Days 1–3

• Keep your second skin on for 3 days. It is normal to see ink, lymph fluid, and a small amount of blood collecting underneath the bandage.

• Avoid workouts, heavy sweating, excessive heat, and activities that cause friction while wearing the bandage.

• Avoid tight or rough clothing that rubs against the tattoo or bandage.

• You may shower with the bandage on, but do not soak it. Avoid using very hot water, warm water is fine.

• If the bandage becomes loose, damaged, or water gets underneath it, remove it.

• If you experience significant irritation or an allergic reaction, remove the bandage. It is okay to remove it earlier if necessary.

Day 3

• Remove the second skin under a warm shower. Grab a corner and pull it AWAY from the tattoo, this will lift it from the skin without irritating the tattoo.

• Gently wash the tattoo with unscented, fragrance-free soap and rinse thoroughly.

• Pat dry with a clean paper towel and allow the tattoo to air dry for a few minutes.

• Apply a thin layer of unscented moisturizer or tattoo balm, a rice grain or pea sized amount is enough.

  Product recommendations

  You can find these products at most major drugstores.

  Cleanser: Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser, Tattoo Goo Cleanser

  Cream/Balm: Lubriderm Unscented Lotion, Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream, Tattoo Goo Balm/Lotion

Days 3–28: Healing

• Continue to wash and moisturize your tattoo 2× daily. For single-needle tattoos, moisturize 3-4x a day.

• Keep the tattoo clean and dry between washes.

• It is normal to experience itching, dryness, flaking, peeling, or light scabbing. Do not scratch, pick, or peel your tattoo. Let flakes and scabs come off naturally.

• Most tattoos are surface-healed within approximately 2-4 weeks, although deeper healing continues beyond this. Everyone heals differently, so your tattoo may take a little longer.

While Healing, Avoid:

• Swimming, pools, hot tubs, very hot showers, baths, saunas, steam rooms, and soaking the tattoo.

• Direct sun exposure, tanning beds, and sunbathing. Do not apply sunscreen until the tattoo is fully healed.

• Heavy workouts or activities that cause excessive sweating, sweat can break down tattoo ink during the healing process.

• Tight, rough, or scratchy clothing that rubs against the tattoo.

• Shaving or waxing directly over the tattoo until it has healed.

• Perfumes, scented lotions, and other fragranced products on or around the tattoo.

• Heavy ointments such as Vaseline or Aquaphor.

Long-Term Care

• Once fully healed, use SPF whenever your tattoo is exposed to the sun. UV exposure will contribute to fading.

• Keep your skin moisturized to help your tattoo stay looking its best.

• Avoid excessive exfoliation and repeated friction, which can contribute to fading over time.

Touch-Ups

Touch-ups are a normal part of fine-line tattooing and may be needed after your tattoo has fully healed.

Fine-line tattooing is a very delicate form of tattooing. We use extremely fine needles to create the soft, delicate lines characteristic of fine-line tattoos. With fine-line tattoos, it is always better to work conservatively rather than implanting too much ink during the initial session. This helps maintain the delicate quality of the tattoo and allows us to assess the healed result before adding more pigment. Once your tattoo is fully healed, we can determine whether a touch-up is needed to reinforce any areas that have healed lighter or faded.

Everyone's skin heals differently, and this is completely normal. Factors such as skin type, placement, healing, and how your body retains pigment can all affect the final result.

Please wait 6 weeks before assessing your tattoo for a touch-up. Your tattoo needs time to fully heal before we can accurately evaluate the final result. A $25 supply fee applies to the first touch-up within 6 months.

Important

Your tattoo is healing skin, so treat it gently. If you have concerns about how your tattoo is healing, please contact Reverie Tattoo before changing your aftercare routine. If you experience signs of infection or a significant allergic reaction, seek medical attention.