Stick And Poke Aftercare – 9 Best Tattoo Aftercare Tips

After getting a tattoo, the journey doesn’t end; in fact, it’s only just beginning, and it takes the form of tattoo aftercare. Like any tattoo, once the stick and poke design is inked onto your skin, the next crucial step is properly caring for it.

Like machine tattoos, sticks, and pokes are also permanent in longevity. But they heal faster and also do not cause much pain. However, they only heal properly if you follow proper aftercare instructions. So, what exactly does stick-and-poke tattoo aftercare involve?

Here are general guidelines for stick and poke aftercare:

• Leave the bandage on for a few hours
• Cleanse the Tattoo with Mild Soap
• Pat Dry and Allow Air Drying
• Apply an ointment or cream
• Avoid excessive moisture
• Protect it from direct sunlight
• Avoid picking or scratching the ink design
• Wear loose clothing
•  Monitor for signs of infection

These simple guidelines for stick-and-poke ink design should be followed to promote fast healing and prevent infections. Likewise, proper aftercare of a tattoo helps maintain its design, colors, and lines while ensuring its longevity. Furthermore, if you want to learn more about general aftercare guidelines, continue reading this blog post.

Stick and Poke Aftercare

1 Cover The Stick and Poke Tattoo with the Bandage

After completing the stick and poke tattoo, you should immediately wrap it with a bandage. Typically, your tattoo artist will use a sterile bandage for this purpose. Leave this bandage on for 3 to 6 hours to promote fast healing. However, if you’re using a second skin instead of a simple bandage, keep it on for 3 to 4 days.

2 Clean It with Mild Soap

After the recommended duration has passed, carefully remove the bandage. Next, cleanse the stick and poke area using high-quality soap and lukewarm water. You can use your clean fingers or a soft cloth for this.

However, avoid scraping or rubbing the tattoo area as this can cause scabs to remove scabs prematurely and also cause loss of color and design of appearance.

3 Pat Dry and Allow Air Drying

After completing the tattoo cleaning process, allow air to circulate through the tattoo area for a few minutes to dry it before applying any tattoo aftercare products.

4 Apply Lotion or Cream

Now, the next crucial step is to apply a recommended tattoo lotion, such as Mad Rabbit or Tanning Paradise, three times a day. These lotions are considered the best for tattoo aftercare, as they moisturize the tattoo and fasten the healing process.

Also, these products are free of fragrances and do not contain any harmful ingredients like alcohol and petroleum. However, avoid using too much ointment on a stick and poke tattoos, as this can lead to infection and damage the design. Generally, it’s recommended to keep applying lotion for 7 to 10 days. 

5 Avoid Excessive Moisture

Keeping the tattoo moisturized is important in the healing process. However, washing excessive moisture can damage the stick and poke tattoo. Although, taking a shower is completely fine.

However, you should avoid soaking the it in swimming pools or tubs for a few weeks after getting tattoo. But if it’s necessary, make the tattoo waterproof before exposing it to water. 

6 Protect Tattoo from Direct Sunlight

Protecting a tattoo from direct sunlight is a crucial step in stick-and-poke aftercare. This is because prolonged exposure to the sun can lead to rapid fading of the tattoo. To ensure the longevity of your tattoo, it is important to avoid direct sunlight, particularly during the first few weeks.

Moreover, applying a high-quality tattoo-specific sunscreen is essential before exposing your ink design to sunlight.

7 Avoid Picking or Scratching it

If you’re getting a tattoo first time, you should keep in mind that feeling itching during the healing process is normal. Therefore, you should avoid picking or scratching it; otherwise, it can damage the appearance of the ink design. Excessive scratching can also lead to a skin infection.

8 Wear Loose Cloth

Wearing loose and breathable clothing over the tattooed area is recommended to prevent friction and irritation caused by clothing.

9  Monitor for Signs of Infection

As new tattoos are similar to open wounds, there is a high likelihood that a stick and poke tattoo can become infected for several reasons. These typically include a lack of proper aftercare, using dirty equipment during tattooing procedures, touching the tattoo with unclean hands, and excessive moisture. 

These are common factors that can lead to a tattoo becoming infected. Therefore, keeping an open eye on your tattoo condition is important during healing time. If you notice any signs of tattoo infection, such as redness, swelling, pus, or prolonged pain, it is advisable to consult a medical professional.

Conclusion:

Stick and poke aftercare is almost the same as other types of tattoos. Usually, this includes wrapping the tattoo with a bandage, cleaning it with soap, and wearing loose clothes.

Similarly, you should protect it from direct sunlight, excessive moisture, soaking in pool water, and avoid picking or scratching it. These are important and general aftercare guidelines that you should follow to ensure the healing process is smooth and quick.

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