Aftercare

Tattoo Aftercare
Scroll down to see the tattoo healing process in pictures.

1. Leave your bandage alone until you get 
   home and can safely dispose of the bandage and clean your new tattoo.
2. Wash your tattoo  two-three times daily 
   with a mild liquid soap. Gently clean with your hand, do not use a cloth or sponge. Rinse thoroughly and gently.
3. Pat your tattoo dry with a paper towel.
4. Now leave it alone.  No picking, soaking, 
   scratching, poking or licking!
5. After three days you may apply a scent 
   free lotion such as Lubriderm several times a day.  Make sure your hands and your tattoo are clean before you apply it, and be wary or any ingredients that are common allergens (lanolin, aloe vera).

Your tattoo should be healed up in 2-4 weeks.  
Maintain brightness over time by using a high  
SPF sunblock. If scabs form, leave them alone, if you have any 
questions, please call/text 630-781-8213 or email.

Piercing Aftercare

1. Most important!  Do NOT touch your piercing unless your hands are clean.
2. Wash external piercings three times daily with antibacterial liquid soap, rinse thoroughly.
3. For oral or the internal portion of oral piercings, rinse with an alcohol free mouthwash every time you eat or drink anything except for water.
4. Gently check that all threaded jewelry is tightened when done cleaning.

Piercings can take up to 6 months to heal thoroughly.

Any questions or issues, please call/text  630-781-8213 or email.

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The Healing Process in Pictures:

Day 1: This photo shows the fresh tattoo. Notice a little bit of fluid (blood and lymph) near the bottom edge of the lotus. It will spend the night with a very small amount of A&D ointment and a thin clean cotton shirt covering it.

Day 2: On the shirt you see a normal amount of ink and fluid from a new tattoo. The ointment prevented the shirt from sticking.

Day 2: You can see a little pinkness at the edges in this close-up photo.

Day 3: The tattoo has a dry surface now.

Day 3: A close-up image where you can see a little bruising near the bottom edge of the tattoo.

Day 5: A very thin layer of skin is peeling at this point, giving the tattoo the crackled surface appearance. In the words of the client, "This itches like mad."

Day 8: The healing is more or less complete, the surface layers have peeled leaving the thin shiny new skin. The tattoo is still a bit delicate and itchy.

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Heathen Ink wants to extend a very hearty  "Thank You!"  to  M.H.: good friend,  tattoo recipient and 
photographer for making this page possible!