Stick and Poke Aftercare

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 machine tattoo, once the stick and poke design is inked onto your skin, the next important step is properly caring for it.

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

Here are general guidelines for stick-and-poke tattoo aftercare:

• Leave the bandage on the tattoo for a few hours.
• Cleanse the tattooed skin with a mild, fragrance-free soap.
• After cleaning, allow it to dry completely.
• Apply a thin layer of aftercare lotion three times a day for 7 to 10 days.
• Avoid excessive washing to prevent scabbing and protect the ink. 
• Keep the area protected from direct sunlight for several weeks.
• Avoid picking or scratching the ink design.
• Wear loose, breathable clothing over the tattooed area to minimize irritation.

Importance of Aftercare

These simple guidelines for stick-and-poke ink design should be followed to promote fast healing and prevent infections. Proper after care 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.

Note: It is also important to note that if your tattoo artist provides complete aftercare instructions, you should follow them rather than seeking information elsewhere. Because each person’s skin type varies, artists can provide customized instructions to take care of a stick and poke. 

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.

Note: Your tattoo artist can guide you on the exact duration of wrapping the tattoo based on the type of bandage used.

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.

Note: If you’ve sensitive skin, you should use fragrance-free soap.

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 Aquaphor, three times a day. This lotions is considered the best for tattoo aftercare, as it moisturize the tattooed skin and promote the healing process.

It is also free of fragrances and do not contain harmful ingredients like alcohol and petroleum. However, avoid using too much ointment on the application area, as this can lead to infection and damage to the design. Generally, it’s recommended to keep applying lotion for 3 to 4 days then switch regular location such as Lubriderm. 

5 Avoid Excessive Moisture

Keeping the tattoo moisturized is important in the healing process. However, washing excessive moisture can damage the stick-and-poke ink design. Although taking a shower is completely fine, you should avoid soaking it in swimming pools or tubs for a few weeks after getting a tattoo. If necessary, make the tattoo waterproof before exposing it to water. 

6 Protect Tattoo From Direct Sunlight

Protecting a tattoo from direct sun is an important step in aftercare. This is because prolonged exposure to the sunlight can lead to rapid fading of the tattoo. To ensure the longevity of your ink design, it is necessary 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 for the first time, you should keep in mind that feeling itching on tattooed skin 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, 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, or excessive moisture. 

These are common factors that can lead to infected tattooed skin. Therefore, it is important to keep an open eye on your tattoo condition 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 that for other types of machine tattoos. This usually includes wrapping the tattoo with a bandage, cleaning it with soap, and wearing loose clothes. Similarly, you should protect it from direct sunlight and excessive moisture. 

At the same time, avoid soaking your tattooed skin in pool water and picking or scratching it. These are important general aftercare guidelines that you should follow to ensure the healing process is smooth and quick.

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