Tattoo Aftercare
Leave the bandage on for one hour or until you have ceased activity for the day. Remove and run under cool water, gently wiping the area to remove excess ink & ointment. Clean the tattoo with an unscented antibacterial soap & water, followed by a thin layer of Aquaphor or Tattoo Goo. Do not use Neosporin .
For the next week, repeat the process of applying ointment 2 - 3 times per day. After the week has passed, you may switch to an unscented lotion and use as needed to keep the area moist.
During this time, do not scratch the tattoo. Avoid chlorine & direct sunlight. Use sunblock as needed. Do not soak the tattoo in water (ex. bath, hot tub, pool). Wash your hands before touching your fresh tattoo & do not allow pets to come in contact with it. We advise you to follow these guidelines for at least one month.
Your artist may utilize an adhesive bandage to aid in your healing process. If your artist uses one of these bandages, they will instruct you on the recommended aftercare in this instance.
**When using an adhesive bandage, certain clients may experience an irritation to the adhesive. If you are sensitive to medical adhesives or band-aids, feel free to inform your artist so they may choose a different healing method for you. If you are experiencing discomfort, remove the bandage and contact us for guidance. The employees of First Place Tattoos are not licensed medical professionals, so any advice given is not intended to replace that of a physician. Consult a physician as needed.**
Piercing Aftercare
WASH your hands thoroughly prior to cleaning or touching your piercing for any reason.
SALINE rinse twice per day during healing. We recommend packaged sterile saline for piercing aftercare. The label will make mention of the phrase “Wound Wash”. We have a solution that you can purchase at the shop if needed. For certain placements it may be easier to apply using clean gauze saturated with saline solution. A brief rinse afterward will remove any residue.
If your piercer suggests using soap, gently lather around the piercing and rinse as needed. Avoid using harsh soaps, or soaps with dyes, fragrances, or triclosan.
RINSE thoroughly to remove all traces of the soap from the piercing. It is not necessary to rotate the jewelry.
DRY by gently patting with clean, disposable paper products. Cloth towels are not recommended as they can harbor bacteria and snag on jewelry, causing injury.
We recommend repeating this process for 6 - 8 weeks.
It is essential to downsize your jewelry after the healing process is completed. We typically recommend downsizing at the 6 - 8 week point, but this recommendation may vary depending on the progress of the piercing. This will prevent most common issues such as migration, irritation & the formation of sebaceous cysts.
For more in depth information on what to avoid & expect during your healing process, visit the “Piercings” tab above.
** Aftercare is an evolving conversation in the progression of body piercing. Aftercare needs can differ from one region and climate to another and not all products are widely available. Discuss your specific needs with your body piercer.**
