Tattoo Care

Prepping for your tattoo;

Drink lots of water; keeping hydrated makes your skin softer and easier to penetrate.
Get a good nights sleep. This will help your over-all mood and make the process be less stressful for you.
Exercise/stretch the day before or the day of your appointment. Your muscles will have loosened up so you are not so tense.
Eat before you come in. Getting tattooed on an empty stomach can cause dizziness and sometimes fainting.

Wash tattoo 1-2 hours after it was completed. Use a mild antibacterial soap such as Dial.
Pat dry with a clean towel, then allow it to air dry for about 30 minutes.
Use a very small amount of ointment such as Aquaphor or After Inked, and dab it on over the entire tattoo. Proceed to rub it in gently until it is mostly absorbed into the skin.
Apply ointment one-two times per day. Switch to a mild, unscented lotion after about 5 days.
Keep the tattoo clean and free of irritants for the next two weeks.
Try to allow the area to breathe as much as possible. Wear loose clothing, and try not to sleep on it.
Do not go swimming or soak it in a tub.
Keep it away from sunlight - but that's a lifelong precaution.