How a Second Skin Works
A second skin shields your tattoo from the outside world. While this extra layer is present, your body begins to heal the wound that lies underneath. It quickly forms its protective layer of skin over the top of your tattoo. This means, when you peel off the artificial second skin, your tattoo is protected by a naturally formed layer.
A second skin also acts as a barrier to germs and bacteria, protecting your tattoo at its most vulnerable stage. They allow oxygen to reach your tattoo while at the same time remove surplus moisture vapor, which can slow down the healing process.
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How To Remove Second Skin
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Test an edge: Pick an edge of the bandage and peel it away. If it’s difficult to remove, you can leave it on for another day. End of maximum 5 days, try taking a warm shower to help reduce the stickiness
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Remove slowly: Pull the second skin off slowly. It’s very similar to removing a plaster. If you pull too quickly, it’s going to sting. You might also damage the new layer of skin underneath. Just go slowly, and stretch to the opposite way.
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Clean: Make sure you wash your tattoo carefully after removing the bandage and apply moisturizer
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Use your cream/moisturizer for at least a month in a daily basis
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It’s totally normal to see some ink or blood under the bandage. This will usually appear within the first day. If you want to, you can replace the old dressing with a new one, following the application instructions.
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You can leave a second skin on for as long as it feels comfortable to you. Most people remove it after three to four days. The same bandage shouldn’t be worn for longer than 5 days, though — remove it to clean your tattoo. Second skins are great, but they aren’t miracle workers. In areas that bend or flex, they don’t last as long as areas that stay still.
Perfectly healed work alongside some fresh parts
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For second-skin bandages
While the bandage is on, you are free to go about your day mostly normally. It’s water-resistant, so you can shower while wearing it, - however, we recommend avoiding prolonged water exposure since water can sometimes find its way in. We recommend wearing loose clothing to prevent abrasion to the bandage and tattoo.
While the bandage is on, you will notice the surface underneath accumulate slight moisture, causing the tattoo to appear blurry. This is plasma building up from your skin, pulling up micro-fragments of ink. It’s completely normal and helps with the healing process.
We recommend keeping the second skin bandage on for 3 to 5 days after your appointment date. Following this duration, slowly remove the bandage under warm running water, or with a skin-safe body oil. The bandage adheres tightly to your skin, so you must use some force when removing it. Don’t be alarmed if there are fragments of ink on the bandage - it’s those micro-fragments of ink that have dried on the bandage.
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General tips
For approximately 10 to 12 days following bandage removal, we recommend using the Hustle Butter Deluxe lotion 3 to 6 times a day, or as needed. Apply a smooth, thin layer to the tattoo (just enough to cover it). Do not oversaturate the area with lotion, as this could potentially harm the healing process, pulling pigment back up.
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We recommend abstaining from intensive exercise for 2 weeks, as contact with unsanitary surfaces, abrasive clothing, and sweat can cause irritation, additional scarring and even infection.
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Avoid submerging your tattoo in water or exposing it to direct sunlight for prolonged periods, for a full month. Water exposure can cause serious and life-threatening infections and direct sunlight can overly dry the healing area, or cause premature fading.
Lastly, we kindly ask that you send us a high-resolution photograph of the tattoo a month after its completion. We’d love to see how it has healed. Should you feel a touch-up is necessary, highlight/describe the specific locations and we’ll take a look. I do offer complimentary touch-ups within 6 months, after which a fee may be required (up to the artist’s discretion).
As always, let me know if you have any additional questions or concerns! I am happy to help.
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What Do I Do After Getting a Tattoo?Avoid wearing tight clothing for the first few days and avoid swimming for a few weeks. Do not apply sun block to a new tattoo. Remove the plastic film protector after 72 hours. Wash the tattoo with a gentle antimicrobial product, like Hustle Bubbles Deluxe, and cover it with a protective coating of Hustle Butter Deluxe. Celebrate your new piece of art and plan your next accomplishment.
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How Long Does it Take a Tattoo to Heal?How long does it take a tattoo to heal properly? Like so many other things in life, it varies. The fact of the matter is that tattooing damages the skin — gloriously — but it takes time to heal properly. The visible healing will occur over the next two to three weeks, but the dermis can take as long as couple months. That’s why it’s essential that you give the skin the nutrients it requires to rebuild. Hustle Butter Deluxe is an all-natural, vegan product that encourages skin healing. Hustle Bubbles will prevent the raw, chafed surface from developing a skin infection.
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How Do I Take Care of My Tattoo?Tattoo care during the first few days is crucial to avoid infection. Use a natural, moisturizing, antimicrobial soap to keep your tattoo clean. I recommend Hustle Bubbles Deluxe aftercare products because we know the exact ingredients and how they’re sourced. Rinse the product off, dab dry with a paper towel or regular towel, and apply Hustle Butter Deluxe to promote moisturization and healing. You can continue using these products indefinitely to properly maintain your tattoo. Do not apply sunscreen on your tattoo until it's fully healed.
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How Do I Clean My Tattoo?I personally suggest to use Hustle Bubbles products, apply them to the tattooed area, scrub for 30 seconds, rinse, and pat dry. Be gentle with your art, especially with new ink. Apply a thin layer of Hustle Butter Deluxe to the tattooed area to condition the skin.
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How Often Should I Wash My Tattoo?I recommend washing a new tattoo one time per day to eliminate the risk of infection and as part of the healing process on if you think it is needed. Of course, once the skin is healed, you can wash your tattoo as often as wash the rest of your body.
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Is Aquaphor Good For Tattoos?Aquaphor is probably better for your new tattoo than petroleum jelly, but it’s still a less-than-ideal topical ointment. Aquaphor often contains alcohol, which can dry out the skin. If you didn’t plan your aftercare well, apply an Aquaphor instead of petroleum jelly, but order a tub of Hustle Butter Deluxe ASAP. Hustle Butter Deluxe is designed by tattoo artists specifically for tattoo care. All of the ingredients are natural and contain the nutrients that your skin needs to heal from the controlled trauma tattooing causes
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Why is My Tattoo Itchy?Tattooing means having a needle perforate the skin repeatedly, which is why there’s some degree of pain involved. Itching is a common sensation as the body performs the natural process of healing those tiny wounds. The itching starts to fade after a week or two.
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What Do I Do if My Tattoo Peels?Tattoo peeling usually occurs within four or five days after the tattoo session. Again, this is caused by the damage to the skin that tattooing requires. The good news is that it’s no worse than a sunburn peel. To help reduce peeling and to keep your tattooed skin healthy, apply Hustle Butter Deluxe to the new ink.
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