Everybody heals differently; you need to find the appropriate way of healing yourself, and you will only find the right way through trial and error. Firstly I need to tell you the way your body heals. Your body's job is to remove foreign matter, so if your body did its job and healed itself properly…..you wouldn’t have a tattoo! It does not realize you have just paid a small fortune to keep this tattoo in your skin permanently and will try its best to remove it. The following ingredients in lotions naturally help remove foreign matter; Aloe Vera, Vitamin E, and any ointment or lotion that is "heal fast" “triple action” or “extra strength”. SO DON’T USE THEM. Your body is amazing at healing itself, therefore doesn't need much help. Your body generally tries to heal itself from the inside out, but you want it to heal the opposite way so that your colour stays right where it’s supposed to. Putting small amounts of lotion on your tattoo helps the skin heal properly (from the outside in). Unfortunately you’re skin is not designed to stay moist during the healing process and you need the moisture to keep the colour in your tattoo. Now the problem with this is that lots of people do not listen to the tattoo artist when they say "USE VERY LITTLE LOTION" just enough to keep the tattooed skin flexible, and when you put too much lotion on, it gives you big chunky scabs which in turn pulls the colour out. The only reason I say to use lotion is to keep the freshly tattooed skin moist so that it doesn't dry out and crack...which in turn makes you lose colour.

I have seen people use everything from just Vaseline to hemorrhoid creams both of which are absolutely no good. There are other natural aftercare products on the market, but through my experience with them I have found that quite a few of my clients had adverse reactions to them. I found that the beeswax in some clog the pores and suffocate the tattoo causing acne like bumps. Other things like tea tree oil can just be too strong and cause a rash around your tattoo. I recommend using a regular unscented lotion such as lubriderm or whatever you have found that works with your skin, each individual heals differently

The following aftercare sheet is what I hand out to people after they get tattooed by me:

• leave bandage on for a minimum of 1 to a maximum of 4 hours.
• remove bandage and throw away. from now on you won't need a bandage on your tattoo.
• wash your tattoo with a small amount of soap and cool water, then dry it by patting it with paper towel (do not rub it).
• using a clean finger, apply a small amount of lotion to your tattoo and rub it in, the less the better.
  
  during the next 2 weeks:
  
• wash your tattoo lightly once a day (e.g. while taking a shower). do not let the shower water hit it directly, it will peel off scabs prematurely. pat it dry and rub a tiny drop of Lotion on it.
• when your tattoo feels dry; with clean hands, apply a tiny drop of lotion, a minimum of 3 times a day.
• after about 3 days some small scabs or flakes will form on the tattoo....do not pick them!
• about a week later most of the flakes will have disappeared and it will start to itch....do not scratch! when you can't stand it any longer: apply a tiny drop of lotion and rub it in.
• after all the scabs and flakes fall off (takes about 7 to 10 days) apply Lotion as needed (when it feels dry and itchy).
• after 2 to 3 weeks your tattoo should be healed.
  
  during the healing period:
  
• do not pick or scratch your tattoo.
• do not soak your tattoo for 3 weeks: a shower once a day is o.k., but no swimming, baths, hot tubs or Jacuzzi's.
• do not expose your tattoo to the sun, (no sunbathing or tanning beds) for 3 weeks.
• wear clean, loose, cotton clothing while tattoo is healing and avoid wool or synthetic fabrics.
  
  in short:
  
• keep your tattoo clean... if you show it, don't let people touch it! bacteria may infect it.
• the less Lotion you apply the better. you need just enough to keep your tattooed skin flexible at all times. Too much will prevent your tattoo from breathing and in turn will cause big scabs that make you lose color. To little will cause it to dry out and create crack marks in the tattoo.
• after the tattoo has healed, use the highest spf sun block on your tattoo to keep it from fading.