needed, if its too wet or saturated it’s going to have a hard time healing and could result in an infection.

    After a week your tattoo should be well into the scabbing and itching phase.

    Try your best to keep thick scabbing to a minimum. Anytime your tattoo feels overly dry or tight, make sure to wash and apply a bit of aftercare cream.

    Continue this method for at least 2 weeks until your tattoo feels more like your skin again.

  • The cling wrap method requires a bit more attention during the healing phase, however it’s a great alternative if you have an allergy to adhesives or are having large scale work done.

    If the area has been bleeding quite a bit during the session, I’ll ask you to wait 10-15 mins before leaving and will wrap it once with paper towel and cling wrap to encourage bleeding in the studio (and not on the journey home!), before cleaning and rewrapping with fresh cling wrap.

    When you get home, remove the cling wrap, hop in the shower or hold the tattoo under warm running water and clean using mild soap.

  • After the cling wrap is off, it’s now exposed the air, and with it potential germs.

    Your tattoo may weep plasma over the next 1-2 days and it isn’t uncommon for swelling to push a lot of fluid out.

    Make sure to have a freshly washed suppy of clean towels to place over your bedding and loose cotton clothes, nothing that will rub, chafe or create a sweaty environment.

    Make sure to keep washing the plasma away if the tattoo looks weepy and to apply a very thing layer of aftercare cream to the tattoo to avoid your skin sticking to your clothes.

  • Continue washing 2-3 times a day and using a thin layer of aftercare cream. Your tattoo will likely begin to peel, look scabby and flake.

    Avoid thick scabs by washing your tattoo and GENTLY using your soapy hands to rub over the tattoo to help loose peely bits flake off.

    NEVER pick or forcibly remove scabs as this can damage your tattoo.

    Please read GENERAL TIPS for mmore info.

  • please refer to GENERAL TIPS.

  • Your tattoo should be almost healed!

    YAY!


    Drop down to washing in the mornings and evenings with some aftercare cream until the tattoo feels flat like the rest of your skin.

    Keep in mind that even once it feels healed after 2 weeks, it still has much more healing to do internally.

    AVOID bathing ,swimming or soaking your tattoo in water for another 2 weeks to avoid any possibility of infection.