My routine is something like this:
Remove bandage once I get home or before going to bed at night. Wash and clean the gunk in hot shower with soap that I use everyday (usually it's the plain Dove). Dry up gently with clean towel. Let it dry for a while and use a thin layer of ointment (I use Polysporin). Then the next morning I do the same thing. Wash it again at night but without the ointment. Usually the next day or so it starts to flake, so then I'll use a fragrance free lotion (Aveeno seems to work fine for me) to make the tattoo not dry up too much after I get out of the shower. Same process until it's all healed up (usually takes me a week or so and it's pretty much healed).
I've had tattoos by three different tattooers now and there is something that makes me wonder ever since I had one that healed a little rough. I thought my routine was okay, but now I'm not quite sure.
When the tattoo starts to flake, usually I keep on washing gently with soap. Should I? Most of the time, the flakes comes off easily so it's fine but sometimes, they aren't and once I get out of the shower the flakes that didn't come out by themselves become scabs. Do any of you have suggestions on that matter?