First remove the bandage after one hour, two maximum, All wounds need to breathe if they are to heal properly. Wash the tattoo using your fingertips or hands very gently.
Use a mild antibacterial soap (Dettol/Savlon) and luke warm water. Take care to remove all traces of blood as this will cause scabbing.
Always gently pat the tattoo dry with a clean soft cloth or just let it air dry.
Apply a thin coat of ointment advised by your Artist, (Just enough to make it shine, a little goes a long way). Dab off all the excess with a paper towel. Too much ointment will only suffocate the tattoo and liquefy any scabs that may have formed causing the ink to fall out and look blotchy. There is no need to re-bandage the tattoo.
Ointment can be applied whenever the tattoo is feeling stiff or dry but beware of over-moisturizing. Your body will absorb what it needs where it needs. Apply an ointment twice/thrice a day for 15-20 days. Do not use lotions that contain colour or fragrance or sparkles until the healing is complete. Never use vaseline on your Tattoo.
When the tattoo is kept moist it doesn't have a chance to form a scab but does form a thin membrane to protect the tattoo while it heals. This layer peels off very similar to a sunburn (Do not peel your tattoo, you will pull the ink out!) and it is perfectly normal to see small flakes of coloured skin falling off during this stage of healing.
You must keep your tattoo clean, however, long showers, swimming in the beach, Pool, Hot Tubs, and Saunas must be avoided for 4 weeks. Short showers are best, under ten minutes if possible.
Please refrain from scratching or picking at the tattoo. Scrubbing with a washcloth can be very harsh on a tattoo and will cause your colours to fade. Disrupting the tattoo while it's healing can also cause scar tissue. It is normal for the tattoo to become very itchy during the healing time. To relieve this, slap it with your hand (this will sting it and take away the itch).
The sun is bad for your tattoo, even if you've had it for a long time. A sunburn on a new tattoo can cause a lot of problems. It will dry out your tattoo and cause it to form a horrendous scab causing the tattoo to fade before it is even healed. It will take much longer to heal completely. It promotes scarring in a new tattoo. Wait until it is fully healed to go back in the sun and make sure you put on a high quality SUNBLOCK (not sunscreen). But, do not apply sunblock while the tattoo is healing.The tattoo is under your skin, and your tan will form above it. If you are too dark, some colours (white, yellow, pink, and orange) may not show up as brightly as they could.