Vegan Tattoo Aftercare
These aftercare instructions are from my friend Ashley's page - I think they sum it up quite nicely, so please feel free to refer to them for aftercare that is 100% vegan.
Not all tattoo aftercare is vegan, and it is important that, whoever you choose as your tattoo artist, you ask questions and get answers that leave you feeling 100% positive that, start to finish, your tattoo is cruelty-free!
When caring for your fresh tattoo, you will want to follow these guidelines:
PRODUCTS TO USE:
- DR BRONNERS UNSCENTED LIQUID SOAP
- 1 ROLL OF PAPER TOWELS
- BACITRACIN ZINC OINTMENT
- COCONUT OIL
-OR-
UNSCENTED LOTION BY ANY OF THE
FOLLOWING BRANDS:
*J/A/S/O/N
*KISS MY FACE
*NATURES GATE
*AVALON ORGANICS
*TRADER JOES
*WHOLEFOODS
- When leaving the tattoo shop, your tattoo should have a secure wrapping on it provided by the artist; leave this on for a minimum of 2 Hours. After that you may remove the bandage, or leave it on for the rest of the day. You will want to remove it by morning, and do not wrap the tattoo again unless you are in a high-debris/contaminant/irritant environment (i.e. - construction site, crowded venue, or any place where you cannot prevent objects from rubbing against your tattoo). If you are unsure about whether your workplace is an environment where it would be wise to wrap your tattoo, ask your artist for their expert opinion on the matter.
- When you remove your wrapping, you'll want to wash your tattoo, either in the shower or a sink, as follows:
1. Wash your hands with DR. BRONNERS UNSCENTED LIQUID SOAP for a minimum of 30
seconds to ensure hands are clean. Rinse thoroughly.
2. Wash your tattoo, using more DR BRONNERS UNSCENTED LIQUID SOAP and your clean
hands (no washcloths or puffs), again for a minimum of 30 seconds. Rinse
thoroughly.
3. Pat your tattoo dry gently using CLEAN PAPER TOWELS (buy a roll specifically for this; do
NOT use a roll that has been sitting out in the kitchen, etc., as it can harbor germs and
bacteria). Try to keep the roll in its original plastic, or rip the sheets off and put them in a
resealable storage bag so that they remain free of contaminants in the air.
4. Apply a TINY amount of BACITRACIN ZINC OINTMENT to your clean fingertip and rub a
thin, THIN layer over the tattoo; use only enough to make the tattoo shiny - too much will
"suffocate" the tattoo (your skin needs to breathe to heal), and may cause contaminants
such as dust, pet hair, lint, etc to stick to your tattoo.
5. Repeat the above steps for 1 week, preferably in the morning and at night, 2 times a day (you will feel your tattoo
"tighten up"; when it does, that means it's time to reapply bacitracin. Be sure to at the very least
wash your hands before you reapply the ointment)
6. WEEK 2 AFTERCARE: For the second week, repeat steps 1- 5 but SUBSTITUTE COCONUT
OIL OR THE ABOVE LISTED LOTIONS FOR THE BACITRACIN. If you use Coconut oil, pour
a SMALL amount from the container into your hand - DO NOT DIP YOUR HAND INTO THE
CONTAINER AS THIS WILL CONTAMINATE THE OIL. As with the bacitracin, use only
enough to make the tattoo shiny, a thin, THIN layer will do.
THINGS TO EXPECT WHEN HEALING A TATTOO:
- itching
- mild redness around the tattoo area
- mild to moderate burning sensation (similar to sunburn)
- mild to moderate scabbing
- cracking (on scabby areas)
- flaking
- peeling
THINGS THAT ARE ABNORMAL WHEN HEALING A TATTOO AND POSSIBLE CAUSES:
- pimply rash: this could mean that you are applying too much bacitracin/lotion. try applying a
smaller amount and/or applying less often and the rash should clear up.
- redness around the tattoo that is hot, swollen, or sore: while mild redness may occur
around thetattooed area, red areas that are swollen or very sore after the first few days can be
a cause for concern.
- discharge: while your tattoo may "weep" the first few days (a tattoo can "juice up" while your
skin attempts to heal the abbrasion), puss-like discharge is not normal and is cause for concern.
Remember to inspect your environment for contaminants and keep your tattoo safe from them. Contaminants include ANYTHING THAT IS NOT CLEAN TAP OR BOTTLED WATER OR YOUR AFTERCARE PRODUCTS. Some of the most common offenders are:
* PET HAIR/DANDER
* DUST PARTICLES
* FIBERS FROM CLOTHING
* BACTERIA ON SURFACES
* DIRT (be particularly mindful of this for tattoos on the foot/lower leg)
* LINT
* HUMAN HAIR
* SKINCARE PRODUCTS/MAKEUP
* CIGARETTE SMOKE
* CONTACT WITH ANY UNWASHED SKIN (this includes with yourself or with other people -
handshakes, contact during sex, brushing against/bumping into people, etc)
* FIBERS FROM BEDSHEETS/FURNITURE
THINGS TO AVOID WHILE HEALING A TATTOO: Full healing of your tattoo can take anywhere from TWO TO THREE WEEKS. During that time, it is extremely important that you do not engage in the following activities:
* SUN TANNING/ TANNING BEDS - Sun is the absolute worst enemy of your tattoo, and tanning
during the healing process will not only damage your tattoo, it can actually irritate it to the point
of infection.
* SWIMMING: No swimming during the healing process, neither in pools nor in lakes/bodies of
water
* TUB BATHING: Showers are permitted, but bathing in tubs should be avoided.
* SAUNAS: This can irritate the tattoo and should be avoided.
* JACUZZIS: This can irritate the tattoo and should be avoided.
* SOAKING: Refrain from soaking the tattooed area for ANY amount of time while healing.
* SMOKING: Should be avoided while healing the tattoo - use this as a good opportunity to quit! :)
* ANY ACTIVITY WHERE THE TATTOO IS RUBBED/SCRAPED/COMES IN CONTACT WITH A
FOREIGN SURFACE: Foreign surfaces harbor contaminants and prolonged contact should be
avoided.
* RESTRICTIVE OR IRRITATING CLOTHING/FOOTWEAR: clothes or shoes that are too tight over
the tattooed area should be avoided, as the tattoo will not be able to breathe. Likewise, clothing
made of irritating fabric should be avoided as well. Choose 100% Cotton items, or breathable
footwear for foot tattoos.
All of this information may seem exhaustive, but remember, YOU ONLY GET ONE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAL YOUR TATTOO. 2 to 3 weeks is a small inconvenience in trade for a lifetime of beautiful artwork that has healed properly and looks great on your skin. Your artist has honored your body by giving you 110% care and attention to your investment, and hopefully you will be just as good to yourself - good luck! :)
Not all tattoo aftercare is vegan, and it is important that, whoever you choose as your tattoo artist, you ask questions and get answers that leave you feeling 100% positive that, start to finish, your tattoo is cruelty-free!
When caring for your fresh tattoo, you will want to follow these guidelines:
PRODUCTS TO USE:
- DR BRONNERS UNSCENTED LIQUID SOAP
- 1 ROLL OF PAPER TOWELS
- BACITRACIN ZINC OINTMENT
- COCONUT OIL
-OR-
UNSCENTED LOTION BY ANY OF THE
FOLLOWING BRANDS:
*J/A/S/O/N
*KISS MY FACE
*NATURES GATE
*AVALON ORGANICS
*TRADER JOES
*WHOLEFOODS
- When leaving the tattoo shop, your tattoo should have a secure wrapping on it provided by the artist; leave this on for a minimum of 2 Hours. After that you may remove the bandage, or leave it on for the rest of the day. You will want to remove it by morning, and do not wrap the tattoo again unless you are in a high-debris/contaminant/irritant environment (i.e. - construction site, crowded venue, or any place where you cannot prevent objects from rubbing against your tattoo). If you are unsure about whether your workplace is an environment where it would be wise to wrap your tattoo, ask your artist for their expert opinion on the matter.
- When you remove your wrapping, you'll want to wash your tattoo, either in the shower or a sink, as follows:
1. Wash your hands with DR. BRONNERS UNSCENTED LIQUID SOAP for a minimum of 30
seconds to ensure hands are clean. Rinse thoroughly.
2. Wash your tattoo, using more DR BRONNERS UNSCENTED LIQUID SOAP and your clean
hands (no washcloths or puffs), again for a minimum of 30 seconds. Rinse
thoroughly.
3. Pat your tattoo dry gently using CLEAN PAPER TOWELS (buy a roll specifically for this; do
NOT use a roll that has been sitting out in the kitchen, etc., as it can harbor germs and
bacteria). Try to keep the roll in its original plastic, or rip the sheets off and put them in a
resealable storage bag so that they remain free of contaminants in the air.
4. Apply a TINY amount of BACITRACIN ZINC OINTMENT to your clean fingertip and rub a
thin, THIN layer over the tattoo; use only enough to make the tattoo shiny - too much will
"suffocate" the tattoo (your skin needs to breathe to heal), and may cause contaminants
such as dust, pet hair, lint, etc to stick to your tattoo.
5. Repeat the above steps for 1 week, preferably in the morning and at night, 2 times a day (you will feel your tattoo
"tighten up"; when it does, that means it's time to reapply bacitracin. Be sure to at the very least
wash your hands before you reapply the ointment)
6. WEEK 2 AFTERCARE: For the second week, repeat steps 1- 5 but SUBSTITUTE COCONUT
OIL OR THE ABOVE LISTED LOTIONS FOR THE BACITRACIN. If you use Coconut oil, pour
a SMALL amount from the container into your hand - DO NOT DIP YOUR HAND INTO THE
CONTAINER AS THIS WILL CONTAMINATE THE OIL. As with the bacitracin, use only
enough to make the tattoo shiny, a thin, THIN layer will do.
THINGS TO EXPECT WHEN HEALING A TATTOO:
- itching
- mild redness around the tattoo area
- mild to moderate burning sensation (similar to sunburn)
- mild to moderate scabbing
- cracking (on scabby areas)
- flaking
- peeling
THINGS THAT ARE ABNORMAL WHEN HEALING A TATTOO AND POSSIBLE CAUSES:
- pimply rash: this could mean that you are applying too much bacitracin/lotion. try applying a
smaller amount and/or applying less often and the rash should clear up.
- redness around the tattoo that is hot, swollen, or sore: while mild redness may occur
around thetattooed area, red areas that are swollen or very sore after the first few days can be
a cause for concern.
- discharge: while your tattoo may "weep" the first few days (a tattoo can "juice up" while your
skin attempts to heal the abbrasion), puss-like discharge is not normal and is cause for concern.
Remember to inspect your environment for contaminants and keep your tattoo safe from them. Contaminants include ANYTHING THAT IS NOT CLEAN TAP OR BOTTLED WATER OR YOUR AFTERCARE PRODUCTS. Some of the most common offenders are:
* PET HAIR/DANDER
* DUST PARTICLES
* FIBERS FROM CLOTHING
* BACTERIA ON SURFACES
* DIRT (be particularly mindful of this for tattoos on the foot/lower leg)
* LINT
* HUMAN HAIR
* SKINCARE PRODUCTS/MAKEUP
* CIGARETTE SMOKE
* CONTACT WITH ANY UNWASHED SKIN (this includes with yourself or with other people -
handshakes, contact during sex, brushing against/bumping into people, etc)
* FIBERS FROM BEDSHEETS/FURNITURE
THINGS TO AVOID WHILE HEALING A TATTOO: Full healing of your tattoo can take anywhere from TWO TO THREE WEEKS. During that time, it is extremely important that you do not engage in the following activities:
* SUN TANNING/ TANNING BEDS - Sun is the absolute worst enemy of your tattoo, and tanning
during the healing process will not only damage your tattoo, it can actually irritate it to the point
of infection.
* SWIMMING: No swimming during the healing process, neither in pools nor in lakes/bodies of
water
* TUB BATHING: Showers are permitted, but bathing in tubs should be avoided.
* SAUNAS: This can irritate the tattoo and should be avoided.
* JACUZZIS: This can irritate the tattoo and should be avoided.
* SOAKING: Refrain from soaking the tattooed area for ANY amount of time while healing.
* SMOKING: Should be avoided while healing the tattoo - use this as a good opportunity to quit! :)
* ANY ACTIVITY WHERE THE TATTOO IS RUBBED/SCRAPED/COMES IN CONTACT WITH A
FOREIGN SURFACE: Foreign surfaces harbor contaminants and prolonged contact should be
avoided.
* RESTRICTIVE OR IRRITATING CLOTHING/FOOTWEAR: clothes or shoes that are too tight over
the tattooed area should be avoided, as the tattoo will not be able to breathe. Likewise, clothing
made of irritating fabric should be avoided as well. Choose 100% Cotton items, or breathable
footwear for foot tattoos.
All of this information may seem exhaustive, but remember, YOU ONLY GET ONE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAL YOUR TATTOO. 2 to 3 weeks is a small inconvenience in trade for a lifetime of beautiful artwork that has healed properly and looks great on your skin. Your artist has honored your body by giving you 110% care and attention to your investment, and hopefully you will be just as good to yourself - good luck! :)