EMERALD  CITY  TATTOO

• Saniderm (adhesive wrap): leave on for three to four days.

• Polyvinyl (Saran wrap): leave on for at least two hours but try to sleep with it on for one night if it’s not sliding off.  

• Wash your hands before removing the bandage and washing your tattoo.

• Washing your tattoo properly is very important. You need to make sure you’re washing away all of the “slime.” The slime is your platelets, plasma and blood. 

• You will need to wash it immediately after removing the bandage. If there is still “slime” seeping out of the tattoo after the first wash. Usually, one to two washes are sufficient.

• Using hot water and antibacterial, unscented liquid soap, wash your tattoo for two whole minutes. Just use your hand, no exfoliators. Please do not use bar soap, it carries bacteria.

• Next, rinse your tattoo with cold water for 1 minute.

• Pat your tattoo completely dry with a clean towel. Do not rub.

• After washing your tattoo, apply a VERY thin layer of unscented ointment. We recommend A&D or Aquaphor ointment. You may apply it once to twice a day while your tattoo is healing. Once the tattoo is healed, you may apply a liberal amount of whatever moisturizer you prefer. 

• Your tattoo may form areas of scabbing or patches of flaky skin, those will come off on their own as the tattoo heals. It will most likely become itchy. DO NOT pick at, scratch or itch your tattoo. This can result in color loss and prolong the healing. 

• Your tattoo should be healed in 2-3 weeks. What to avoid in the meantime: Sun exposure, bodies of water (bath, hot tubs, pools, lakes etc. showers are fine), pet hair, dirty bed sheets or clothes, scented products on the tattoo and your friends advice.