Your Tattoo Aftercare instructions

Barnacle Ink, Nanaimo Tattoo Shop

Tattoo Aftercare

Our recommendations

So you did it! You finally got the tattoo you wanted. Now, how to take care of it? What are the steps I should take to ensure the best possible end result for a long lasting, vibrant tattoo?

Whether you are a first timer and would really like a little guidance throughout the process, or your a veteran covered from head to toe who is looking for a little reminder, with our aftercare instructions you should find the answers you need for an optimal healing. Feel free to come back to this guide anytime you’d like.

With Hustle Butter:

(If a dressing other than “second skin” was applied over your tattoo by the artist, follow their recommendations as to when taking it off)

Once the recommended time has been met, remove the dressing, rinse with warm water for 5-15 seconds and mild soap if needed (no strong scent). Pat dry and leave uncovered for 6 to 48 hours before applying Hustle Butter. Only begin using the cream when the tattoo starts to feel tight, dry, or itchy.
Apply Hustle Butter 1 to 2 times a day, or as needed, until healed, done peeling, and all taken care of. When applying the salve, always use a thin amount to rehydrate the area. Gently and thoroughly rub it in, and do NOT saturate!
Continue use over the healed tattoo for a long-lasting fresh-looking tattoo!

Stay out of Hot Tubs, Pools, Lakes/Rivers, or Sauna until the top layer is fully healed (no-more flaking or scabs (more or less 2 weeks)). In the shower, try to wash the tattooed area last, but keep it clean! For 2 weeks as well, avoid tight or abrasive clothing.

Stay out of direct sunlight and tanning booth until fully healed. (Best 3 weeks)
Once fully healed, we recommend to ALWAYS use sunscreen when going outside (more in the facts below)

Do not scratch or pick at the tattooed area within the healing process. If so, loss of colour and/or infection can occur. Itching can be soothed with small slaps or patting.

With “Second Skin”:

You are to keep the bandage on for a minimum of 4 days and a Max of 7, removing the morning of the 7th day. Following the 4–7-day period, it is recommended to get into a warm shower where water and steam will help ‘soften’ the adhesive of the bandage. When your skin has had a chance to get warm, you can pick a corner or edge and start to peel your bandage SLOWLY.
Wash any blood or fluids from your tattoo massaging with your fingertips and a light soap. Dry the tattoo with paper towel once you exit the shower, thus avoiding possible contaminant from used towels or fabric (fibres, spores, bacteria).
*THE ONLY reasons the bandage is to be removed before the 4-7 days are if the bandage lifts and or fluid leaks outside of the bandage and your new tattoo is exposed, if that happens, remove the bandage as it is no longer sealed, no longer sanitary, and no longer doing you any benefits. That being said, while it remains and protects your new art, the bandage will ‘bubble’ due to the ‘pooling’ of fluid underneath. DO NOT pop that ‘bubble’. The fluid will reabsorb in the first 20-36 hours.
**When peeling it off, you will notice it looks as if the tattoo came off with the second skin, what you are seeing is the parts of the tattoo that would have heavily scabbed or peeled for you. DO NOT be alarmed, it’s a good thing! This bandage is designed for the result of virtually no scabbing or peeling, which is normally the most irritating stage of getting a tattoo.
Wait a minimum of 6 to 48 hours before applying Hustle Butter. It is important to allow the new skin over your tattoo to dry by itself before moisturizing. When it starts to feel tight, dry, or itchy is when you could begin applying Hustle Butter 1 to 2 times a day, or as needed, until healed, peeled, and all taken care of. When applying the salve, always use a thin amount to rehydrate the area. Gently and thoroughly rub it in, and do NOT saturate!

Facts:
– Showering with Second Skin is no trouble. Important part is to not let it soak! So, wash the area last while the dressing is still on.
– Do not intensively workout/go to the Gym until the bandaid is removed.
– Extreme sun and sun exposure over the years can and will fade your tattoo. UV rays react with the pigments and causes it to oxidize and disperse. This can be minimized by using a strong sunscreen of minimum SPF30 & +, and UVA protection. Remember to reapply after swimming or sweating, and accordingly to the product’s recommendations.
– Certain medications and low immune systems might affect the healing period. Healing varies from one person to the other, typically from 2 to 3 weeks for the epidermis, and up to 6 weeks for the dermis.

A month to 6 weeks full healing is required before any touch-up can be done. Touch-up are covered for a period of 12 months. Touch-up due to your own negligence are done at your own expenses! Touch ups of the hands, feet, and back of the neck are at your own expenses. These areas of the body are constantly regenerating and/or are subject to frequent exposure to sun and/or harsh chemicals. There forth cannot be guaranteed and may require multiple pass.

Remember that keeping your tattoo hydrated and healthy always is a good habit to keep. Healthy skin holds healthy looking Ink!

Should you have any problem or question, you can contact us at barnacle.ink@gmail.com or 250-668-2317.

If problem persist or gets worst, do not hesitate to seek medical advice.

If you can please take one minute to write us a review on Google or Facebook, it would truly help!

Thank you for choosing Barnacle Ink!

You got a tattoo with Cody?

Here’s his recommendation:

Saniderm Bandage:

Leave bandage on for at least 24 hours, up to 3 days (if your bandage develops an ink sack or peels up revealing part of your tattoo remove right away).
When removing bandage use warm water and unscented soap if necessary. Gently wash with warm water and unscented soap.
Once fully cleaned, run under hot water for 5-15 seconds to release excess blood, ink, and plasma. Pat dry with single use paper towel only and leave uncovered for as long as possible.

Meat Pad Bandage:

Remove bandage 3-5 hours after your tattoo. Wash with warm water and unscented soap.
Once fully cleaned, run under hot water for 5-15 seconds to release excess blood, ink, and plasma. Pat dry with single use paper towel only and leave uncovered for as long as possible.

Healing:

1. Leave tattoo uncovered as much as possible to allow air to get to it. Loose firing clothing should be worn for the next week to week and a half (absolutely no tight clothing that will rub on and irritate tattoo).
2. Keep out of direct sunlight as much as possible (do not apply sunscreen to your healing tattoo).
3. Make sure to keep your new tattoo as dry as possible (no swimming or baths and try to keep away from water as much as possible when showering).
4. After roughly 3 days apply an extremely small amount of unscented moisturizer as necessary, but only if the tattoo is itchy or the skin is at risk of cracking with movement. Avoid moisturizing if possible, especially if your tattoo is at all scabby as this will actually delay healing.
5. After roughly 1-2 weeks your tattoo should be fully healed and you can resume wearing tight clothing, using fragranced products, and swimming/bathing.