CaliLou’s and its staff are not health care providers.

With that being said, no information provided should be construed as medical advice and/or treatment.

Please seek the help of a medical professional if you are experiencing any (but not limited to) the following symptoms:

-Red streaks or marks near/on your fresh tattoo

-Pus oozing from your tattoo

-Excessive scabbing on your tattoo

-Swollen lymph nodes

-A fever occuring more than 48 hours after being tattooed

-Chills or shivers occuring more than 48 hours after being tattooed

-Inflammation, swelling, or hotness to the touch in the tattooed area more than 48 hours after the tattoo

Any inquiries or concerns about health-related matters should be addressed to a physician or other medical professionals.

Firstly, thank you for choosing CaliLou’s.

We hope you’ve enjoyed your experience, but now it’s up to you to care for your new piece of art!

❈ The bandage we use on all of our tattoos is there to protect your fresh tattoo from outside contamination while it’s going through it’s most vulnerable stage of healing. The first couple weeks are pertinent to its success for the rest of its lifelong journey with you.

❈ Derm is meant to stay on the body, unbroken, for at minimum of 24 hours and at maximum 48. If your derm leaks or is compromised within this time frame, please contact us to get rebandaged as soon as possible. Failure to do so may cause complications that are not your artist’s responsibility.

❈ While the derm is on your tattoo for it’s 24-48 hr time period, you can carry on with most of your usual activities. We do not suggest performing any physical activities that will cause excessive sweating, as sweat collects underneath the bandage and affects the healing process. (For our fellow gym rats- allot your 48 hr period as your two rest days for that week. You can do it!)

❈ Showering while the bandage is on your fresh tattoo is fine, as the derm is waterproof. However, avoid submerging your fresh tattoo (covered by derm or not) for long periods of time. This means avoid swimming, bubble baths, hot tubbing, etc. for at minimum two weeks.

❈ You may notice a build up of fluid underneath your derm. It may look like a mixture of blood and ink. This lovely human soy sauce packet is not for consumption, but is also no cause of worry. It’s good for your tattoo! Do not attempt to drain the bandage as it will compromise the protection of your tattoo. As said before, if your bandage bursts, please contact us to be rebandaged.

❈ Once your 24-48 time period is up…

❈ Wash your hands before you remove your derm, as your tattoo is still considered a fresh wound. We recommend doing this in the shower, under running water. The removal of derm is quite like the removal of a band-aid… it is unpleasant.

❈ You may either remove it slowly or in one swift pull.

❈ There may be a slight transfer of your tattoo design on your derm once you remove it - do not worry, you are not pulling out any ink. If after a three week healing time frame you notice ink fallout, contact us for a touch up appointment.

❈ After removing your derm, wash it with the soap we’ve provided or a non-abrasive body soap you are familiar with. Any soaps that cause burning, itching, or irritation, discontinue using.

❈ Lather your tattoo with soap using your clean hands (avoid cloths, loofahs, or any other objects as they may introduce bacteria) and rinse well with warm water. Be sure to remove any soap residue from the tattoo before proceeding.

❈ Finally, pat your tattoo dry with a clean cloth or paper towel. Avoid scrubbing it dry.

❈ Once your tattoo is dry, apply the aftercare salve we have provided in thin, light layers.

❈ If the salve causes any burning or irritation, discontinue use and try a lotion you use on a regular basis instead. ❈

❈ The goal is to keep the skin moisturized and retain the elasticity and softness that untattooed skin has on a daily basis. Therefore, whenever your fresh tattoo is itchy or dry, re-apply the salve/lotion.

❈ Although the goal is to keep your tattoo moisturized, peeling is a normal part of the healing process. Do not attempt to “drown” your tattoo in product just for the sake of having to apply salve/lotion less often. This is just as bad as dry healing your tattoo.

❈ DO NOT USE any ointments, A&D, Aquaphor, or Vaseline on your fresh tattoo. Although previous artists may have recommended these products to you, we urge our clients to follow our aftercare instructions for our tattoos.

❈ For the next two weeks, wash your tattoo once a day as directed above and apply salve/lotion 3-5 times a day.

❈ The trick to healing tattoos is to pay attention to how your tattoo feels and looks on the skin. Try not to overthink it and remember that it is an open wound - before the tattoo settles into it’s beautiful final form, it has to go through it’s natural healing stage.

❈ Friendly reminder that all tattoos and all bodies are different, so therefore sometimes tattoos may take longer to heal! ❈

❈ If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us at (775) 432-1013 or email us at shop@caliloustattoos.com with the subject line “Healing Qs” and we will get back to you as soon as possible. m description

Please read full instructions above for an extensive guide on how to properly take care of your tattoo…

❈ Keep the derm on for 24-48 hrs. If it leaks or peels off, contact us to get rebandaged. Showering with the bandage is OK.

❈ After your 24-48hr time period, wash your tattoo with the soap we’ve given you. If it burns or causes irritation, discontinue use and use a body soap you are familiar with.

❈ Rinse your tattoo well and pat dry.

❈ Apply aftercare salve. If salve causes irritation, discontinue use and use a lotion you are familiar with. Please do not use Aquaphor/A&D/Vaseline.

❈ Repeat (wash once a day, apply salve/lotion 3-5 times a day) for two weeks. Don’t submerge your tattoo in water (swim/hot tub/bubble bath/etc) for at least 2 weeks.

❈ You can shower with your bandage on.

❈ Don’t do any strenuous physical activities (CrossFit, fighting bears, defeating evil) while the bandage is on. Sweat collection under the bandage will affect your healing.

❈ Don’t submerge your tattoo in water (swimming with dolphins, hot tubbing in time machines, etc) for at least two weeks.

❈ Don’t pop the fluid bubble that collects underneath your derm. The bubble is your friend. It will help heal your tattoo.

❈ Don’t leave your derm on for more than 48 hrs, it tends to dry out your tattoo.

❈ Don’t take the derm off less than 24 hrs! This is when your tattoo is at it’s most vulnerable and needs the extra love.

❈ If you feel like your tattoo got dirty, please wash it again, just to be safe.

❈ Drowning your tattoo in product to keep it moisturized for longer is just as bad as dry healing your tattoo.

❈ Apply salve/lotion whenever your tattoo is dry. If it’s itchy, it’s dry!

❈ Peeling is perfectly natural in a tattoo’s healing process.

❈ Please do not apply Aquaphor, A&D or Vaseline to your tattoo.

❈ Please don’t let your pets, strangers, friends, family, or any other animals touch your tattoo.

❈ Your friends and family may get excited and try to give you advice on how to heal your tattoo - nod and give thanks but please follow our instructions.

❈ If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us at (775) 432-1013 or email us at shop@caliloustattoos.com with the subject line “Healing Qs” and we will get back to you as soon as possible.