Tattoo After care
Taking Care of Your New Tattoo
Congratulations on your new tattoo! Proper aftercare is an important part of the healing process and helps your tattoo stay vibrant, crisp, and looking its best for years to come.
Everyone heals a little differently, so follow the instructions provided by your artist whenever they differ from the general guidelines below.
The First Few Hours
Your artist will cover your tattoo before you leave the shop. Keep the covering on for the amount of time your artist recommends.
Once it's time to remove the covering:
Wash your hands thoroughly before touching your tattoo.
Gently remove the bandage or film.
Wash the tattoo with lukewarm water and a mild, fragrance-free soap.
Use your clean fingertips to gently remove any blood, plasma, or residue. Do not scrub.
Rinse thoroughly and gently pat the area dry with a clean paper towel or allow it to air dry.
Apply a very thin layer of the recommended tattoo aftercare product.
Less is more. Your tattoo needs to breathe while it heals, so avoid applying heavy layers of ointment or lotion.
During the Healing Process
For the first couple of weeks, keep your tattoo clean and moisturized.
DO:
Wash your tattoo gently with clean hands.
Use lukewarm water and fragrance-free soap.
Apply a thin layer of fragrance-free moisturizer when the tattoo feels dry.
Wear clean, loose-fitting clothing that won't constantly rub against the tattoo.
Let your tattoo breathe whenever possible.
Stay patient — peeling, flaking, itching, and mild dryness can be a normal part of healing.
DON'T:
Do not pick, scratch, or peel your tattoo.
Do not soak your tattoo in water.
Avoid swimming pools, hot tubs, baths, lakes, and oceans while your tattoo is healing.
Avoid excessive sweating and activities that cause repeated friction against the tattoo.
Do not expose a fresh tattoo to direct sunlight or tanning beds.
Do not apply alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or other harsh products to your tattoo.
Avoid tight clothing that rubs against the tattoo.
Don't let anyone else touch your tattoo unless necessary.
Sun Protection
Once your tattoo has completely healed, protect it from the sun.
UV exposure can cause tattoo ink to fade over time. Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher whenever your healed tattoo will be exposed to sunlight.
Never apply sunscreen to a tattoo that is still healing. Keep a fresh tattoo covered with clothing and out of direct sunlight instead.
What to Expect While Healing
A fresh tattoo is essentially a controlled injury to the skin, so some redness, tenderness, swelling, and clear or slightly tinted fluid can occur initially.
As it heals, your tattoo may:
Feel dry or tight
Become itchy
Peel or flake
Develop small scabs
Look slightly dull or cloudy temporarily
Do not pick or pull at peeling skin or scabs. Let them come off naturally.
The surface of your tattoo may look healed before the deeper layers of skin have fully recovered, so continue treating it gently even when it appears to be looking better.
When to Contact a Medical Professional
If you experience symptoms that concern you, contact a healthcare professional.
Seek medical advice if you develop worsening redness, significant swelling, increasing pain, warmth, pus or foul-smelling drainage, fever, red streaks, or other signs of infection or an allergic reaction.
Your tattoo artist can provide aftercare guidance, but they cannot diagnose or treat medical conditions.
Your Tattoo Will Thank You
Good aftercare is simple: keep it clean, keep it lightly moisturized, don't pick at it, and protect it from unnecessary irritation and sun exposure.
If you have questions about how your tattoo is healing, contact the shop and we'll be happy to help with aftercare guidance.
Take care of your tattoo, and it'll take care of looking good for years to come.