Tattoo Aftercare
It is up to you to take care of your tattoo appropriately to ensure a fast, easy, healing period. Failure to properly care for your tattoo can result in scabbing, scarring and/or loss of tattoo pigment. While our artists typically offer free touch-ups after the initial tattoo, if it is apparent that loss of pigment is due to failure to properly care for the tattoo, you may be charged for touch-ups.
We will take the time to personally explain all aftercare to you. This one-on-one attention makes sure that you know what our experience and training have taught us. After all verbal aftercare instructions have been explained we will give this information to you in writing. You will leave our studio with all the aftercare supplies and knowledge needed.
Red Lotus only uses disposable needles and hospital grade sterilization that exceeds city and state regulations. All equipment is dated and will be open in front of you. Needles are used once, then are immediately disposed of after use into an appropriate medical waste container.
If at any time you have questions about your tattoo, feel free to call the shop or better yet, stop in.
Each of our artists may have slight variations in the details of how they suggest you care for your tattoo and they will discuss those with you at the time of your tattoo. In general, however, our suggested aftercare is as follows:
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Leave bandage on for 2 to 3 days. It will be wet with ink and blood until the end of day 2 when it starts to dry out beneath the bandage, this is normal. Wash your hands with antibacterial soap (DIAL or Softsoap) before removing the bandage. DO NOT re-bandage tattoo area. Remove the bandage (preferably in the shower for comfort) after the 2nd and 3rd day and wash it with a small amount of antibacterial soap and warm water.
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Wash the tattoo with warm water and antibacterial/UNSCENTED soap to remove any dry plasma/ink. NEVER use a washcloth, pat dry with a paper towel. NEVER rub your tattoo dry. This will help avoid pulling any of the ink out of the skin that may be attached to a scab.
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Clean your tattoo 2-3 times a day until it heals. Apply lotion such as Lubriderm or NON-Fragrance, twice daily. Lotions with additives may react with your tattoo. When the tattoo starts to flake or itch, use a SMALL AMOUNT of LOTION (applied with CLEAN HANDS) as NEEDED.
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DO NOT swim in chlorinated pools, natural standing water, such as; lakes, rivers, or streams.
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DO NOT pick or scratch the tattoo during the healing period, as it will cause loss of color. Let the scabs and flakes fall off naturally. If it itches, you can lightly hit the area to feel relief.
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You DO NOT need to apply Neosporin or any other chemical products to your tattoo. Soap and water along with oxygen will heal your tattoo faster than anything that contains chemicals and synthetics. Chemical products will cause a longer healing time and may react with your tattoo ink.
While our suggested aftercare is based upon years of practical experience, and should be safe and effective for almost everyone, we are NOT doctors or medical professionals. There is no way for us to determine if this method will work best for you. If you are aware of any skin allergies or sensitivities you may have, please discuss them with your tattoo artist BEFORE your tattoo is started. They should be able to suggest some alternative products or methods for caring for your tattoo. A tattoo that is properly cared for can look beautiful and vibrant for a lifetime.
***At the first sign of an infection, consult a HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL***