Here are some basic tattoo and piercing aftercare instructions. These instructions are from Main Street Tattoo in Longmont, Colorado. Your tattoo artist may have more specific instructions for you which you should also follow closely.

Tattoos

• Leave the tattoo covered for at least 8 hours. Overnight is recommended.
• Remove the bandage by wetting in a warm shower. Wash the tattoo gently and thoroughly with soap, warm water, and your fingertips. Work up a good lather several times to be sure to remove all ointment and body fluids. DO NOT use hot water or a washcloth.
• Lightly pat or air dry. With clean hands, apply Curel lotion. DO NOT re-bandage tattoo. DO NOT apply Vaseline, petroleum jelly, alcohol, or peroxide. (We recommend Curel for a very basic reason. Tried and tested, it works the best.) If you choose to use a different lotion, select one without vitamin E or aloe vera.
• Continue to apply lotion 3-5 times per day. DO NOT let the tattoo dry out. Healing time is 10 days to 2 weeks.
• After about 2 to 7 days, the tattoo will shed a layer of skin. Do not pick or scratch this, let it fall off naturally. (Be extra careful not to FORCE skin off when it becomes soft in the shower.)
• DO NOT pick, rub, or scratch the tattoo. DO NOT expose to direct sunlight for 2 weeks. DO NOT soak in water (i.e., swimming, hot tubs, bath, or sauna) for two weeks. Just use common sense, and feel free to call us (or a doctor) with any concerns or questions.

Piercings

• Wash your hands thoroughly with Dial Anti-Bacterial soap.
• 1-2 times per day, wash the area around the jewelry, then wash the jewelry. Rinse any body fluids that may have collected. Once again, lather-up the jewelry, and rotate it through the piercing. Rinse thoroughly, and continue to rotate the jewelry (this is uncomfortable for the first few days but it is necessary for proper healing.)
• This washing may be done in the shower, but do it last to avoid re-contamination with shampoo and conditioner.
• DO NOT have contact with saliva or any other body fluids until the piercing is totally healed.
• DO NOT soak in water until the piercing is healed.
• DO NOT take out the jewelry if it looks or feels infected. Please contact your piercer for advice. Removing the jewelry can trap an infection inside and complicate the situation immensely.
• DO NOT let anyone else touch your piercing.

Oral Piercings

• Rinse your mouth with Listerine 3 times a day and after you eat or drink anything. The only exception is bottled water.
• Take Ibuprofin (Advil) to help decrease the initial swelling.
• Regularly check the ball on the jewelry for tightness.
• Rest is key to quick healing. The less you play with it, stick it out, chew on it, etc., the faster it will heal.
• DO NOT have contact with foreign body fluids for at least one month.
• It is recommended that you downsize to a shorter barbell for tongues after one month.
• Use common sense when eating. Eat what's comfortable and take time to get used to jewelry in your mouth.
• DO NOT smoke, or at least cut way down. Smoking lengthens healing time considerably.
• DO NOT DRINK ALCOHOL!! Alcohol will prolong healing, increase swelling, and may cause serious health risks.