Tattoo Aftercare

Congrats, You got a sick tattoo, you're excited and tired, and by the time you're home, you've forgotten everything your tattoo artist said about aftercare. Don't worry, I got you! Now you gotta take good care of it so it doesn't fall off!* Just kidding, it's not going anywhere. It's in there, but it is possible to damage it during healing, which can result in damage to the design.

There are generally two ways to mess up the healing process:

You over care! You touch it all the time, smother it with cream so it never dries out, wash it too much, rub it too much—just doing way too much! Tone it down. Your body knows how to heal itself; you basically just want to get out of its way so it can do its job.

You neglect it! You forget to wash it so it can breathe. You wear clothes that rub against your skin and irritate it. You go to the gym and pick up bacteria, and the bacteria loves your warm irritated skin! Luckily, it's really not that hard to take care of a tattoo. I'll walk you through it.

Some tattoos bleed a lot, some barely bleed at all. It all depends on how much surface and wound there is. The main difference is how often you will need to wash it. If you're still unsure after these instructions, please reach out to your tattoo artist—they want your tattoo to heal well!

Skin is skin, so it's the same for most placements. Unless you got very specific instructions, you can follow this guide. Examples of unusual placements are palms and scalp.

These are general guidelines! Every tattoo artist has a different approach, so consult your artist if you're in doubt.

Aftercare Instructions:

Your tattoo artist have likely applied a barrier. Most commonly plastic wrap or second skin (derma wrap)*. Some tattoos can keep second skin on for up to 5 days. It depends on the amount of wound care your tattoo will need. Your artist should tell you how long it's safe to keep on. A bit of blood is expected, but if it's a whole bubble, you should clean it after the first 24 hours. You should keep plastic on for the first night.

Day 1: The Morning After Your Tattoo Session

1. When you get up in the morning, check your tattoo. Has the second skin rolled up or is it compromised in any other way? If it's in place, just let it be. You should keep it covered for the first 24 hours at minimum. If your tattoo is exposed or water can get under the second skin, you need to take it off and care for it.

2. Wash your hands before interacting with your tattoo. Don't skip this—it's basic wound care.

3. Take off plastic carefully. Be aware of spreading blood and ink. To take off second skin, pull away from the body slowly. Not along the skin, but outwards at a 90-degree angle. This way you don't pull open any scab or wound.

4. Wash your tattoo with a flat palm. You can stick with lukewarm/cold water. Warm water might be painful. Putting soap in the wound can irritate it, so just skip that. You want to get all dried blood, ink, and plasma off. Keep gently circling with your hand until it's squeaky clean.

5. Air dry or pat gently with a clean towel or t-shirt.

6. If it's been less than 24 hours, cover it with some plastic again and start over from step 3 around the 24-hour mark.

7. Leave it to dry out for the next 24 hours—no cream just yet!

Days 2 and 3:

1. After 24 hours, wash it again using the same method as Day 1. Wash your hands every time, before and after you interact with your tattoo.

2. When it's dry, you can apply a thin layer of panthenol (or Aquaphor, coconut oil etc. I personally always recommend a panthenol-based cream). Make sure it's no more than you would put on your face, if it was indeed your face cream.

3. Leave it! Don't pick at it, don't wear clothes which rub against the area. If something hurts your tattoo, stop it. It's important not to irritate it.

4. If it's a bold tattoo, stay out of the gym! You don't want to pick up bacteria or leave blood behind, which is a hazard to others in the space.

Days 4-14:

1. Keep applying panthenol or similar product once or twice a day. THIN layer. It's important not to smother it. The skin needs to breathe for it to heal evenly.

2. Your goal these next two weeks or until it's surface healed, is to keep it clean and unbothered.

3. Most tattoos start getting itchy around this time. DO NOT scratch it. Scratching, even over the plastic, can hinder healing under the skin, prolonging the process. If you must do something, slap it gently to satisfy your need to scratch.

4. No irritating sun exposure. No lying in the sun, tanning, beach, etc. If you must be outside, cover it.

5. Don't submerge it in any body of water. That means no swimming, no hot tubs, no spas. Basically no stagnant water, which can carry bacteria and possibly lead to an infection.

6. Don't go to the gym or the club with an uncovered tattoo.

7. Don't do anything to irritate it. Irritation itself can lead to an infection.

8. Try not to let babies or pets crawl on or lick your tattoo. Dogs (and babies?) can be attracted to blood!

Some tattoos heal quickly! When it's surface healed, you can stop the intensive care. Surface healed means there's no scab left—when you run your finger over it, it feels like regular skin. Even though it feels like you're done, your tattoo is not yet fully healed. There's a lot more going on underneath the skin. It typically takes twice as long for the tattoo to fully heal and settle as it does for the surface healing. For example: 2 weeks of surface healing equals 4 weeks of healing in total. In some cases, it can take 6 weeks or longer for a tattoo to fully heal. It's more likely if it's a large wound or has been compromised during surface healing.

It's advised to use sunscreen on your tattoos after they've surface healed, especially during the first month or two while it's settling. The sun will age your tattoo faster.

It's expected for your tattoo to be a bit red and sensitive the first couple of days, but if it's still red around your tattoo around day 4 and it's getting irritated, you need to assess the situation. Figure out what could be causing it. Wash it (with clean hands) and moisturize it once or twice a day until it calms down. If you must use a soap, only use anti-bacterial soap with a pH around 6-6,5.

If there's a white/yellowy goo on your tattoo, it's likely plasma. Plasma is necessary for the healing process. As long as it's not painful, don't freak out—it's supposed to be there. Let it be!

If you suspect your tattoo is infected, contact your tattoo artist. Most infections can be treated with antibiotic soap and moisturizing. An infection will be tender, painful, and warm to the touch. If it's really bad, you should contact your doctor and get antibiotics.

Tattoos can always be touched up, so there's for need to panic, in any situation!

Just pay attention to what your body needs, and let it do its job of healing your tattoo.

Good luck!

Pro Tips:

Protect your bed with dark sheets, or wear a dark t-shirt or other clothing that covers the tattoo. Often tattoos bleed while you sleep, and sometimes it escapes the plastic. So catch the blood with some fabric.

If you've taken the plastic off, be aware of getting stuck to the bed sheets. If this happens, don't rip yourself loose! Gently pick up the fabric you're attached to and go into your shower. Using lukewarm water, rinse until you're free! Then give it a gentle wash and resume aftercare.