First Bandage
24 hours / overnight
Leave the bandage applied by the studio on overnight or for 24 hours unless instructed otherwise.
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Tattoo Aftercare
How to care for your new tattoo.
These instructions are for tattoos bandaged by Fawcett Tattoos & Art Studio with a 3M Tegaderm-style film bandage. Follow your artist’s specific instructions if they gave you different guidance.
Second Bandage
7 days / 1 week
After cleaning and drying the tattoo, apply a fresh clean bandage and leave it on for 7 days.
After Bandage
Wash, dry, thin lotion
Use clean fingertips, unscented soap, pat dry, then apply a thin layer of unscented lotion or care cream.
Bandage Care
Tegaderm bandage instructions.
Your fresh tattoo is a wound. Keep everything clean, move slowly, and avoid touching the tattoo unless your hands are freshly washed.
1. Leave the first bandage on overnight
We suggest leaving the 3M Tegaderm bandage applied by the studio on for 24 hours or overnight unless your artist gives you different instructions.
2. Wash your hands first
Before touching the bandage or tattoo, wash your hands thoroughly with unscented soap and warm water.
3. Wash the outside of the bandage
Gently wash the outside of the bandage before removing it so the area is clean before you expose the fresh tattoo wound.
4. Remove the bandage slowly
Peel the bandage off slowly. Push the skin near the bandage down and away while gently pulling the bandage in the opposite direction, up and away from the skin. Do not rip it off quickly.
5. Wash the tattoo wound
Use clean fingertips only and unscented soap. We suggest a gentle option like H2Ocean Foam Soap. Do not use washcloths, loofahs, towels, or anything abrasive.
6. Let it dry fully
After washing, let the tattoo air dry or gently pat it dry with a clean disposable paper towel. Make sure the tattoo and surrounding skin are completely dry before applying a new bandage.
7. Apply a fresh clean bandage
Apply a fresh, clean bandage over the tattoo. Keep this second bandage on for 7 days or 1 full week unless your artist tells you otherwise.
8. Remove the second bandage after 1 week
After 7 days, remove the second bandage using the same slow removal method: push the skin down and away while pulling the bandage up and away from the skin.
If it feels hot or humid
Cool over the bandage.
If the bandage feels hot, irritated, or humid underneath, you may cool the area over the bandage. Do not soak the bandage and do not place ice directly on the tattoo.
- Keep the bandage on unless your artist or a medical professional tells you to remove it.
- Wrap an ice pack or cold pack in a clean towel.
- Place it over the bandage for 5–10 minutes at a time.
- Take at least 20 minutes off between cooling sessions.
- Do not put ice directly on the tattoo or bare skin.
- Do not soak the bandage or let water sit under the film.
Contact us or seek medical advice
Watch for warning signs.
Some redness, tenderness, and fluid under the bandage can be normal early on. But worsening symptoms, allergic reactions, or signs of infection should be taken seriously.
- The tattoo feels increasingly hot, painful, swollen, or irritated.
- You see spreading redness, pus, severe rash, blisters, or unusual discharge.
- You feel feverish or unwell.
- The bandage causes hives, intense itching, burning, or a reaction around the adhesive.
- Fluid leaks out of the bandage, the bandage opens, or dirt/water gets trapped under it.
After Removing the Final Bandage
Keep it clean and lightly moisturized.
- Wash the tattoo gently with clean fingertips and unscented soap.
- Use only your fingertips to soften and remove any stuck adhesive residue.
- Do not scrub aggressively. Be patient and gentle.
- Pat dry with a clean disposable paper towel.
- Apply a thin layer of unscented lotion or cream. We suggest something like H2Ocean Care Cream.
- Use only a thin layer. The tattoo should not feel greasy, wet, or suffocated.
Avoid While Healing
Protect the tattoo while it settles.
- Do not pick, scratch, or peel the tattoo.
- Do not soak in baths, hot tubs, pools, lakes, or rivers while healing.
- Do not tan or expose the tattoo to direct sun while healing.
- Do not use scented lotion, alcohol, peroxide, or harsh cleansers.
- Do not apply thick layers of ointment or cream.
- Do not wear tight, dirty, or abrasive clothing over the tattoo.
- Do not work out heavily if sweat, friction, or stretching will irritate the tattoo.
Long-Term Care
Good aftercare protects the healed result.
Once fully healed, keep the tattoo moisturized with a gentle unscented lotion.
Use sunscreen on healed tattoos when exposed to sun.
Avoid tanning beds if you want the tattoo to stay as bright and readable as possible.
Color, contrast, and softness can change as the tattoo settles into the skin.
Healing depends on skin, placement, immune response, aftercare, lifestyle, and sun exposure.
Book a touch-up if the tattoo has faded, healed unevenly, or needs adjustments. We offer a free 1-hour touch-up within 1 year when the tattoo is eligible.
Touch-Ups & Booking
Need a touch-up or have a healing question?
We offer a free 1-hour touch-up within 1 year when the tattoo is eligible. Supply fees are not included. Touch-ups, refreshers, reworks, and healed checks must be reviewed by the studio before booking.
To book, log in to the Tattoo Portal or start a consult and send clear healed photos in natural lighting, plus your name, tattoo date, artist, and what you are concerned about.