Once the bandage has been removed, use lukewarm water and foam soap (we suggest Provon antimicrobial lotion soap). Gently rub with your hand until everything is clean.
After cleaning with soap and water, gently pat the area dry with a paper towel twice daily until your tattoo heals completely. This should continue for approximately one to three months as you watch its progress.
Cleaning after every tattoo appointment is integral to healing, helping remove dirt or bacteria accumulated on your skin and helping prevent infection. In addition, regular washing will keep ink colors vibrant and crisp.
When cleaning your new tattoo, use lukewarm water (not hot). Gently rub your hands over the area while avoiding rub-rubbing. A bit of soap may come off during the cleaning solution application – in this case, use your hand to cup some more lukewarm water and rinse any leftover soap residue with it.
Use an alcohol-soaked cotton ball or cloth to wipe any ink stains that appear. If the stain persists, consider using Method Stain Remover,, designed for fabrics but works just as effectively on skin stains. Mild nail polish remover or acetone-based makeup wipes may also work; just be careful that too much can irritate the skin.
Moisturize
No doubt about it – washing and moisturizing your tattoo may seem obvious, but it is vitally important. Your new tattoo is an open wound exposed to bacteria from the air and bacteria from public transit handles; keeping it clean helps clear away any build-up of grime that has been collected over the day or while riding on public transit.
When washing, ensure the water temperature is lukewarm rather than hot. Warm water may be painful and cause your pores to open up and drain out ink from them, while cups full of warm water from a kettle may even open them further and lead to bleeding from within your tattoo itself. Gently pour over your tattoo until the area is dampened – then repeat until thoroughly moistened.
After cleansing, apply a thin layer of our antibacterial and fragrance-free CBD Foam Soap to keep your tattoo hydrated and will not dry out your skin. It is best placed on your wrist or palm to avoid accidentally rubbing it off while doing other things.
Scabs
As soon as your tattoo has been removed from its protective wrap at the studio, you will begin to observe some blood oozing out and excess ink seeping out of it. This is part of its normal healing process and should be cleaned up as soon as you notice it is occurring to avoid thick and unsightly scabs from forming on it.
If hardened scabs persist despite gentle rubbing, don’t force them off – this could hurt your new tattoo! They should eventually come off independently in time or when you rewash them.
Never submerge a newly-inked tattoo in water sources such as bathtubs, swimming pools, hot tubs, lakes, or ponds for prolonged exposure, as this will risk infection. Showering may be tolerated but no SOAKING!
Disinfecting
Tattoo care requires daily washings and moisturizing sessions, starting when the ink dries on your skin. Incorporating antibacterial cream once daily into this regimen may also prove helpful.
Once it comes time to wash your tattoo, use a gentle, fragrance-free soap on the skin; wet your tattoo gently in lukewarm water before gently rubbing it with your fingertips until its complete cleansing process has finished.
Once complete, apply some lotion or ointment after washing to keep the area moisturized and protected from infection.
If you have stains to treat at home, an at-home spot stain remover is needed to get them out quickly and effectively. Use alcohol-soaked cotton balls or OxiClean (which works similarly to bleach but without damaging fabric) as spot-cleaning solutions; alternatively, you could combine baking soda and diet ginger ale for cleaning purposes.
