Skip to content

Knowledge

Knowledge

Twelve articles, written by us and checked against sources. They do not replace a doctor or advice from the studio.

  1. 01Preparing for your tattooBefore the sessionWhat to do in the days before and on the day itself: sleep, food, skin, clothing. That way you stay calm and your skin stays easy to work on.
  2. 02Aftercare day by dayAfter the sessionWhat to do in the first hours, the first days and the first weeks: covering, washing, moisturising, and when to get in touch.
  3. 03Healing week by weekAfter the sessionWhat a tattoo looks like while it heals: redness, itching, peeling, the dull phase. What is normal and what isn’t, up to six months after the session.
  4. 04How much does a tattoo hurt?Before the sessionAn honest answer: it varies by spot, by person and by technique. Which spots are sensitive, what helps and what you’d better avoid.
  5. 05What makes up the price of a tattooChoicesNo price list, but an explanation: what time, design, spot, technique and materials do to the price of a tattoo, and what you can ask beforehand.
  6. 06Cover-up: what works and what doesn’tChoicesCovering an old tattoo: what decides whether it works, why the new piece is bigger and darker, and when lasering first is a good idea.
  7. 07Age and consentRules and healthFrom what age a tattoo is allowed in Germany and in the Netherlands, what the law says about parents, and why you always bring your ID.
  8. 08Hygiene and rules in GermanyRules and healthWho supervises tattoo studios in Germany, which rules apply to ink, and what you can look out for yourself when you walk into a studio.
  9. 09Sport, swimming and sunAfter the sessionWhen you can exercise, swim and go in the sun again after a new tattoo, and how to keep a healed tattoo sharp with sun protection.
  10. 10Health: when to see a doctor firstRules and healthPregnancy, blood thinners, diabetes, skin conditions and allergies: when to talk to a doctor first, plus the waiting time for giving blood.
  11. 11Design and placementChoicesWhy size, spot and the shape of your body decide whether a design still holds up in ten years, and how to ask a tattoo artist a good question.
  12. 12Ink and colourChoicesWhat’s in tattoo ink, which European rules have applied since 2022, how black, grey and colour differ, and how colours change on the skin.

Healing curve

How a line heals

Slide through time. The line in the image is an example: this is how a fresh tattoo goes from swollen to sharp in six months.

  1. Day 0The session

    Warm, tight, fluid and some ink. Keep the covering on as long as the tattoo artist says, then wash with lukewarm water and pat dry.

  2. Day 3Moisturise thinly

    Wash twice a day, thin layer of cream. Sleep on clean bedding. No swimming or sun yet.

  3. Day 7Itching

    The wound closes. Don't scratch. Tapping with clean fingers helps. Leave scabs alone.

  4. Week 2Peeling

    Flakes with some ink are normal. Keep moisturising. Still no bath, swimming pool or sauna.

  5. Week 4Dull phase

    The skin is closed but the image looks milky. Wait and see. After that: sunscreen on exposed skin.

  6. Month 2Clearer

    The top layer has usually healed. Lines and dots come back sharper.

  7. Month 6Final result

    The deeper layers are usually settled too. Now you can judge whether a touch-up is needed.