We’re all adults, I don’t think I need to qualify or disclaimer this information. So let’s get to it.
1. Leave bandage on overnight. No peeking! And change your sheets while you’re at it.
2. Remove bandage. Do not reapply it.
3. Get in the shower and wash the tattoo until all gooey, shiny stuff is gone and it feels like normal skin to your hand. Use a wash cloth and VERY hot water. Try not to shriek too loudly, or pass out.
4. Pat dry with a clean towel or use a hair dryer, on a high heat setting.
5. If any goo wells up to the surface, wash it off ASAP. Keep an eye on that shit! Keep it CLEAN and keep it DRY and keep your dirty hands, dog haired sheets and scruffy clothes OFF IT.
6. Once the tattoo has started to flake off in that peely sunburny way, apply some something or other. I don’t personally use any petrochemicals on my wounds for longer than necessary (no Lubriderm, Polysporin, no Aveeno) and I don’t want anything sticky (attracts germs). So I usually use whatever oily balm I have kicking around that I’ve fashioned from ingredients like calendula oil, sweet almond, hemp seed and a touch of beeswax, and it absorbs quickly but thoroughly. This just gets me through the milky skin stage quicker.
7. Hey you! Don’t pick! If you have to pick something, go for your nose.
And that friends, is how I heal my tattoos.
my husband got a tattoo on his hand while on tour, 3 months ago. It still isn’t healed. Actually, it’s probably infected. or he has a reaction to yellow ink. It’s yucky.
that’s how i heal mine! i wrap at night after washing (no lotion) until after the scabby phase and all mine have healed wonderfully. thanks for sharing!
Sounds exactly like what I’d recommend.
Have a happy new year.
<3
I remember reading about you making lip balm of some sort – I would love an all-natural balm for my tattoos. You should look into making something awesome for folks like myself who are constantly looking for the perfect ointment/balm/cream, whatever to heal with.
Thanks so much for posting this! I’m actually getting my first large scale tattoo in a couple of weeks so I will keep this info in mind.
sounds good….I’m a bit of a peeker
Love your blog!! could you possibly give a recipe for some all-natural goodness for fresh tattoos?
thats how i heal mine too. bees wax is the best for new tattoos. I use a mixture of the wax and hemp oil.
I never measure for my recipes. I use a mixture of oils (all natural as mentioned above, calendula, hemp, sweet almond, sometimes kukui nut or olive oil) and a bit of beeswax just to get it to firm up a bit.
Stick it all into a double boiler until it’s melted and mixed. Do some “set tests” like you would test jam or jelly for doneness — put some on a plate and pop it into the fridge or freezer so it cools down. Poke it. If you have to dig at it, add more oil, if it just runs, add more beeswax. Start with very little beeswax.
what are your thoughts on cocoa butter? I have a balm that I made that’s coconut oil infused with calendula, and you guessed it, cocoa butter. I have a tattoo consult today, so I need to start getting prepared.
I saw this guy on Oprah – he’s a vegan cook.
I am not sure I want my meals to taste like chicken but it may be great for people in transition or serving meals to non vegans when you are having a dinner party. The conscious cook by Tal Ronnen
http://www.talronnen.com/cookbook/
I’m interested to know what prompted this entry…
I just wanted to check and verify you were talking about actual bandages like medical bandages. I know sometimes artist will use saran wrap, and I don’t *think* that’s supposed to be left on overnight. I just wanted to verify in case someone reads this and then leaves that on overnight.
Kristina – presently healing my neck; got it all coloured in recently. I get asked this question all the time and figured it best to write it down while FRESH.
April – Saran Wrap I am sure isn’t the A1 best thing ever to put on open wounds for any duration of time… BUT I think leaving Saran Wrap on for a few extra hours versus sleeping the first night with no bandage, is the far (FAR) better choice.
You are so funny! I like your way with words my friend!
Hey did you get my response to your greenhouse question the other day? I responded to it on my blog, but I’m never sure if it will get directly emailed? Anyhow…..in case you didn’t our hoop houses were bought used (lucky us!). If you can’t find one used try Farm Tek on-line. Go for the “gothic” style one if you are in a place that it snows a lot….(i think you are right?)
Happy new year to you and your lovely crew….may it be filled with so much goodness (I know it will!)
love,
sara
ah! I was kinda hoping that you had a good story to share about someone from Scott’s store…
Pictures?
I have tattoo envy. It rocks so hard that your husband is so talented! FREE TATTOOS! I REFUSE to get anything but the best tattoo’ed on my body, and I can’t afford to do all that I want to do!
“April – Saran Wrap I am sure isn’t the A1 best thing ever to put on open wounds for any duration of time… BUT I think leaving Saran Wrap on for a few extra hours versus sleeping the first night with no bandage, is the far (FAR) better choice.”
I would definitely agree about not using that option if it can be avoided. A friend of mine when she got her tattoo had saran wrap placed on it, and she was told to remove it and wash when she got home. I just wanted to verify since you guys are definitely around tattoos more
I just wasn’t sure if it would trap moisture in and cause problems with the healing.
finally- someone who stands by the hair dryer- no other way to go about it- Ive healed EVERY tattoo this way for the past- oh-11yrs. Actually it may have first been Scott to recomend I cauterize the eff outta my chest!
i hate the blow dryer. i did it. i hate it.
April – the bandage supposed to trap moisture, aka runny yucky goo. “Meat pack” bandages and even the medical seal type don’t breathe. You don’t want all that goo running all over the place. It’s only on for a short period of time, won’t affect healing for that reason.
Ooooooooooooooh okay! For some reason I was thinking that you wanted to avoid having moisture trapped in there. I’m very glad I asked because I’m intending to get a tattoo at the place she went, and I had a bandage for my first tattoo. So if they used saran wrap on me, I wasn’t sure what I was going to do, but now I’ll just take your advice. Thank you very much!
Im going to try the blowdryer tip. Just had a bunch of work today and eager to try that. I dont always know how to deal with that sticky tender tattoo skin and putting clothing right on top is always tricky. That being said Im about to crawl into bed with my 4 year old who will manage to sleep sideways into me and claw at my fresh ink. The joys
Hair dryer? Holy balls. I have heard of lots of tattoo healing methods but never turning a hairdryer on it. I don’t doubt your methods cause all of your work looks fabulous, I’m just not sure I understand WHY it works.
Hair dryer dries it nicely without you having to drag a towel over it, and leaving lint, etc. and the heat is a great seal.
You wash it with a wash cloth because you need to remove ALL the goo, anything left will scab. I never personally get it all off with my hands.
Hot towel and hot heal methods are more “traditional” and really do work I’ve found!
This may be a dumb question…What if you don’t have a hairdryer?
Ah yeah, dumb question. You covered that one already… going to have a go at this very soon. Cheers!
One thing I recently discovered for tattoo healing is EMU OIL. Not vegan friendly, but holy crap does it ever work well (and also heals other scars/injuries semi-miraculously).
I’ve used standard tattoo healing practices in the past, with no major problems. However, on my most recent arm piece, there was a chunk that just wasn’t healing. It was rejecting the ink or something. Very strange looking, scabby, weird. A couple days of emu oil and it was perfect.
so calendula cream is good for a new tattoo? i have been using bepathen but hate its stickiness. i figure calendula would be more helpful in the healing process but dont want to make the switch without some opinions.