A couple hours after getting your tattoo, remove plastic wrap and gently wash the tattoo with HOT water and antibacterial soap (start slightly warm and adjust heat a little at a time, it may sting each time you increase the temperature). Rinse with HOT water for 10 minutes after this first cleaning. Gently pat dry and apply a very small amount of aftercare ointment (a product designed specifically for tattoo care is strongly recommended). Be sure not to glob on ointment or leave a thick gooey layer, let it breathe (the most common error in aftercare is actually using too much product)
Gently wash your tattoo and re-apply aftercare twice a day (morning and evening). Keep it clean!
After the first 3 days switch to to a high-quality non-scented lotion (look for the dermatologist logo or use a tattoo-specific product). Apply a small amount of lotion 2-3 times daily for the rest of the healing. Again, be sure to wash the tattoo each time before the lotion is applied.
You may notice flaking or peeling (like you get after a sunburn except the skin flakes may contain color) around this stage of the healing process - this is normal and part of the healing process. Do not apply extra product to try to counteract this peeling effect or pick at any part or your skin on or near the tattoo, just let it heal! Remember not to touch (except when necessary to clean and apply product) pick or scratch at your new tattoo and avoid sun exposure/tanning and swimming or soaking in hot tubs, etc. (normal showering is perfectly fine). If you damage your new tattoo you risk scarring and may incur needless touch-up costs.
Always wash hands thoroughly before handling your healing tattoo