You've taken the time to carefully chose your artist, you're booked in waiting for the day to come around and before you know it, it's finally your appointment. Your tattooist has done a brilliant job and now it up to you to take care of your new tattoo.
​
Always ask your artist about after-care and they will best inform you how to look after your new tattoo.
​
DISCLAIMER: THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS BASED ON YEARS OF EXPERIENCE ALONG WITH INFORMATION AND OPINIONS GATHERED WHILE WORKING CLOSELY WITH TATTOOISTS, GATHERING RESEARCH, AS WELL AS INFORMATION GATHERED ONLINE. IT IS NOT TO BE CONSIDERED AS MEDICAL ADVICE. FOR THIS, PLEASE SPEAK TO A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL.
​
Your tattooist will more then likely have put a cling film dressing over your tattoo to protect it from any germs getting in there. During your journey home, as this is now an open wound, please take care and treat it like one!
​
2 - 4 hours after you have been tattooed you can now remove the dressing - please make sure this is in a clean environment and is done with clean hands! Your tattoo will more than likely look a little red and there may be a mixture of ink and watery sticky substance in there - this it totally fine, it's the bodies natural way of protecting itself. With clean hands and mild soap, (nothing too chemical and non perfumed), use warm water and gently wash your new tattoo and the area around it. Pat dry with a clean towel and then, with a clean finger, apply a thin layer of Protect The Hive Tattoo Butter.
​
This whole process should then be repeated 2-3 times a day, making sure that you wash the area with a clean hand, mild soap and warm water each time when reapplying. Also make sure your hands are clean before applying a thin layer of Protect The Hive Tattoo Butter - for some people this may be slightly more depending on how porous your skin is. Make sure that everything that is to come in to contact with your new tattoo is clean - hands, towels, clothing, bedding, anything that will touch that surface.
​
After a week or so you should see your tattoo starting to form a scab (this doesn't always happen but will dependent on the individual) - this is perfectly normal and is all part of the bodies healing process and is exactly what you want it to do, but what ever you do, DO NOT PICK or scratch or even try and "loosen" the scab! Yes, it may itch because that's what happens when the body heals, but by applying Protect The Hive Butter it is formulated to make the itching subside. Don't ruin the work of your artist and your skin by picking it - it will lead to scarring along with possibly pulling the ink out of your tattoo.
​
Every one heals at a different rate and therefore the length of healing will vary from person to person and just because the scab has come off and it "looks" healed doesn't mean it is, so we advise to continue to use Protect The Hive Butter for at least a month.
Do not wear tight fitting clothes that will rub and aggravate the area.
Do not pick.
Do not expose your new tattoo to strong sunlight.
Keep covered or if necessary use a 50 + sun cream that is as naturally made as possible.
Do not go swimming for at least two weeks after getting your new tattoo.
​
If you are worried at any time please contact your tattooist straight away and they will advise you or go straight to your GP.