SHOWERING WITH FRESH INK

With all the excitement and adrenaline coursing through you it's totally normal if you've gotten home and forgotten what your tattoo artist said, and/or can't find the aftercare flyer they gave you. Now you're just left wondering, "Can I shower after getting a tattoo?"The short answer is yes, but take care! It's natural to want to get wet after you've been inked but preserving the clarity of your new tattoo is key, right?

GLAD WRAP IN THE SHOWER?

If your tattoo has been wrapped in plastic wrap you can unwrap yourself after 2-4 hours of being tattooed. You don’t need to rebandage yourself after a shower although some clients like to use a second-skin patch. 

Lukewarm or cold water is best post tattoo sesh. Try to avoid hot water as it opens your pores and this may cause ink to seep and/or fade. Be sure to do your best to keep the tattooed area out of the direct flow of water and never, ever soak your tattoo! Using your hand lightly rinse your tattoo. Rinse with an unscented body wash or soap. Don't scrub, flat palm it, and be gentle. Keep it simple and short. If you're one of those peeps that forget they are even in the shower, set an alarm and keep to that 2 minute shower time.

When you hop out of the shower, pat your tattoo dry with a clean towel (paper towels are also okay). Let your tattoo air dry for about 10 minutes before applying a super thin layer of our Sass + Co. Body Tattoo Aftercare or your tattoo aftercare of choice, with clean hands of course.

Make sure all your bedding is clean and don't have your best sheets on. Keep the high count Egyptian threads in the cupboard until your tattoo is all healed. As your tattoo heals you might find some ink stains on your sheets.

..and then repeat. Wash your tattoo daily and follow the above for about the next 7 days. You'll likely notice your tattoo may develop scabs. Please don't pick at the scabs or directly scratch the tattoo. Let that beauty heal in peace.

SHOWERING WITH SECOND SKIN

The beauty and magic of your second skin patch is that it lets you get on with life. It's water resistant, so you can shower with it. It's best to still avoid hot water, prolonged water exposure, and keep your shower short. Second skins are fine for the shower, but they aren't made for days at the pool, hot tub, or any other water sports. The no submerging your tattoo rules still apply. Soaking the tattoo even with a second skin runs the risk of infection, and nobody wants that!

Just shower normally, albeit a bit shorter for the next 5 days while your second skin works its magic and your tattoo heals.

If the second skin applied by your tattoo artist came off early or causes you discomfort and you need to remove it. Just treat your tattoo gently and follow the same steps above that non-second skinners use. Let your body do its thing and let that tattoo heal!