First, you should leave the bandage on for 4 to 12 hours. Then, when you are ready to remove your bandage, gently peel the bandage off; if it feels stuck, wet the bandage under a shower and let it fall off on its own. Then, using your hand, wash the tattoo with a mild antibacterial soap and pat it dry with a clean paper towel. Next, put a very, very thin layer of ointment on the tattoo; we recommend A & D Ointment. Put the ointment on 4 to 5 times a day and wash it once a day.

The artist that did your tattoo will have something very definite to say about the care of your new tattoo, and it is probably a good idea to listen to him/her. Many shops will have an information sheet listing care instructions. The information provided in this section may or may not be the same method your artist offers.

Generally, tattoos heal in about 2-3 weeks after the procedure, during this time, the tattoo should be kept clean, dry, and out of direct sunlight. Many artists recommend the light use of moisturizing lotion on the tattooed area during the healing process. Individual artists may also recommend the use of a topical antibiotic ointment during the first few days of healing.

No. Your new tattoo or piercing may not heal well with high levels of sunlight. The skin has been abraded and should be kept clean, out of the sun, and covered with loose clothing to allow for high levels of oxygen exchange.

We recommend washing your new tattoo, after first washing your hands with an antibacterial soap. Softly wash the tattoo using just your clean hand. Using cool water, wet the tattoo, wash, then rinse thoroughly. It is ok to wash your tattoo in the shower. We recommend not washing the tattoo during a bath because bathtubs contain a lot of bacteria. Always pat dry with a clean paper towel. Throw the paper towel away after using one time. Apply ointment or lotion lightly.

We recommend not getting sun on a fresh tattoo until it is healed completely. And then the tattoo should be covered with at least an SPF 30 sunblock to keep the tattoo from fading. By following these instructions you can keep your tattoo looking bright for a lot longer.

Care will vary depending on the exact procedure but for a general guide please refer to our aftercare page here.

It might be really tempting to get some rays during the summer months, but before you ruin your tattoo, please read this article about Tattoos and Tanning.

Your skin produces a tan the same way in an indoor tanning salon as it does when you lay out in the sun: through ultraviolet (UV) light. However, out in the sun, you cannot control the amount of UV light exposure and trying to achieve an all-over even-body tan is very difficult. Indoor tanning allows you to control the amount of UV light, for all all-over even tan. With indoor tanning you can gradually increase your exposure time eliminating any sunburn, which is harmful to the skin.