Take care of your tattoo
A well cared for tattoo heals better and keeps its blacks for years.
Step by step
- First hours
Remove the wrap and clean
Keep the film or wrap on for as long as I told you in the session. When you take it off, wash your hands and clean the tattoo with lukewarm water and mild fragrance-free soap. Pat dry with a paper towel.
- Days 1 to 3
Wash and moisturize
Wash the tattoo 2 to 3 times a day and apply a very thin layer of fragrance-free healing cream. It's normal for it to feel tender, a little swollen and to weep some ink or plasma.
- Days 4 to 14
Peeling and itching
The skin starts to flake and itch: this is a normal part of healing. Don't scratch or pick at scabs, let them fall off on their own. Keep moisturizing lightly.
- Weeks 3 to 4
The skin finishes healing
The area may look shiny or milky while it finishes regenerating. Keep it moisturized and still avoid direct sun.
- Forever
Sunscreen
Use SPF 50 sunscreen on the tattoo whenever you're in the sun. It's the single best way to keep blacks and lines crisp over the years.
Do
- Wash your hands before touching the tattoo.
- Use lukewarm water and mild fragrance-free soap.
- Apply thin layers of cream: too much keeps the skin from breathing.
- Wear loose, clean clothing over the area.
- Sleep on clean sheets for the first nights.
Avoid
- Pools, the sea, baths, saunas and steam rooms for 2 to 3 weeks.
- Direct sun and tanning beds until it has healed.
- Scratching, rubbing or picking scabs.
- Intense exercise with friction or heavy sweating on the area in the first days.
- Creams or lotions with fragrance or alcohol.
When to see a doctor
See a health professional if after the third day the redness spreads or gets worse, or if you notice strong heat, pus, a bad smell, fever or pain that keeps increasing. Message me too so we can check it together.
This is general guidance. If I gave you different instructions in the session, for example for a second-skin film, follow those.