dieselkat Posted June 9, 2014 Share Posted June 9, 2014 Hi everyone! New to the forum, in Philly, PA. I've been perusing the threads and this seems like a pretty great community. I have nine tattoos, including a brand new large octopus on my right outer thigh. That's where my question comes in. This is my first leg tattoo, so I've never had to heal one before. The tattoo was done Saturday day into evening. I took off the bandage and washed it the first night, and slept without it covered. Last night I washed and applied lotion (skin friendly Lubriderm) and then slept in thin pajama pants. When I woke up, the pants were adhered to the tattoo. I used water to release the pants, but there's a lot of ink on the pants and the complete outline of one of the octopus eyes in ink. Have I ruined my tattoo? Also, I work in a professional office and have to wear slacks every day. I'm pretty concerned that the rubbing of the pants is just going to pull all of the scabs/flakes away and take the color with them. Any tips? Thanks! Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/5245-new-here-and-a-question-about-after-care/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pugilist Posted June 9, 2014 Share Posted June 9, 2014 Personally, I have found my leg tattoos hardest to heal. Mine stay wet and stick to shit for a couple of days. I am sure you haven't ruined it, but I would definitely suggest you wear the loosest pants you can til the thing calms down! idyllsend 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/5245-new-here-and-a-question-about-after-care/#findComment-95257 Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeeSea Posted June 9, 2014 Share Posted June 9, 2014 Sleep with no pants as long as it goops and put whatever pillows, etc., to keep yourself from rolling over in the night - that's 3-ish nights for me. I had to soak out off a shirt one time after sleeping in it the first night, and it lost some color but we're not sure if that's why. Hurray for touch-ups. Ruined? Likely not. [Edit to clarify - my sessions start late and run until the early morning hours and I pass out with the plastic on when I get home. My "first night" above is technically the second night, I guess.] As for work - loose pants. Buy a larger size, buy styles with front pleats for more room. Buy material that isn't rough (not chinos/dockers for example). Consider taping folded up paper towels or something above/around it (not on it) to passively lift the material off your thigh. Consider pants with a lining to reduce the effects of rubbing. Are you a woman - skirts/dresses. Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/5245-new-here-and-a-question-about-after-care/#findComment-95258 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Bee Posted June 9, 2014 Share Posted June 9, 2014 I tend to leave the dressing on overnight. Then I wash it thoroughly, first thing in the morning. (I'm often up by 6am) After that, I keep it clean and dry and wear loose clothing. I like SeeSea's suggestion to tape folded paper towel around the tattoo. I'm healing a new thigh tattoo that I got yesterday, and I may try that trick this afternoon when I head out to shop. Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/5245-new-here-and-a-question-about-after-care/#findComment-95259 Share on other sites More sharing options...
suburbanxcore Posted June 9, 2014 Share Posted June 9, 2014 Welcome. I'd say that @Pugilist is probably on the right track. Who in Philly tattoos you? Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/5245-new-here-and-a-question-about-after-care/#findComment-95270 Share on other sites More sharing options...
dieselkat Posted June 9, 2014 Author Share Posted June 9, 2014 Thanks for all of the replies! Like I mentioned, I'm a bit paranoid as this is my first leg tattoo (and my largest tattoo in general). The nature of my job puts skirts and dresses out, unfortunately. Once I got to work today I changed from my dress slacks (which did have goo and flakes/scabs adhered, ugh) into scrubs, and they're much nicer and no one has said anything yet. I think that'll be my plan for this week. Otherwise, I might try SeeSea's paper towel trick. suburbanxcore: I actually drove 3.5 hours to upstate New York to see an artist I already trusted. It was a bit of a hike, but totally worth it. Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/5245-new-here-and-a-question-about-after-care/#findComment-95273 Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeeSea Posted June 9, 2014 Share Posted June 9, 2014 Ah, scrubs - I didn't think of that! (No leg tattoos for me yet) Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/5245-new-here-and-a-question-about-after-care/#findComment-95294 Share on other sites More sharing options...
else Posted June 9, 2014 Share Posted June 9, 2014 I LOVE scrubs on new leg tattoos. In fact, I wear them to bed on fresh tattoos. They're great because they're light and easy to wash. When things are still sticking I wear them right into the shower. Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/5245-new-here-and-a-question-about-after-care/#findComment-95312 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fala Posted June 10, 2014 Share Posted June 10, 2014 With my thigh tattoo, I cobbled together the non-stick gauze pads from CVS with waterproof tape, then taped that to my leg (so the gauze pads completely covered the tattooed area and then some) then worse my loosest pants, skirts, etc. Worked great - no sticking, and minimized oozing. I found that that particular tattoo healed the fastest/easiest. Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/5245-new-here-and-a-question-about-after-care/#findComment-95317 Share on other sites More sharing options...
dieselkat Posted June 10, 2014 Author Share Posted June 10, 2014 With my thigh tattoo, I cobbled together the non-stick gauze pads from CVS with waterproof tape, then taped that to my leg (so the gauze pads completely covered the tattooed area and then some) then worse my loosest pants, skirts, etc. Worked great - no sticking, and minimized oozing. I found that that particular tattoo healed the fastest/easiest. Thanks for the tip! I have to attend a conference tomorrow and my options are skirt and pantyhose or form fitting slacks. I was torn between the two, but I think either will work if I pick up some non-stick gauze! Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/5245-new-here-and-a-question-about-after-care/#findComment-95321 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fala Posted June 10, 2014 Share Posted June 10, 2014 If you go with the pantyhose, go with one size up - will be way more comfortable with the gauze pads! Good luck. Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/5245-new-here-and-a-question-about-after-care/#findComment-95326 Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJDeepFried Posted June 10, 2014 Share Posted June 10, 2014 Some have had good luck with tegaderm et al but ymmv. Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/5245-new-here-and-a-question-about-after-care/#findComment-95327 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Breakme Posted June 10, 2014 Share Posted June 10, 2014 What I did with both my thighs is spend the whole of the next day and night in only my underwear to allow the tattoo to dry out as much as possible, and without any irritations. By the second day I was able to wear loose-ish fitting dress pants to work and had absolutely no sticking issues at all. Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/5245-new-here-and-a-question-about-after-care/#findComment-95336 Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeeSea Posted June 10, 2014 Share Posted June 10, 2014 What I did with both my thighs is spend the whole of the next day and night in only my underwear to allow the tattoo to dry out as much as possible, and without any irritations. Wow. Lax dress code at work. Maybe now you'll get that big raise. suburbanxcore, Fala and Pugilist 3 Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/5245-new-here-and-a-question-about-after-care/#findComment-95353 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Breakme Posted June 10, 2014 Share Posted June 10, 2014 Wow. Lax dress code at work. Maybe now you'll get that big raise. Haha, shame my boss is female! I couldn't imagine going to work the next day after getting tattooed. Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/5245-new-here-and-a-question-about-after-care/#findComment-95418 Share on other sites More sharing options...
dieselkat Posted June 12, 2014 Author Share Posted June 12, 2014 Thanks so much for all of the advice, you guys are great! It's now in that gross scabbed/scaly/flaky stage and peeling like crazy. It's back to work pants for me, so I'm a little worried about the rubbing pulling all of the flakes and scabs out. Man, healing a large thigh tattoo is definitely more complicated than any of my previous tattoos. Especially with my job requiring professional wear. I imagine I'm going to definitely need touch ups. Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/5245-new-here-and-a-question-about-after-care/#findComment-95516 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pugilist Posted June 12, 2014 Share Posted June 12, 2014 Unless your pants are super tight I am sure it's fine!! Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/5245-new-here-and-a-question-about-after-care/#findComment-95519 Share on other sites More sharing options...
nomadland Posted June 16, 2014 Share Posted June 16, 2014 I second everyones opinion.. Just jumped on to say I love that octopus... cheers Oz. Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/5245-new-here-and-a-question-about-after-care/#findComment-95795 Share on other sites More sharing options...
dieselkat Posted June 24, 2014 Author Share Posted June 24, 2014 Thanks OZ! Octopi are pretty amazing creatures. My tattoo is now 2.5 weeks old, and still scaly, dull, and blurry. How long does it usually take to be pretty again? Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/5245-new-here-and-a-question-about-after-care/#findComment-96341 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delicious Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 Leg tattoos take forever to heal. Give it time. My ankle tattoo took a month or a little more to be decent, the one on my calf 3 weeks. Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/5245-new-here-and-a-question-about-after-care/#findComment-96352 Share on other sites More sharing options...
suburbanxcore Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 Some of my leg tattoos have been really quick, but the one on the side of my knee was the longest healing tattoo I think I've ever had. There was a few weeks where I was starting to get nervous about it. It ended up being just fine. Haha. Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/5245-new-here-and-a-question-about-after-care/#findComment-96355 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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