To take care of your tattoo, there are two options- a bandage/dressing or cling wrap.
What you prefer, any allergies you may have, and the size/amount of colour fill we did will determine which method we use for aftercare.
Below, I'll run through each method so you know what you need to do to take care of your tattoo.
1. GLAD WRAP + AFTERCARE BALM:
If you have allergies to adhesives, then we'll just do the classic old school method with cling wrap + tattoo balm. You’ll leave your appointment with the tattoo covered in cling wrap- and ideally you should head home not long afterwards so the tattoo doesn’t have the chance to sweat too much. Once you get back home, you’ll need to remove the cling wrap. The cling wrap shouldn’t stay on much longer than two to three hours. Remove the cling wrap with clean hands, rinse the tattoo with an unscented soap such as QV, Dermaveen etc. (something gentle with no/mild fragrance and preferably soap free). Then pat dry with paper towel (not a regular towel, we want to keep the area as clean as possible because it's an open wound) and then leave it to air dry from there. Depending if there is colour fill or not, the tattoo may still weep after this- just blot it with clean paper towel if its bothering you, and wear a dark shirt to sleep in to avoid any blood/ink visibly staining clothing. I would leave the tattoo to breathe overnight, and hold off on applying an aftercare balm until the following morning.
After you wake up the next morning, wash the tattoo again with a gentle soap free wash, and then dry it with paper towel. Leave it to dry for at least 30 minutes, and then apply a thin layer (just enough to moisturise the skin) of aftercare balm. Aftercare balms will need to be applied 1-2 times daily for around 2-3 weeks for adequate healing. Blot away any excess aftercare balm with a paper towel if you accidentally apply too much.
Anomalocaris tattoo on Spit, healed a few months.
2. Second skin:
Second Skin is a transparent adhesive dressing which covers your tattoo, and it should stay stuck to your skin for a minimum of 4 days. It is possible to keep it on for a full 6-7 days if it's not causing any irritation or peeling off in a way that exposes the tattoo. Once applied, you may notice the day after it gets a bit wrinkly or textured- this is normal. There may be fluid under the dressing from a build up of ink and plasma, but as long as that fluid can’t leak, then the dressing isn’t compromised.
After the 4 day period is up (or a week if you've kept it on that long), you may notice some peeling at the corners of the second skin. This is normal and can be helpful, because you can grab onto these bits to slowly pull the second skin off. Pulling the second skin off can be easier in the shower, under running water. Hold your skin taught with one hand, while you slowly pull the second skin away from the skin, starting at the top of the dressing and pulling down and away from the skin. Aim to do this as slowly as possible- be patient, as it can take some time. If there is any resistance in the tattooed area when removing it, you can use some scent free soap to help encourage it off. Once the second skin is removed, you might notice some sticky adhesive marks around the edges on the skin. If they're bugging you, use an oily moisturiser or an alcohol wipe to rub them away, but avoid the tattooed skin.
After the second skin is removed, gently dry the area and leave it for at least 30 minutes after showering before applying aftercare balm (balm options are listed at the bottom of this page). Aftercare balm needs to be applied twice daily for the next 7 to 14 days to ensure adequate healing.
If you notice any intense itching or stinging in the first 24-48 hours after its applied, remove the dressing as some people have an allergy to the adhesive- there are many different brands of ‘second skin’ and the adhesives can be different depending on the brand so although it’s unlikely to cause a reaction if you’re generally not allergic to adhesives, it’s still good to keep an eye out for. Feel free to contact me if you have any concerns regarding this. Please try not to expose the second skin/tattoo to the sun too much if its the summertime, as this is a big no-no for new tattoos, and additionally I've found the adhesive can react to the heat.
3. Fixomull:
Fixomull is similar in some ways to second skin, but it is a fabric bandage which is more useful for solid colour fill/black fill tattooed areas or for people who are allergic to second skin. Fixomull is hypo-allergenic so it’s generally safer for people who have experienced adhesive allergies to use. Fixomull MUST be worn for 6-7 days. Fixomull can also be cleaned in the shower during the 7 day period when you're wearing it if you like- not necessary, but can be relieving if the tattoo is feeling particularly itchy. If the Fixomull is peeling off of the skin, and not exposing the tattoo, apply a bandaid or some medical tape to hold it down. If it has peeled and exposed the tattoo, first gently wash the exposed area with a fragrance free soap. Dry this with paper towel and then ideally let the Fixomull fabric dressing dry before using a bandaid or medical tape to tape it back down. Fixomull must be removed very slowly, and can be easier to remove under running water in the shower. Hold your skin taught with one hand, while you slowly pull the Fixomull away from the skin, starting at the top of the dressing and pulling down and away from the skin. Aim to do this as slowly as possible- be patient, as it can take some time. If there is any resistance in the tattooed area when removing it, you can use some scent free soap to help encourage it off. There will likely be an imprint of the tattoo on the underside of the fabric dressing- this is normal, so don’t panic. Like second skin, removing any glue residue left by the Fixomull must be done very gently using an alcohol wipe (only on the gluey marks, not on the tattoo) or by rubbing an oily moisturiser on the gluey bits to coax them off the skin. After the Fixomull is removed, dry the area and leave it for 30 minutes after showering before applying an aftercare balm (options are listed at the bottom of this page). Aftercare balm needs to be applied once or twice daily for the next 7 to 14 days to ensure adequate healing.
If you notice any intense itching or stinging in the first 24-48 hours after its applied, remove the dressing very slowly. Fixomull is hypoallergenic but nonetheless reactions can happen even though they’re rare. Feel free to contact me if you have any concerns regarding this- I really appreciate folks reaching out if they’ve had an allergic reaction to a dressing, so shoot me an email if you’re concerned you’ve had a reaction during the healing process.
Aftercare balm recommendations:
- Dr Pickles Tattoo balm (My no. 1 choice! Available at Woolworths or online)
- Jojoba oil
- Bepanthen Tattoo
- Hustle Butter
Below are some options for those who know they’ll be getting more tattoos in the future and would like something for long term use (but they’re a little harder to source and a bit more expensive!)
- Tattoo Tonic (a NZ brand, light scent of vanilla/cake. Texture is a bit crumbly until it warms up on the skin)
- Bamboo Goo aftercare balm (available online, it smells like apple/berries. Texture is a bit watery and oily at the same time- I find it the easiest aftercare balm to deal with for sensory stuff, but the scent may be divisive)
If you have any questions, please feel free to send me an email- and please send me a healed photo after a month if you're able to so I can see how your tattoo has healed up!
