Directly after getting tattooed your artist will cover the fresh area. You should leave the bandage on for two to three hours. As soon as you remove your bandage, wash your tattoo thoroughly. Do Not use antibacterial soap. Just soap up your hands with a mild soap such as dove, ivory, or lever 2000, and wash the fresh area with your hands. Never use a washcloth or any rough material to wash your tattoo until the scabs or peelings have naturally fallen away. This can cause premature scab removal, thus loss of color. You cant wash the tattoo off, so don’t be afraid to really wash it, using your hands. After washing allow your tattoo to air out overnight. Never re-bandage your tattoo.

The next day wash your tattoo and apply a thin layer of lotion. . Use a small amount only enough to rub it all the way in over the tattoo, not the surrounding area, don’t leave it clumped up on top. If your tattoo feels slippery, you’ve used too much. Use it only twice a day. Before you add new lotion, wash off the old lotion.
Please do not experiment just use one of the lotions that we recommend, Original Eucerin Lotion, Vaseline Intensive Care Lotion, and Original Lubriderm. You don’t need a huge bottle; a travel size bottle will be plenty.
Do Not Under any Circumstances use any medicated product, ointment, oil, gel, grease, or anything that looks or feels like Vaseline!
Wear loose cotton clothing over the tattooed area. Cotton allows your skin to breathe, where polyester does not.

DO NOT go swimming, do not soak in the hot tub, and do not soak in the bath until the scabs naturally fall away. Chlorine and saltwater or soaking in general will cause a thick scab to form or mushiness which will cause longer healing time, and loss of color, guaranteed.

Keep out of direct sunlight for at least a month. The sun will peel the paint off a car, so naturally it can have an effect on your tattoo. Thereafter always apply strong sunblock lotion before going into direct sunlight. DO NOT use sunblock on your tattoo while it is still healing!!!!!!
Wash your hands before you touch your fresh tattoo and NEVER let others touch your fresh ink with their dirty hands!

Scabs or peelings will be the same color as the ink, this is normal. If the tattooed skin looks like it is seeping or sweating, you haven’t washed it well enough. It takes a full month for your tattoo to heal completely. At best it will flake and peel like a sunburn. If scabs form don’t pick at them. After the scabs are gone, you will likely have a thin film of dead skin over the tattoo, making it look kind of milky and not quite solid. This is dry dead skin that will eventually flake off on its own. Never pick at or peel your tattoo!

If you have any questions call us at COSMIC TATTOOS 704-334-2707 HAPPY HEALING!