Tattoo-aftercare instructions vary from artist to artist, and its more than likely that you weren't fully listening when they were explained to you due to being on an adrenalin rush and being in slight discomfort. Your artist will have done their utmost to make sure the tattoo was done in the cleanest of environments with sterile equipment but after you've left the studio its all up to you.
The Basic Steps to Follow
1. Remove your bandage, after an hour or so. Once the bandage is removed, gently hand-wash your tattoo with cold water and antibacterial soap. Don't use a flannel or wash cloth, your hand is the best tool for this (remember your tattoo is still an open wound!). Pat the tattoo dry with a CLEAN towel.
2. Apply very thin coats of Savlon Cream. (You can find this cream in either your local supermarket or your local pharmacy.) Apply the cream conservatively, if you put on too much it will pull the ink from your tattoo. Spread it as thinly as possible. You'll only need to do this twice a day unless you get it dirty in which case repeat the 1st two steps.
Remember to Avoid
Direct sunlight for the first two weeks.
Submerging your tattoo in any type of water for the first two weeks.(No swimming or prolonged bathing)
Picking or scratching at your tattoo.
Washing the area with strong smelling soaps as these may react with the ink or cream and cause an adverse reaction. Try a non-scented natural soap until your tattoo is almost fully healed.
Once the tattoo has healed, however, you can pretty much put anything on it but remember, if you don't care for your tattoo right and need to go back to get some of it fixed, no matter how much you claim you did what you were told, the artist WILL know you didn't take proper care of it.