Aftercare
Quick reading: Remington Tattoo’s instruction sheet says to remove the bandage within 3 to 24 hours, wash gently, use antibiotic cream for three days and then fragrance-free lotion, avoid sun for 7 to 10 days, and avoid swimming until fully healed.[1] California law requires shops to give clients written instructions of this kind.[3]
What are the shop’s aftercare steps?
Remington Tattoo publishes a post-procedure instruction sheet. Its steps are summarized below in the order the shop gives them.[1] The FAQ repeats the same instructions and says the full details are on the aftercare page.[2]
| Step | What the shop says |
|---|---|
| Wash your hands | Wash hands before touching the tattoo. Remove the bandage within 3 to 24 hours and gently wash the tattoo with mild soap and water. Do not reapply a new bandage. |
| Antibiotic cream | Apply a thin film of antibiotic cream for the next three days. |
| Lotion | After three days, apply a light coating of fragrance-free lotion until the skin returns to its pre-tattoo condition. |
| Sun | Stay out of direct sunlight and tanning booths for 7 to 10 days; use sunscreen of at least SPF 30. |
| Water | Do not swim in the ocean, lakes, streams or chlorinated pools, or soak in a tub or jacuzzi, until the tattoo is completely healed. Take showers. |
| Soil and pets | Avoid gardening that exposes the tattoo to soil or fertilizer, and keep animals away from it until healed. |
| Scabs | Expect a light, dry scab that falls off in 7 to 10 days. Do not pick or touch it. |
Why the steps look the way they do
The steps line up with what California requires every body art facility to tell its clients. The Safe Body Art Act says the post-procedure instructions in the consent paperwork must cover care of the site, restrictions on bathing, recreational water activities, gardening and contact with animals, how long those restrictions last, the signs of infection, and the signs that call for medical care.[3] Remington’s sheet addresses each of those categories: washing and creams for site care, showers instead of soaking, no swimming, no gardening, no contact with pets, and a list of warning signs.[1]
The sun advice has a separate rationale in the shop’s FAQ, which says cooler months are often easier for healing because people are less likely to be in direct sun, sweating heavily or swimming, though a tattoo can be done at any time of year with proper aftercare.[2]
What is normal, and what is not
The sheet says some redness around the tattoo immediately after tattooing is normal and is part of the natural healing process. It lists the signs that call for medical care: fever; redness, swelling or tenderness at the site; green or yellow discharge with a foul odor; or red streaks running from the site toward the heart.[1] The Act’s list of infection signs that must be given to clients includes redness, swelling, tenderness, red streaks toward the heart, elevated temperature and purulent drainage.[3]
The sheet ends by asking clients to make sure the artist has gone through the instructions and answered questions before they leave, and to contact the shop with any concerns.[1]
Aftercare differs between shops
Aftercare advice is not identical from studio to studio. Some shops recommend different ointments, different bandage materials or different timings. This page reports Remington’s published sheet only; it does not rank it against other methods and is not medical advice. A client with a skin condition, an allergy to an ointment ingredient, or a medical question should ask a clinician. The health questionnaire required by the Act asks about allergies to antibiotics for this kind of reason.[3]
Common questions
When should I take the bandage off?
Remington’s sheet says within 3 to 24 hours, then wash gently with mild soap and water and do not re-bandage.
When can I swim after a tattoo?
The shop says not until the tattoo is completely healed, including pools, the ocean and hot tubs.
How long until the scab falls off?
The sheet says a light, dry scab should fall off in 7 to 10 days.
See also
Sources cited
- ^ a b c d e Aftercare Instructions. Remington Tattoo Parlor (remingtontattoo.com). Retrieved 9 November 2026.
- ^ a b Tattoo FAQs. Remington Tattoo Parlor (remingtontattoo.com). Retrieved 9 November 2026.
- ^ a b c d Safe Body Art Act (program PDF). County of San Diego. Retrieved 9 November 2026.