Your tattoo is most fragile in the first 24 hours. Aftercare is mostly about not doing the wrong thing.
Hour 0–4
Leave whatever wrap your artist put on. Saniderm, plastic film, or breathable bandage — they all do the same job: stop plasma from seeping out and bacteria from getting in.
Hour 4–6
Take the wrap off in a clean room. Wash gently with unscented soap and lukewarm water. No washcloth, no scrubbing — just hands. Pat dry with a paper towel.
Hour 6–24
Air. That’s it. No cream, no lotion, no aftercare yet. Let the skin breathe and start sealing on its own. Don’t cover it again unless you’re sleeping in clothes that might rub.
Skip these
- Pools, hot tubs, oceans, lakes
- Direct sun
- Tight clothing over the tattoo
- Petroleum jelly (we’ll fight you on this)
- Picking at the wrap edges
Day 2 is when InkLube comes in. Until then, the most important thing you can do is leave it alone.