– The first and most important step is to wash your hands. It’s important to make sure your hands are clean so no bacteria gets into your tattoo while you are tending to it.
– Gently remove your plastic wrap from your tattoo and immediately throw the wrap in the trash.
– With warm water, gently clean off your tattoo with the palm of your hand/ pads of your fingers with unscented antibacterial hand soap.
– Gently rinse your tattoo off and pat dry with a clean paper towel. Once dry, thoroughly apply a thin layer of aquaphor to your tattoo.
– Repeat these steps morning and night for the next two to three weeks or until it is completely healed.

What To Expect During the Healing Process
Your tattoo should be healed in about two to three weeks after being tattooed. Some tattoos may heal differently depending on multiple factors. These can include skin sensitivity, immune system, and location of said tattoo. With that being said here is a list of general characteristics of a healing tattoo on a weekly basis.

Week One
Shortly after the appointment, your tattoo will be sore and itchy, like a sunburn or cat scratch. Your tattoo may also begin to scab or flake during the first week of the healing process. Although it may be tempting, do not scratch or pick at your tattoo. Scratching it could damage the skin and the design. Allow your skin to shed the flakes and scabs naturally.

Week Two
Your tattoo will definitely be peeling and itching a lot more at this point in the healing process. This is completely normal. Continue with your aftercare as instructed by your artist and continue to avoid peeling and itching at your tattoo.

Week Three
By this point in time your scabs and flaky skin should be just about gone. Although it may have stopped peeling and the scabs may be gone, it does not mean your tattoo is completely healed just yet. You may notice an almost waxy or scaly look to your tattoo still. This means your tattoo is still healing. Continue with your aftercare until this waxy/scaly look is gone.

​– Avoid picking at or scratching tattoos. We know it’s hard sometimes, but this can heavily damage your new tattoo and irritate the area.
– Avoid public workout equipment. We recommend cleaning thoroughly (with clean hands!) after exercising, even with private equipment.
– Avoid dirty sheets, especially if there are pets in the home– we always recommend changing sheets frequently to avoid exposing your new work to bacteria.
– Avoid tight, restrictive clothing on the tattooed area. We recommend using breathable, flowy or loose fabric for these areas instead.
– Avoid touching your tattoo with dirty hands. Even if they are not visibly dirty, our hands carry plenty of bacteria that cannot be seen to the naked eye from everything we touch, especially cell phones. To avoid infection and properly protect your new art, make sure you are washing your hands immediately before performing your aftercare steps.
– Avoid both swimming and submerging your new tattoo in water for extended periods of time. Showers are okay, of course, but harsh chemicals found in pools, bacteria found in natural bodies of water, and baths are not suitable for your tattoo while it is still healing. 
This is the part where we need your help to keep your work healthy. It is your responsibility to follow these steps and take the necessary measures to protect, clean, and heal your tattoo. Your artists are always here to help throughout the process, and you will be given an aftercare pamphlet to make your job easier, but every listed step and piece of advice is important to ensure a quality tattoo.

If needed, a follow up appointment will be made a month after the procedure. Touch ups may be needed to make any adjustments, such as darkening a color that may have healed too light or to add additional color where it may be needed. Contact your artist if you feel that a follow up appointment is necessary.

Saniderm aftercare varies by artist, but Saniderm has an official aftercare guide on their website that is always safe to follow.