Recommended Tattoo Aftercare

[voodoo]

1. Remove bandage after 1-2 hours.

2. Wash tatto gently with antibacterial soap and warm water to remove all medication, excess color, and dried blood.

3. Dry tattoo by blotting with clean towel.

4. Use only recommended ointment. i.e. bacitracian or A&D ointment for 2-3 days, reapply as needed to keep skin moist. Do not cover with bandage. After 2-3 days use lubriderm as needed to keep skin moist. Do not cover with bandages.

5. Healing will be complete in approx. 7-14 days, depending on how good you are at applying ointment.

Do Not:

Swim, soak in bath, scratch, pick or expose to direct sunlight until scabs have healed completely.

**Proper care during healing will insure quality color and detail of the artwork.

[Anonymous]

ya thats one way to do it , every artist have thier own advice , but AandD ointment and Luriderm are the 2 most common . But a common problem is people tend to apply too much to the area and the skin cant breathe ...usually u will see little red bumps not on the tattoo , but all around , this usually means u are applying too much . Just a thin layer every few hours is necissary .

Any tattoo will fade over time and constant exposure to sunlight will only make it worse . IT is a good idea to use sunblock whenever going out into direct sunlight .

[Anonymous]

I have clients that ask if aloe,udder butter,and coco butter are are ok to use and i useually tell them to stick to triple antibiotic, A&D,and if avalible tattoo goo.is aloe and coco butter ok to use?and how good is the tattoo goo, i dont hear many artists recommending it, is this because of avalibility?

and about the bandage....if you work around things like saw dust or something that would get stuck to you aftercare lotion or whatever is it alright to wear bandages while working to prevent damage from debrie, tools,ect

[Anonymous]

I dont know about rebandaging , but I would definatly say to cover with clothes , long sleeves , pants if your in a situation where it will be getting exposed to dirt and debis ...I dont know about tattoo goo , I have one customer who swears by it , but other than that , I dont have any experience with it ...I figured it cant be anything special , I maean prolly just a moisterizing cream thats hiped up to be somthing special ...just a marketing gimick ...key is to moisterise it , and not use stuff that is greasy or oily and loaded with fragrance .

[Anonymous]

..interesting differences with aftercare...like everything in tattooing...there is never a set way...as each tattoo is not only different...colours/black n grey...but also in a different place...i treat them all differently dependant on the tattoo AND the person...you know how hard youve worked the skin after the tattoo is completed...and only you know.....i always use clingfilm....no matter where the tattoo is...tattoo goo is the best cream from experience...ive used mostly everything...and the way i treat a tattoo is based on experience of that..when a tattoo is finished...i wipe as much debris away from the finished artwork...vaselines/inks whatever slight bleeding there is...i then lay down a thin layer...and i mean very thin...of tatto goo...i then proceed to place a square of clingfilm over the tattoo....no w dependant on where the tattoo is...for instance i treat the bottom of the back aND THE stomach the same...other areas need less intensive care,,,,i notify the person to do exactly to the letter this type of aftercare...KEEP THIS DRESSING ON UNTIL YOU WAKE UP THE NEXT DAY...yes that long...when u awake and are ready to clean the tattoo u remove all dressing...there will be ink gooey cream and blood on and around the tattoo....just wipe with a clean tissue and splash with hot water and wipe again with clean tissue..let it breathe for 10 minutes..and then thinly coat the work with tattoo goo..and REDRESS with clingfilm again..wear the clingfilm all day till you go to bed where you repeat the cleaning process again...so dressing twice a day morning and night with clingfilm...for the stomach or thelower back i recomend this method for at least 4/5 days.....there is NO.....NONE...ZERO..SCABBING..it heals very quickly...and with the least trauma...people who let it scab are not doing the skin justice....try this way....ive used it for the last 5 years or so...and its perfect..people are amazed at how good it is...for upper arm i recommend treatment for 3/4 days....if you allow your customers artwork...to even lightly scab..and those scabs crak...they end up with ugly skin coloured lines running through the great artwork youve layed on them..............REMEMBER CLINFILM ALLWAYS NO MATTER HOW SMAL THE TATTOO......after 5/6 days then you shud treat it repeatedly with tattoo goo to keep the skin moist certainly not dried out...tattoo goo is the bizness....so dam expensive but do your customer a favour and make sure they aint wasting their time..or yours..by getting/paying for some great work then ruining the whole process by improper treatment...wake up people and be thankful for the position you hold....remember what it was like to break your back for a tenth of what your earning now?...

eye for an eye wud make us all blind----------

[Papa Gee]

After care instructions are great but the client must at least make the attempt to follow them. I just had a girl call me today and ask if it was ok for her to lay in a tanning bed while her tattoo is healing. I told her to refer to her aftercare sheet I gave her. Right there in CAPITOL letters was DO NOT TAN IN THE SUN OR A TANNING BED UNTIL THE TATTOO IS COMPLETELY HEALED.

Then she told me that she's been in the tanning bed two times in the last three days. This is a lower back tribal. I wont be doing anymore work on her body. She's just asking for an infection and is too stupid to even read or attempt to follow her aftercare instructions. I even went over them verbally with her when I did her tattoo.

She reminds me of the girl who lit a cigarette while spraying AquaNet on her hair. WHOOSH! Bald headed bitch!

[voodoo]

stupid people should'ant breed!

[MedusaQueen]

Sorry, voodoo, that's like 90% of the population. We are an elite 10%. :wink:

[Bigfish]

What's up with the scabs? I've only done about 100 tatts but I've never seen or had any victims report scabs during healing. I have seen a layer or two of flakey skin peal after maybe day 4 or 5. I send all victims home with enough foil paks of bacitracin for the first three full days and A & D for the next seven. I recomend application a thin coat of each at least six times daily with a warm wash of mild soapy water and a clean pat dry if possible each time. My work usually looks healed by day 4or five. I do make sure I've got full attention and stress the hell out of aftercare and so far no problems or scabs. Man , this site is a Godsend. Thanks, Fish

[voodoo]

my first tattoo scabbed up with some thick ones.
i think it was a mix of the artist go'n to deep & me not paying as much attention to the aftercare, wich is why i follow the list above wich has never failed me yet! all i can say is keep on top of the after care !!!! :twisted:

[Chopper Mike]

Like I have told all my clients, a tattoo is only as good as the care you give it AFTER you leave my doors. The biggest problem I have ran into is people tring to take "to good a care" of the piece and in doing so keep it too moist. All after care instructions are much alike with the exception of the care product. My first half sleave on me personaly the artist swore by Curel. He uses Millinium ink and the piece has a great deal of detail (15+ hours). That was 4 years ago and it still looks as good as the day it was done with no touch up work done and I ride a bike so it is exsposed to the elliments most of the time. Personally I promote A&D. It is inexspensive and promates healing. I worked at a shop some time back that swore by Tattoo Goo. To me if you keep it clean, don't over moisten it, then leave it alone after 3-4 days the result will be a clean tatt.

[Preacher]

Hello,
you have too explain the good aftercare and the bad.
Make sure and tell the only put some a&d on 3 time a day and don't rub with any cloth or papertowle.
But very few can handle these instructions. :x :D

[needlemark]

wouldnt cling film act like a oven. ihave had many tattoos done and all they were dressed with was a paper towel and some cream. after a couple of hours i removed the dressing and washed carefully and applied e45 cream. all my tattoos healed ok and never had an infection. i am justed a bit concerned about using clingfilm

[framey]

:evil:

[needlemark]

i cant see it being a good thing to use ase a dressing but what do i know hhaha

[Valdar]

Any tats that I do I cover with a drylock (meat pad) and tell the customer to leave it on for at least two hours or over night if possible. for ointments I always give out foil packs of a&d and then if they want I have phattat available. a couple of people have tried it here and they love it. personally I use the a&d for the first few days then switch to the phattat which I usually have to fight away from my kids and girlfriend who have tats too lol.

[Anonymous]

I have used the paper towel method , now I strictly use cling film , everybody has their own thing , I SUGGEST the client keep it wrapped for`1 hour ...wash w/ warm soapy (anti-bacterial soap ) water ..rinse well ..pat w/ clean paper towel..let dry .. then take a cup of ICE-WATER and pour over the tattoo ...let air-dry ..and apply a thin coat of whatever ointment they choose , I recommend Tattoo Goo . Wash 3 or 4 times a day ,(There is such a thing as too much washing= soap tends to dry out the skin ).. The first couple of days are crucial to the healing process , too much ointment can suck the color right out of a fresh tattoo , too little ointment can cause a dried out , cracking mess , use common sense and treat the tattoo like minor surgery for a day or so ..and all should be well !! P.S. .....the tattoo should be COMPLETELY dry before applying any ointment , you dont want to trap moisture in the tattoo!!

[Essex Boy]

???

[tattooski11]

this one is for FORGIVEN
what does the ice water do? and i saw a show on japanese tattooing where this guy got a huge backside and chest peice where he went and sat in a little pool of hot water... it was like 10 minutes after the needle came out. but that was the old style "tap" tattoos. have you heard of this and whats the benefits and drawbacks. i wonder if their are some different reactions to the skin with the different temperatures. like the pores opening up or closing... if someone could elaborate on this subject that would be great... thanks a lot. im out like a fat kid in dodge-ball

[alkhemy]

...and how good is the tattoo goo, i dont hear many artists recommending it, is this because of avalibility?

Tattoo Goo is made from all natural herbal product, smells good, and in my experience significantly reduces the healing time. I say this from using it on tattoos on me and my wife from Roni Zulu at Zulu Tattoo in Los Angeles. The first time he didn't have the Goo, but the second time he was recommending it, and we found it cut the healing time almost in half. Now I use it all the time.

[5Liner]

Actually there are two forms of Tattoo Goo; #1. Light skin lotion packaged in the tube & #2. Thick, waxy aftercare in a small tin.

The Light skin Tattoo Goo lotion usually (In my experience) causes mild irritation, due to (but not limited to) the customers "Over usage" due to its lotion-like consistency AND one of the preservatives used to keep it's shelf life.

The thick, waxy, tin Tattoo Goo (I find) to be better because customers aren't able to squeeze out shit loads of it on their tattoo. It's consistency keeps the customer from over using it. One downfall is - it's made with beeswax - so it isnt considered "vegan". I know many people aren't vegan, but for those out there that are - it's a big deal.

The plastic film method isn't a very good one (scientifically). It slows the healing process down dramatically, a tattoos (and any other wounds) healing process is fueld by oxygen which is blocked by the film. The film is only good to use during a convention just to show off the tattoo. If you find that a tough, flexible bandage is needed then you can use something called "BIOCLUSIVE SELECT: Transparent Dressing" made by Johnson & Johnson. It is made of plastic BUT it's moisture, vapor permeable (IT BREATHES) & Hypoallergenic (decreases risk of allergic reactions) - IT STICKS & ITS SEE THROUGH - it's apart of my arsenal.

I have used A&D for years and found it to be the perfect ointment for a tattoo. The only pitfall is it's consistency. It is ultra-thin in texture so customers tend to over-do it, but it's mild enough not to cause much damage.

Bacitracin is great for large pieces because of its potency. It contains medication that help in the healing process of minor wounds. Not to say Tattoos are wounds (because they shouldnt be) but large pieces cause alot of trauma to the skin, so it helps.

The Ice; Ice is used ONLY to reduce swelling. Since some tattoo artists go for long periods of time their customers, they use the ice to reduce the swelling that occurs during this process. The only pitfall is: Ice melts! there's water everywhere and there's a possibility of ink dillution.

Severe scabbing occurs when the skin has been over-worked. Like we all know (I hope) there are 7 layers of epidermis that form our skin, once the 7th layer is penetrated you will have a scab. It's the bodies defense during healing. A tattoo should only form a mild crust.

Little red bumps (on or around your tattoo), These bumps are caused by an allergic reaction to SOMETHING either your Ink (Black or Hues), the cleanliness of your equipment and/or surroundings, the green soap, the bandages, the tape, the ointments used during the tattooing process, and/or the aftercare(s). ANYTHING can cause this - you can fix it easily by recommending to your customers "Children's Benadryl" - we know what this is! Our mothers force fed it to us when we were children. Its a medication for Allergies. It works. Or your other option is Telling your customer to see a dermatologist. Which isnt neccesary because its just not that serious - unless you butchered your customer (LOL which i doubt).

Ok, this has come to an end - This is for informational/educational purposes only and should be researched (By You) to form your own conclusions. I am not claiming to "know-it-all" but i've researched alot and these are some of my findings. Use it how you wish, If I have offended anyone or contradicted anyone - I apologize .

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[I]"No animals were hurt during the production of this thread."

LOL - Just Kidding.

5Line: Signing off, Over & Out.

[the hermit]

Hi 5liner....what I do and it works, for my self and customers as well.....no complaint yet. is a nappy rash ointment thats used for severe rash...it's called Benpanthen here in the uk....it is brilliant for healing. once the Tattoo is finished ,if the work is large, we tell the customer to go home and get a warm bath and use unscented soap, after the bath dab the Tattoo dry with a soft towel, leave to dry for an hour then apply Benpanthen, then when they go to bed,wrap the Tattoo in cling film,this stops them sticking to the sheets, The bath washes all the lymph fluid off....if ya leave lymph on, ya going ta get a nice crust. if this is followed....the tattoo peels nicely on the third or forth day...must keep moisterised constantly with benpanthen. works just fine.The Hermit
Actually there are two forms of Tattoo Goo; #1. Light skin lotion packaged in the tube & #2. Thick, waxy aftercare in a small tin.

The Light skin Tattoo Goo lotion usually (In my experience) causes mild irritation, due to (but not limited to) the customers "Over usage" due to its lotion-like consistency AND one of the preservatives used to keep it's shelf life.

The thick, waxy, tin Tattoo Goo (I find) to be better because customers aren't able to squeeze out shit loads of it on their tattoo. It's consistency keeps the customer from over using it. One downfall is - it's made with beeswax - so it isnt considered "vegan". I know many people aren't vegan, but for those out there that are - it's a big deal.

The plastic film method isn't a very good one (scientifically). It slows the healing process down dramatically, a tattoos (and any other wounds) healing process is fueld by oxygen which is blocked by the film. The film is only good to use during a convention just to show off the tattoo. If you find that a tough, flexible bandage is needed then you can use something called "BIOCLUSIVE SELECT: Transparent Dressing" made by Johnson & Johnson. It is made of plastic BUT it's moisture, vapor permeable (IT BREATHES) & Hypoallergenic (decreases risk of allergic reactions) - IT STICKS & ITS SEE THROUGH - it's apart of my arsenal.

I have used A&D for years and found it to be the perfect ointment for a tattoo. The only pitfall is it's consistency. It is ultra-thin in texture so customers tend to over-do it, but it's mild enough not to cause much damage.

Bacitracin is great for large pieces because of its potency. It contains medication that help in the healing process of minor wounds. Not to say Tattoos are wounds (because they shouldnt be) but large pieces cause alot of trauma to the skin, so it helps.

The Ice; Ice is used ONLY to reduce swelling. Since some tattoo artists go for long periods of time their customers, they use the ice to reduce the swelling that occurs during this process. The only pitfall is: Ice melts! there's water everywhere and there's a possibility of ink dillution.

Severe scabbing occurs when the skin has been over-worked. Like we all know (I hope) there are 7 layers of epidermis that form our skin, once the 7th layer is penetrated you will have a scab. It's the bodies defense during healing. A tattoo should only form a mild crust.

Little red bumps (on or around your tattoo), These bumps are caused by an allergic reaction to SOMETHING either your Ink (Black or Hues), the cleanliness of your equipment and/or surroundings, the green soap, the bandages, the tape, the ointments used during the tattooing process, and/or the aftercare(s). ANYTHING can cause this - you can fix it easily by recommending to your customers "Children's Benadryl" - we know what this is! Our mothers force fed it to us when we were children. Its a medication for Allergies. It works. Or your other option is Telling your customer to see a dermatologist. Which isnt neccesary because its just not that serious - unless you butchered your customer (LOL which i doubt).

Ok, this has come to an end - This is for informational/educational purposes only and should be researched (By You) to form your own conclusions. I am not claiming to "know-it-all" but i've researched alot and these are some of my findings. Use it how you wish, If I have offended anyone or contradicted anyone - I apologize .

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[I]"No animals were hurt during the production of this thread."

LOL - Just Kidding.

5Line: Signing off, Over & Out.

[gremlin]

Great Topics and Replies lately keep it up!!!!!!! Newbies please listen listen to what they are saying, you will be glad you did.

[Ripshado]

After care instructions are great but the client must at least make the attempt to follow them. I just had a girl call me today and ask if it was ok for her to lay in a tanning bed while her tattoo is healing. I told her to refer to her aftercare sheet I gave her. Right there in CAPITOL letters was DO NOT TAN IN THE SUN OR A TANNING BED UNTIL THE TATTOO IS COMPLETELY HEALED.

Then she told me that she's been in the tanning bed two times in the last three days. This is a lower back tribal. I wont be doing anymore work on her body. She's just asking for an infection and is too stupid to even read or attempt to follow her aftercare instructions. I even went over them verbally with her when I did her tattoo.

She reminds me of the girl who lit a cigarette while spraying AquaNet on her hair. WHOOSH! Bald headed bitch!



OOOOO.....SORE subject. Not too many things in this world piss me off more than some CUNT...(cant understand normal thinking) doesnt take care of their tattoo that I did. I have cut couple people off now and told them that I will not tattoo them... period...because they didnt take good care of a tattoo I did on them. 1 lady, couldnt get ointment on her back...to the tat and let it dry and scab...pullin blots of freakin ink out.. and then goes around showing people saying that I was the one that tatted her.. upside... great...she digs her fkd up tat... downside...its now...a FKD UP TAT... that now I have to freakin fix to save my good name. Some other chode, left a bandage on his arm...let it dry...didnt wet it and just rip'd it the fk off his arm and tore a nice layer of skin with it ,. in places.. and now i have to touch that crap up over nice scar tissue. Its like what I told them... these people..come to me with ideas in their head...concepts... i do my research and take the time to draw up something meaningful...something cool to them..... and for them to just fk it up....erks me to no end. I told them its like me taking the time to draw them a realllly nice picture...something that took a lot of time to do and something that meant something..in a sense... and they left it on their desk ..and put coffee mugs and shit on top of it..leaving rings and shit all over it and basically pissin on my work... therefore... i refuse to draw them another picture... ok....

MY RANT FOR THE WEEK IS DONE!...ANNNNND IM OFF TO BED..

Rip...OUUUUT.

[wickedstylesink]

nothing infuriates me like some one who neglects to take care of a new piece. for example my cousin wanted a large peice (about a 1/4 sleeve) and seeing on how he is family , i did it up for him. the peice consisted of a tear in the skin with a pile of skulls and bones inside, it tookk me almost 5 hours to do! well low and behold i see him 3 weeks later and most of my hard work has been wiped , picked, scratched, or other wise erased from his skin. he broke every rule, for the first 2 days he put nothing on it(he was supplied with a small tube of a&d) then when it was so dry it was flaking off , he wiped vaseline(!!!)all over it , as the days went on he picked at, scratched and fucked with it in every way imaginable. and this is after being furnished with a list of instructions and a tube of a&d! i guess people just dont care.
to make a long story short , he comes in crying about how it looks like shit, how its my fault and blah , blah, blah... now when he left my shop it looked phenominal, nothing like this complete peice of shit now on his arm , and i got to tell you i dont want to fix it because he'll probably do it again, however the thought of a shitty tat that i did floating around out there bugs the hell out of me , because im sure(most of you will probably agree)- that if someone asks him about it they will not get the aftercare story that i heard , they will get "oh, that, yeah the artist fucked up"so any way the moral of the story , friends, is that proper aftercare is not only important to the quality of your new tattoo but also will reflect on your artist so do the right thing and follow the instructions given to you!!!!
thanx for putting up with my incessant rambling, wicked joe
oh by the way as soon as i get my film back from the developer, i will scan and post a before and after!!!

[witchqueen]

yep same shit i've heard before, had it myself, going back about three years, tattooed a lad on his forearm then he's back two days later whining cos he went playing rugby and got all mud in it. when i refered to his sheet i gave him he said he didnt read it!!!!!! needless to say he never got another tattoo off me. some dumb people in the world.

[xxxMDKxxx@Gmail.com]

yep same shit i've heard before, had it myself, going back about three years, tattooed a lad on his forearm then he's back two days later whining cos he went playing rugby and got all mud in it. when i refered to his sheet i gave him he said he didnt read it!!!!!! needless to say he never got another tattoo off me. some dumb people in the world.

Much agreed. I gave a guy at work a tattoo and then about a week later I saw that he picked the fuck out of it. I told him that I wouldnt fix it and then he bitched because I told him that I wanted to see him for a touch up before I saw that he picked his tattoo ruthlessly.

[Martin]

Actually there are two forms of Tattoo Goo; #1. Light skin lotion packaged in the tube & #2. Thick, waxy aftercare in a small tin.

The Light skin Tattoo Goo lotion usually (In my experience) causes mild irritation, due to (but not limited to) the customers "Over usage" due to its lotion-like consistency AND one of the preservatives used to keep it's shelf life.

The thick, waxy, tin Tattoo Goo (I find) to be better because customers aren't able to squeeze out shit loads of it on their tattoo. It's consistency keeps the customer from over using it. One downfall is - it's made with beeswax - so it isnt considered "vegan". I know many people aren't vegan, but for those out there that are - it's a big deal.

The plastic film method isn't a very good one (scientifically). It slows the healing process down dramatically, a tattoos (and any other wounds) healing process is fueld by oxygen which is blocked by the film. The film is only good to use during a convention just to show off the tattoo. If you find that a tough, flexible bandage is needed then you can use something called "BIOCLUSIVE SELECT: Transparent Dressing" made by Johnson & Johnson. It is made of plastic BUT it's moisture, vapor permeable (IT BREATHES) & Hypoallergenic (decreases risk of allergic reactions) - IT STICKS & ITS SEE THROUGH - it's apart of my arsenal.

I have used A&D for years and found it to be the perfect ointment for a tattoo. The only pitfall is it's consistency. It is ultra-thin in texture so customers tend to over-do it, but it's mild enough not to cause much damage.

Bacitracin is great for large pieces because of its potency. It contains medication that help in the healing process of minor wounds. Not to say Tattoos are wounds (because they shouldnt be) but large pieces cause alot of trauma to the skin, so it helps.

The Ice; Ice is used ONLY to reduce swelling. Since some tattoo artists go for long periods of time their customers, they use the ice to reduce the swelling that occurs during this process. The only pitfall is: Ice melts! there's water everywhere and there's a possibility of ink dillution.

Severe scabbing occurs when the skin has been over-worked. Like we all know (I hope) there are 7 layers of epidermis that form our skin, once the 7th layer is penetrated you will have a scab. It's the bodies defense during healing. A tattoo should only form a mild crust.

Little red bumps (on or around your tattoo), These bumps are caused by an allergic reaction to SOMETHING either your Ink (Black or Hues), the cleanliness of your equipment and/or surroundings, the green soap, the bandages, the tape, the ointments used during the tattooing process, and/or the aftercare(s). ANYTHING can cause this - you can fix it easily by recommending to your customers "Children's Benadryl" - we know what this is! Our mothers force fed it to us when we were children. Its a medication for Allergies. It works. Or your other option is Telling your customer to see a dermatologist. Which isnt neccesary because its just not that serious - unless you butchered your customer (LOL which i doubt).

Ok, this has come to an end - This is for informational/educational purposes only and should be researched (By You) to form your own conclusions. I am not claiming to "know-it-all" but i've researched alot and these are some of my findings. Use it how you wish, If I have offended anyone or contradicted anyone - I apologize .

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[I]"No animals were hurt during the production of this thread."

LOL - Just Kidding.

5Line: Signing off, Over & Out.


Actually, Tattoo Goo has ointment packets too. You are suppossed to use them first, and then the lotion packets. worked well for me. Never tried the waxy stuff though.

[amoroque]

I agree with Papa Gee. Man its frustrating when you do something really well for somebody and they don't follow the instructions you give them. I won't tattoo somebody again who doesn't take good care of it during the healing process. I recently had a gal go out golfing for the next three days after I tattooed her and she totally sunburned it beyond belief. When you have somebody not take care of the tattoo it is bad advertising to everybody that sees it and asks who did it. Even though I have been able to recognize the look of a tat that wasn't well taken care of, I belive that most people out there just think the artist did a terrible job applying the tattoo.

[NHBB1]

I once had a friend that got tatted up by his uncle at his home... he came over all proud about it, the thing had a fucking half inch thick scar over it.... I felt pity and gave him some ointment and told him how to take care of the thing... I havent really talked to him since as it was years ago, but it was a total butcher job, tribal on the arm. can only imagine what that piece of shit looks like now

[NHBB1]

have to say that tattoo goo kicks serious ass as a healing balm... I used it on my last tattoo which is basically a jap style dragon that covers my left delt and pec 6.5 hrs in the chair non stop, looking to finish the chestplate and do the other side of my body, a&d ain't got shit on tattoo goo.

[ADUBB1]

I love tattoo goo, I use it and recommend it, it dosent stick to your clothes and it smells pretty good too. Oh yeah it works great for B&G and COLOR.

[FORGIVEN]

i now use unscented lubriderm

[NHBB1]

for my last bit of ink all the guys at the shop recommended white scentless moisture cream like lubriderm

I was skeptical and although it needs to be applied a lot more cause the skin just sucks it up, it worked great.

the tattoo goo is nice cause it stays good for a long time and doesnt need to be relubricated as much, but they both work just as good. a long way from back in the day when they would recommend petrol products like A&D for the entire healing process even though thats what they usually put on right after.

[junkyman]

we ALWAYS recommend Bepanthen, but as you guys know you can recommend a magic genie but if the person dont look after it, it makes no difference, weve had some people that got some real kickass custom shit done and might as well have shat on it! Half inch scabs, dry skin, what pisses me off is when they turn around and say "I did exactly what you told me to do", now if someone does that we refuse to tattoo them anymore, we touch up the work but they gotta pay for it. People have to learn that it aint going to heal itself, looking after a tattoo is a lifetime job! These people might as well go buy a Van Gogh painting and piss on it!

[maddartist]

Had people come back with red bumps with the Goo.....We use Black Cat....
All natural, made by a tattooist...Heals REALLY fast...and Tommy Lee(motley crue) uses it:rolleyes: .....I bought 10 cases....excellent people to deal with
Steve

[indotatlover]

Some friends of mine tried Bepanthen, Tattoo goo and then Black Cat and then Protat (product of australia) but few of them had allergic reaction toward tattoo goo and black cat. Protat is okay but sticky and not reducing itch at all. Bepanthen is also sticky. Recently they tried THC tattoo aftercare from UK, natural product, they found it's not sticky and make a mess on clothes, reduced itch dramatically, color also remain vibrant, smells great too so my friends now use THC for their works and customers. I guess it's all about which product suits which type of skin and also a matter of preference (for my friends natural is better though).

[J.Gruesome]

if you keep the blood plaitlets cleaned from the skin surface i usaually use a clean paper towel with greensoap and gently pat away any blood from the surface for the first few hours, then i aply a+d and keep it well moisturized the apperance of scabs will be drastically minimized, washing with dye and fragrance free soap and i use a+d on everyone of my personal tatts from start all the way to last peel and nothing else and my blacks are very dark and colors pop.

[Miller]

I get not keeping the tattoo covered in a bandage after the first few hours as it is a 'wound' and they need to breathe, but had heard that the biggest source of infection was bedsheets. Would a loose bandage be advised at night or will a layer of clothing be good enough to keep the tat free from infection?

[J.Gruesome]

LOL bedsheets, YEA maybe if people werent such scumbags and actually showered before laying in bed, or took the time to wash there sheets that wouldnt be a problem, i would just recommend that to them if you really feel it to be an issue, (ie. you dont feel the person you tattooed does not put personal cleanliness high on there list of priorities) but i really have never heard that, or ever really bumped into that problem.

[Tat2U2]

We have always recomended blitex lip ointment for like the last 20 years or so. heal out is much quicker and it is cream based so it isn't a petrolium based analgesic. The colors seem to be brighter and hold up better over the long run.

[pompey]

i always use Bepanthen nappy rash cream for the first 7 days and it works excellent with no scabbs

[undercover art]

I recently picked up a free tube of H2Ocean Ocean Care lotion and used it exclusively on a new tattoo on my arm...Gotta say I am impressed, a one week heal time....but I think any good non-scented lotion would perform the same, I really avoided water (only washed the tattoo once a day, quickly) and just kept the area lotioned up nicely...worked great...

[GUYVER VI]

I use Bacitracin or polyspore name brand. OR A.D. ointment. But have had problems with A.D., it clogs up pores makes for a long heal so try to stay away from it. Pure coca butter works great as while. What kind of antibacterial soap yall recommend? I like Dial orignal. Have had no problems with the bacitracin. Just a little goes along way. Want to try some Bepatheon on myself see how it works.

[Warlock]

One of the best antibacterial soaps is Provon, it has no fragrances and rinses fast and completely. Definitely cheapest to get this stuff by the case or by the liter for soap dispensers in the shop....

Same here with the bepanthen, definitely wanna give it a try, just gotta find somewhere that sells it.

[undercover art]

I have a mexican client of mine working on translating my aftercare instruction sheet and client release form into espanol....I'll scan em and post em up here when she brings them in on Thursday (I've been driving my self crazy trying to find spanish aftercare instructions, and I barely speak Spanglish, so I couldn't translate it)

[simplyjeff]

I think if the tattoo is properly put down in the first place the healing process in less tramatic to the skin anyway and it take less time to heal???? But if you start to go to deep and or it is not taken care of then yeah it can heal with scabbing!

To each there own on this one! We can all recommend (what to put on it) till be are blue in the face but if the clients do not want to listen to our advice then what can we do? I also say to them that I have done my job now it is time to do yours and make them responsable for the tattoo after they leave!!! It works also, and most of them realy do well with the after care, what ever they decide to use on it to heal it on the way!!

I also try and explain to them that what they got was a medical prceedure of sorts and that if they had an operation would they keep the area clean that they got cut around??? And that too also works, if they get the hint!!:confused: Sometimes they just don't get it at all!!

[simplyjeff]

Under yeah man do that sir...I want a copy mate!! LOL

[dethzen]

Instrucciones del Aftercare

El cuidado del nuevo tatuaje será la diferencia en la calidad después de que sea curado. Es permanant y yo estoy seguro que usted quiere que sea visto bien en los años que vienen.

1. Quite la venda después de 1-2 horas.
Si la cubierta adhiere, no tire duramente - mójelo ayudar ligeramente libre la piel. Mismo va para después si las ropas son adheridas al área.

2. Lave el tatuaje suavemente con el jabón anti-bacteriano y agua tibia para quitar toda la medicación, exceso de color, y sangre secada.

3. Seque el tatuaje tocando con una toalla limpia. *No frote*

4. Utilice recomendó solamente el ungüento de A&D por 2-3 días, reaplican como necesario para mantener la piel húmeda. No cubra con el venda. Después de 2-3 días utilice el ungüento de A&D como necesario para mantener la piel húmeda. *No cubra con los vendas.*
*No utilice la vaselina o Neosporin o las lociones perfumadas*

5. El curación será completo en aproximadamente 7-14 días, dependiendo de cómo es bueno usted está en la aplicación del ungüento y de su tarifa curativa natural.
**El no:
La nadada, empapa en baño, rasguña, o expone a la luz del sol directa hasta que las tatuaje han curado totalmente
**El cuidado apropiado del durante curación asegurará color de la calidad y el detalle de las ilustraciones.

MÁS INCLINA PARA UN TATUAJE MEJOR:

No exponga el tatuaje a la luz del sol por lo menos 2 semanas o hasta tatuaje se cura. Esto incluye camas que broncean.

Para preservar su tatuaje, una vez que se curado, aplique el bloque del sol al tatuaje si es expuesto al sol.

No empape el tatuaje en el agua (especialmente albercas de cloro) por lo menos 2 semanas o hasta curado.

Si usted se resuelve (especialmente toma cardiovascular o aerobia) una cierta hora apagado. El sudar profuso tiene el mismo efecto en nuevos tatuajes que empapando en agua.

Use la ropa floja que puede permitir que su tatuaje curación respire.

No rasguñe los nuevos tatuajes. Esto causará daño al diseño.
Si cosquillea, aplique más loción o crema. El tiempo curación medio es 7-14 días.


Note: There may be a couple grammatical errors, have it corrected by a natural spanish speaker.
I did this up for our shop, since only one apprentice actually speaks spanish and we have alot of spanish speaking customers.

[dethzen]

Aftercare Instructions
The aftercare will make all the difference in the quality and longevity of your new tattoo. It's permanent and I'm sure you want to have it look nice for years to come.

1. Remove bandage after 1-2 hours.
If the bandage sticks, don't rip it off - wet it lightly to help it let go. Same goes for later on if clothing should stick to ointmented areas.

2. Wash tattoo gently with antibacterial soap and warm water to remove all medication, excess color, and dried blood.

3. Dry tattoo by blotting with clean towel. *Do Not Rub*

4. Use only recommended A&D ointment for 2-3 days, reapply as needed to keep skin moist. Do not cover with bandage. After 2-3 days use the A&D ointment as needed to keep skin moist. *Do not cover with bandages.*
*Do Not use Vaseline or Neosporin or scented lotions*

5. Healing will be complete in approximately 7-14 days, depending on how good you are at applying ointment and your natural healing rate.
**Do Not:
Swim, soak in bath, scratch, pick or expose to direct sunlight until scabs have healed completely.
**Proper care during healing will insure quality color and detail of the artwork.


MORE TIPS FOR A BETTER TATTOO:

Do not expose tattoo to sunlight for at least 2 weeks or until tattoo is healed. This includes tanning beds.

To preserve your tattoo, once it is healed, apply sun block to tattoo if it will be exposed to the sun.

Do not soak tattoo in water (bathing or swimming) for at least 2 weeks or until healed.

If you work out (esp. cardiovascular or aerobic) take some time off. Profuse sweating has the same effect on new tattoos as soaking in water.

Wear loose clothing that can allow your healing tattoo to breathe.

Do not pick at or scratch new tattoos. This will cause damage to the design.
If it itches, apply more lotion or cream. Average healing time is 7-14 days.


Note: This is the english version of the aftercare sheets I made up for our shop.

[Ink2ube]

Agreed!!!..didn't like A&D seemed to leach the color out..Tattoo Goo..nope..i seem to have problems with lavendar additives which is in alot of products..but as with everything to each thier own..:)..Ocean H2O thumbs up!!!

[undercover art]

My spanish client got deported (no shit!) so THANK YOU VERY MUCH for posting the spanish instructions.....mucho gracias!