Tattoo After-care Guidance

Initial care

Keep the cling film on for 2-4 hours, second skin for 6-12 hours. You can take it off when you get home, or an equally clean and safe environment.

Always take second skin off under warm, running water. Pull the corner back across the skin (like a command strip) in the direction of hair growth. Never pull upward or away from the body, as this creates traction and hurts.

Give your tattoo a gentle wash with mild, unscented, antibacterial soap under running, lukewarm water. Pat dry with clean paper towel or allow to air-dry. Do not rub.

Treat your tattoo like an open wound — it is one.

Fineline & small tattoos

Fineline tattoos need considerably light aftercare. Main things to focus on: keeping it clean, avoiding friction and over-handling. After giving the tattoo a wash, apply a thin layer of moisturiser twice daily for approx. 2 weeks.

Colour, blackwork, & large projects

Keep your tattoo clean and dry for the initial 2-3 days.

Expect redness, swelling, and tenderness. Your tattoo may feel warm or slightly raised, and you might notice a clear fluid (plasma) forming a thin layer over the ink.

From day 3-4 onwards, your skin will start scabbing, creating a natural barrier. From then onwards, start applying a thin layer of moisturiser twice a day. Don't over-moisturise. Your body heals the tattoo, not the lotion. The moisturiser is for keeping your skin from drying out too much and keeping the healing tattoo more comfortable. Too much moisture suffocates the skin and can lead to raised lines or faded ink. Expect peeling, flaking and itching as the tattoo heals.

Full healing for blackwork, particularly large, densely filled pieces, takes longer than for lighter tattoos. Surface healing wraps up within the standard 2-4 weeks window, but the deeper dermal healing can take around 6 months for heavily worked pieces. The skin continues to settle during this period, and the final appearance of the tattoo develops gradually. Wait until the tattoo is fully healed around 3-6 months for a touch-up. What looks like an uneven area at 2 months may have filled in further by month 4.

Further guidance for heavy blackwork healing :

What to expect during recovery

How to heal a blackwork tattoo

Signs of infection to watch out for: Bleeding scabs, pus or increasing swelling, redness and pain (usually from day 2-3 onwards). At these signs, contact your health practitioner, and let your tattoo artist know.

Moisturiser

Use a mild, unscented moisturiser, preferably oil-based, not water-based.

Examples: Cocoa butter or tattoo balms from brands like Stories & Ink, Biotat, Inkeeze, Tattoo Goo etc. No Vaseline or Bepanthen. Boycott Hustle Butter (pro-Israel).

Everyone’s skin (and every tattoo) is different. In general, most scabbing will disappear within approx. 2 weeks.

During the healing process:

Do not pick at the scabbing. Let the flakes fall of naturally.

Do not soak the tattoo in water (no baths, swimming, saunas etc.).

Do not expose the tattoo to dirty or dusty environments.

Avoid direct sunlight at all costs (no sunscreen on your fresh tattoo).

Try your best to keep straight any tattooed bendy areas like the inner elbows, wrists, back of the knee etc.

Avoid tight, scratchy clothing, and trauma to the skin.

Contact your artist with any questions or worries you might have.

Not following these steps can increase risk of infection, as well as cause fading or scarring.

To maintain your tattoo after the healing process, keep your skin moisturised and avoid sunburns.

Always wear sunscreen!!