Aftercare

Thank you for getting your tattoo at Hedgewitch.  Our coven cares a lot about both your health and our artwork and want you to wear our art proudly.  Your tattoo is most sensitive at this early stage and how you care for it in the first few weeks can change the character of how the tattoo looks for the rest of your life.

Before You Get Home

Your artist will have sent you home with the kind of bandage that works best for your healing, but in all cases you will be responsible for keeping your tattoo clean and moisturized.  The biggest thing you want to avoid is getting home, removing your bandage when it is time and then realizing that you don't have the right tools at home to clean it.  We recommend picking up the following products.

• A simple, gentle, unscented, liquid soap.

• A non-scented, non-medicated lotion.  

Removing The Bandage

Clear Bandage also known as Second Skin, Saniderm, Viewguard or Dermshield

1. Leave on for 24 hours up to 3 days.

2. If goop forms under there that is normal, you don’t need to take it off unless it is leaking out the side of the bandage.

3. Take off early if your skin has a reaction to the adhesive or if anything leaks out.

   • If you sweat under your clear bandage take it off and clean it as soon as you are able 

4. Remove at the end of a shower, the warm water to help loosen the adhesive.

   • You can shower with it on without taking it off, but if water does get in you should take it off immediately as this can introduce bacteria to the tattoo site and cause an infection.

5. Your tattoo may appear red and wrinkly after the adhesive is removed immediately after removal.  This is normal.

Traditional Bandage (& after you remove the second skin are both the same process)

1. Keep bandages on for 2-4 hrs. Please do not remove prior to 2 hours.

2. Wash your hands thoroughly before gently removing the bandage.

After the Bandage

1. Wash and clean the tattoo and surrounding area with warm water and a liquid anti-bacterial gentle cleanser or soft soap from a pump bottle. Use only your fingertips in a circular motion to remove all blood, ink, and remaining traces of liquids and ointments 

   • DO NOT USE: a bar of soap, washcloths, loofahs, or anything abrasive

2. After removing the remainder of the soap or cleanser pat gently dry with a clean paper towel and let the area air dry for at least 5-10 minutes before applying any aftercare products. You can wait to put on aftercare until the tattoo starts to dry out or get itchy

3. We understand there are many products in the market for “healing” a tattoo. Whether it be Cetaphil, coconut oil, aloe, or other brands of healing ointments or lotions. It is extremely important to not over saturate the area with any of the products. Apply a little product to your index finger and disperse a small bead size. Then using gentle circle motions spread a very thin layer that should be completely absorbed into the skin.

4. Your tattoo is a wound in its basic definition. Keep your tattoo clean and repeat these steps until the tattoo is healed.

   • A tattoo takes 3-4 weeks heal in most cases.

Avoids

DO NOT expose your tattoo to: soaking in a bath, river, pool, beach, etc. any body of water, prolonged direct sun, or excessive sweating for the first week at least. Soaking should still be avoided until fully healed. Sunlight should be avoided forever via sunscreen! Sunscreen is the most important thing you can do for the longevity of your tattoo!

If your tattoo flakes or has scabs, do not itch or pick at it! 

Long Term

Check in with your tattoo artist after a month or two when the tattoo is fully healed. You can get a free touch up within a year. 

To preserve fine detail in your tattoo a normal skin-care routine is recommended.  Keeping the tattoo moisturized and avoiding sources of UV exposure will yield best results. 

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Please send your artist a healed photo! They are much appreciated!

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS PLEASE REACH OUT!