Aftercare
The human body is naturally resilient and will heal most minor wounds and injuries on it's own without much of your conscious intervention. That is my philosophy when it comes to healing tattoos. It may seem unconventional but the tattoos I complete consistently heal well without much active aftercare procedures from my clients. Simple things such as reducing stress, making sure to try and sleep comfortably and for as long as you need and watching your diet all help to allow your body to thrive and heal on its own. That being said here is some more common aftercare advice listed simply for you to follow if you are unsure what to do.
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The day of the tattoo and for the first two days after getting tattooed: About one hour after getting tattooed wipe the tattoo down with soap and water on a paper towel or in the shower. Use a soap your body is already used to. There is nothing special about products with words like 'Ultimate Tattoo Moisturizer!' in the brand name. That is just a marketing ploy. Also it is fine if the soap is scented. The idea that scented soap or moisturizer is bad for tattoos is a myth! In fact most 'Tattoo' branded products have an incredibly strong smell. Wiping down the tattoo should either soothe the skin or it may sting slightly. If it is very uncomfortable perhaps shop around for a mild soap to use instead of what you've currently been using. The tattoo will cause the skin to tighten and swell. The amount of swelling depends on the area being tattooed. There may be some ink that isn't clearly visible left on the surface of your body so your job is to clean the area the best your can. The tattooing process also causes the skin to moisten at first and you don't want this moisture to stick and harden to your skin. Repeat this procedure as needed either once a day or every eight hours for the first two days. After cleaning the area you may use a mild moisturizer to alleviate the discomfort of the skin around the tattoo area since it may be tighter than usual due to swelling
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The first week after getting tattooed: After the first two days the area that was tattooed will dry out. This is your body simply healing the area. The dryness will reduce the elasticity of the skin in the area and cause the common 'tattoo itching' sensation. During this time you can lightly moisturize the area to alleviate any itching. Lightly moisturize the area throughout the day as needed. You can also use a soft brush or silicone exfoliating pad to lightly rub the area and alleviate discomfort, products like this are available at most any store in the cosmetic section. BUT do not put so much moisturizer on your skin that it creates globs or puddles. It is simply to alleviate the itching and prevent any cracking within the dryness that has formed on your skin. During this time shower as usual. And dry off the area after showering.
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The second week after getting tattooed: Continue moisturizing once or twice a day to alleviate any itching and prevent the dry areas of your skin from causing discomfort. The tattoo now will become flakey similar to a sunburn. This is simply the ink in the non permanent layers of your skin falling off (sort of gross isn't it? haha). Also the area of your skin that was healing has almost completed it's naturally healing process and the dead damaged skin on the top layers is being replaced with fresh new skin underneath. Congratulations your tattoo is almost healed!
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The 3rd and 4th week after getting tattooed: Your tattoo should be pretty much healed, you can continue moisturizing your skin as you would on areas of your body that aren't tattooed. Moisturizer will also make the tattoo appear darker and help your skin look great!
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The second month after getting tattooed: The tattoo should be healed by now, it should no longer be dry and the ink should be setting into a nice shade that complements your natural skin tone.