Once your tattoo has finally been completed, it would be understandable if you’re in a hurry to rip off the bandage and show it off to your friends and family. However before you do this you should remember: That bandage is there for a reason.
Despite the fact that tattoos have changed by leaps and bounds in recent times, the bottom line is still that you’re actually hurting your skin as you implant ink within it. As such, when your tattoo is done what you’re left with is an open wound, and this needs to be taken care of in the long term and the short term.
And that’s why after-care treatments are sooooo important. Not only for the vibrant colors that makes your tattoo pop, but also to help heal scabs and keep you out of infection zone. 
So for starters, leave the bandage on for at least 5 to 6 hours or so after having the tattoo session. During this time you might notice that it starts to ooze, and if you do, be cautious but know this could be common. A little bit of oozing is sometimes normal, and it is part and parcel of the healing process.
Having the bandage on will protect your wound from bacteria and other infections, and so you definitely don’t want to remove them too soon.
After you get to the point where you feel it’s o.k. to remove your bandage, the very first thing that you should do is wash off the wound and tattoo. Be careful not to scrub the area in question though, as it is still going to be pretty sore, and brushing would just serve to worsen it. Also, try to use lukewarm water as often as possible as this will have a ‘calming’ affect on your skin.
Dry off the area afterwards, being careful once again not to scrub or use any rough motions. Just dab on your beautiful new tattoo ever-so lightly instead.
Having done all this, you shouldn’t need to reapply a bandage. Just let the tattoo dry out completely, and then dab on some antibacterial cream instead.
That’s it! That’s pretty much the basics of what you need to do immediately after your tattoo has been inked on your bod! Of course, in the rare instance should something go wrong or should an infection set in, be sure you’ve got the name handy of a good local doctor. And don’t delay in calling them.
As we said earlier, after-care is sooooo important. Yes, of course, for those vibrant colors, but also to keep your new tattoo clean. We’ve rounded up a pretty extensive selection of after-care products and you can access them just by clicking here. Or by clicking our “Best Buys” link above.
For those of you who didn’t know this about us, we’re the go-to person for everything tattoo. And that includes a large and decent selection of “Tattoo After-Care Products” that’ll help your tattoo make the statement that you wanted it to make.