Below are the studio's aftercare recommendations for a fresh piece. These are general practical tips, not medical advice.
These are the studio's aftercare recommendations, not medical advice. If you notice signs of inflammation, a fever, severe pain or a rash, see a doctor.
ContentsThe artist covers the tattoo with protective film or a sterile pad. Keep it on for as long as the artist tells you — usually a few hours. In the first hours redness, swelling and a sensation of burned skin are possible. This is a normal reaction to a session and it gradually subsides.
Carefully remove the film with clean hands (do not pull it off sharply; if needed, wet the edge with warm water) and pat the tattoo dry with a clean soft pad. In the first hours do not apply a thick cream: the skin needs to breathe.
The first 3–5 days are the period of active healing. The tattoo may look brighter and slightly swollen, and by the evening feel tight. The main thing during this time: cleanliness, gentle washing 2–3 times a day and a thin layer of moisturiser.
With warm water and a mild soap without fragrances or scrubs. Move over the tattoo with your fingertips, without a washcloth and without rubbing. After washing, pat it dry with a clean disposable towel or pad — do not rub.
A thin layer of a neutral cream or the healing product the artist recommended. Remove any excess with a pad: a thick crust from too much cream only gets in the way. Moisturise 2–3 times a day while the skin feels tight.
For the first two weeks: steam rooms and saunas, sunbeds, intense sun, pools and open water, peels and cosmetic treatments in the area of the tattoo. Do not soak the tattoo, do not scratch or pick off the scabs, and do not put alcohol solutions or decorative cosmetics on healing skin.
A shower is fine; a bath or a pool is not during the first two weeks. Do not direct a strong jet of water at the tattoo and do not rub it with a washcloth. After the shower, pat the tattoo dry, let it dry a little, then apply a thin layer of the product.
For the first 2–3 days it is better to skip intense training. After that — without direct friction or stretching of the tattooed area, and shower right after the workout. Sweat and contact with gym equipment increase the risk of irritating a fresh tattoo.
A pool, the sea, a lake, a bathhouse or a sauna — at least two weeks, and better until the tattoo has fully healed. Any contaminated water irritates a fresh tattoo. If a trip cannot be moved, cover the area with waterproof film and do not keep it under water for long.
Direct sun on a healing tattoo is undesirable: fresh pigment fades and the skin gets burned. Cover the tattoo with clothing and, from week 3–4, use a cream with SPF 30+. Sunbeds are ruled out until the tattoo has fully healed.
Wear loose cotton so the fabric does not rub the tattooed area. Synthetics, tight elastic bands and rough seams on healing skin cause irritation. Change your bedding more often during the first month: clean fabric lowers the risk of contamination.
In 3–7 days the tattoo will start to peel and thin grey flakes will appear. This is normal: the skin is renewing. Do not pick or scratch them off — let them come away on their own. Itching during this period is normal too.
Redness and swelling in the first days, mild soreness, peeling, itching, a temporary loss of line sharpness, a slightly faded look once the flakes come off. Contrast and detail gradually return: the tattoo reaches its final look in 4–6 weeks.
Write to the artist if anything about the healing worries you: the tattoo looks dull after the flakes come off, noticeable defects remain, or you need advice on aftercare. If signs of infection appear — severe pain, growing swelling, fever, pus or an allergic rash — see a doctor and write to the artist.
Full healing takes 4–6 weeks, longer for large pieces. Even when the skin looks healthy, the deeper layers are still recovering. After that the care is simple: moisturising, SPF on exposed areas and being kind to your skin keep the tattoo looking good for years.
Message the artist — He will tell you what to do in your case.