Take the plastic wrap off and wash the tattoo with antibacterial/unscented soap and water, after 1 or 2 hours, or as soon as you get home.

• I usually recommend Dial Gold hand soap, or anything like Dr. Bronner’s or a dedicated tattoo wash, as long as it is not bar soap.

After the initial cleaning you can leave the tattoo uncovered with a light application of unscented lotion.

• I usually recommend something like Lubriderm, Aveeno, or any other unscented lotion, or dedicated tattoo cream.

Wash the tattoo about 2-3 times a day, for at least two weeks, or until the tattoo is fully healed.

• If it’s something smaller or just line work, you only have to wash twice a day, morning and night.

• If it’s something more saturated, or packed with color/larger pieces, you may want to wash 3 times a day for the first few days.

• Over-cleaning can be detrimental to the healing process, and could pull out ink.

After each wash apply a light layer of lotion, like you would put anywhere else on your body.

• Too much lotion/moisture could draw the ink out of the tattoo and cause larger scabs. It should not be wet with lotions.

• You can use whichever lotion you prefer, but I would avoid using ointments like Aquaphor and A+D, because they tend to be heavy and are hard to spread thin enough.

Do not peel or pick at any scabs as it could pull ink out.

Avoid any intense exercise for at least two weeks and keep any tattoos off dirty surfaces such as gym equipment.

Be sure you have clean sheets and prevent any contact with pets, to avoid infections and generally try your best to keep your tattoo clean.

Keep your tattoo out of the sun until it’s fully healed and then after that use SPF to prevent fading.

Never submerge your fresh tattoo in water.