After the session
Aftercare day by day
A fresh tattoo is a clean wound. The first two weeks decide how sharp it stays. If the studio gives you its own aftercare advice, that always takes priority over this article.
The first hours
Leave the covering on for as long as the tattoo artist says. With film or paper that is usually a few hours; for a special dressing that can stay on longer, you’ll get separate instructions. Wash your hands before you remove the covering. If it sticks, wet it with lukewarm water and don’t pull.
Then wash the tattoo with lukewarm water and a mild, fragrance-free soap. Use your fingers, not a washcloth or sponge. Pat dry with clean kitchen paper. Towels are often less clean than they look and can leave fluff.
Day 1 to 3
Fluid, some ink and a warm, tight feeling are normal. Wash the tattoo twice a day and then apply a thin layer of the recommended cream or ointment. Thin is the key word: the skin still needs to breathe. A thick, shiny layer traps moisture and can soften scabs. Most sources advise against Vaseline while the skin is still open.
Sleep on clean bedding the first nights, ideally an old sheet. If the tattoo sticks to the fabric, don’t pull it off; wet it first.
Day 4 to 14
Now the itching starts, and then the peeling. Don’t scratch and don’t pick. A scab that comes off too early can take ink with it, and later you’ll see that as a light patch. Tapping with clean fingers or briefly holding a clean cold compress over your clothing helps against the itch. Keep moisturising thinly twice a day.
During this period avoid swimming pools, saunas, baths, the sea and long showers. A short shower is fine. See also sport, swimming and sun.
Week 3 and 4
The top layer is usually calm. The tattoo may look a bit dull or milky. That is normal: there is still a thin layer of new skin over the ink, and the image often becomes clearer again in the weeks after. Keep moisturising when the skin feels dry.
Month 2 to 6
On the outside everything is closed, but the deeper skin layers are still at work. That’s why large pieces can need months before they are fully settled. Do you then see a spot where a line is slightly broken? That can happen during healing. Take a photo in good light and send it to the studio, and the tattoo artist will check whether a touch-up is needed.
When to call someone
See a doctor if you have a fever or chills, pain that gets worse instead of better, skin that feels hot, pus or a bad smell, or red streaks or redness that spreads. Don’t wait in that case. Bumps or itching that last a long time, or that even appear months later, can point to an allergic reaction; that is also something for a doctor. Let the studio know afterwards what happened.
What you’d better not do
No perfume, alcohol or scented body lotion on the fresh skin, and no scrub or peeling nearby. Don’t squeeze anything and don’t remove scabs. Don’t aim the shower straight at the tattoo at full power. Don’t wear tight clothing over the spot, and protect it from rubbing by bags, belts and shoes. If you have pets, keep them out of bed for the first days: you don’t want hair and saliva on an open wound. If you have questions later, send a photo to the studio. That is quicker and clearer than searching the internet, and you’ll get an answer that fits your tattoo.
Frequently asked
How often should I wash my tattoo?
Usually twice a day with lukewarm water and mild, fragrance-free soap, until the skin has closed. Follow the advice you get at the studio.
Is it OK if a scab forms?
Thin scabs can form. Let them come off by themselves, because picking can take ink with it.
My tattoo looks dull after three weeks. Is that bad?
No, that is a known stage. The new layer of skin makes the image look a bit milky for a while.
Sources
General information, not medical or legal advice. Aftercare advice from the studio comes first.