Tattoo Aftercare
Proper aftercare is essential to protect your investment and preserve the detail of your new artwork. Follow these tried and true guidelines for optimal healing.
Products
Notice
Any tattoo-specific aftercare products work fine. If you choose those, just remember to be consistent and stick to their own directions.
Using the wrong products can put your new artwork at risk, so here are my tried and true recommendations:
Dial Gold
Antibacterial Soap
Any unscented, antibacterial soap will work. However, it is sometimes hard to tell if a soap has added ingredients or chemicals. You can trust this soap for cleaning your new tattoo.
Aquaphor
Or A&D Ointment
A&D ointment also works. Use as a protective barrier to keep out bacteria while your tattoo is still raw. Usually 2-3 days.
Lubriderm
Daily Moisture Lotion
Many lotions work. Some lotions will ruin your tattoo. Lubriderm is cheap and accessible so don't overthink it. Just buy some Lubriderm which you will use to keep your tattoo hydrated after you are done using Aquaphor.
General Timeline
Week 1
Your tattoo will be weepy, oozy, sore, and swollen. The tattoo area will heal a little more each day and begin to scab over.
Week 2
Your tattoo will begin to get dry and start to peel, similar to a bad sunburn. You will probably start to get itchy as hell and feel like a reptile.
Weeks 3–4
You will likely still be itchy and dry and the tattoo may look cloudy as the scabs are flaking off. Your body is still repairing the skin even after the peeling and flaking stops. At this point it is mostly healed.
Second Skin
Leave On Overnight
Leave on your second skin through the night. If you want to shower after the appointment that's fine. It should stay on no problem.
Shower Removal
The day after your tattoo, remove the second skin in the shower. Peel it off slowly, carefully, and with warm water running over it to loosen the adhesive.
Early Peeling / Leaks
If at any point in the first 24 hours you do notice any leaking or it is peeling off by itself, remove it as soon as you are able to clean the tattoo.
First Few Days
Tattoos hurt just like any other injury. The first couple days it may be red, sore, and bruised. This is nothing to worry about.
- Hour 1–2
Unwrap & first wash
If you are returning home to relax after your session (as you should) and not using second skin, remove the saran wrap after an hour or two and clean it for the first time.
- Right after
Let it breathe
After applying Aquaphor just let it air out, but be careful not to touch or irritate it as this can lead to infection or poor healing.
- Tonight
Clean sheets
Use clean sheets! When sleeping, try not to press the new tattoo into the bed.
If you really need to protect your sheets, you can re-wrap the tattoo with saran wrap and medical tape for the first night. Make sure it is clean, dry, and Aquaphored before doing so.
- Next morning
Unwrap & clean
As soon as you wake up take off the wrap and clean the tattoo.
Plans after your session?
If you have other activities planned (not ideal) like going out to dinner or something, you can leave the saran wrap on for a few hours, but make sure to prioritize giving it the first clean ASAP as the first couple days pose the biggest risk for infection.
Not sure? Ask me
If you have no choice but to go somewhere not very clean or feel the need to re-wrap your tattoo after the first night, please consult me and I'll help you decide the best course of action.
Cleaning & Moisturizing
- Wash it
- 2–3× a day
- With
- Hand only
- Then
- Pat, don't rub
Cleaning
Step 1You should wash your tattoo 2-3x per day (or more if you have exposed it to anything unsanitary: use your judgement) until it is dry to the touch and begins to peel/flake.
Wash it with warm water, your antibacterial soap, and your hand only. Keep your cleanings as short as possible so the tattoo doesn't get soggy.
For the first couple days, tattoos leak a lot and hurt a lot when you clean them. This is okay but you gotta tough it out because it is crucial to clean all the goop off of the tattoo.
Once the tattoo has formed its protective scab layer, doing a very gentle once-over with the antibacterial soap whenever you shower is fine. At this point it isn't worth getting the tattoo wet unnecessarily.
Moisturizing
Step 2Once out of the shower, pat the tattoo dry with a clean wash cloth. Paper towels work too but they can shed so not as ideal. Pat dry, do not rub it. Make sure you let the tattoo air dry a little longer before moisturizing.
If you are using Aquaphor, apply as thin a layer as possible to cover the tattoo. No more than that.
If you are using Lubriderm, make sure not to use too much and rub it in completely so there is not excess on the surface. Use it whenever the tattoo feels dry.
When to switch
~ Day 2–3
Switch from Aquaphor to Lubriderm once the tattoo is no longer an open wound. A thin and flaky scab layer will form and the tattoo will feel dry to the touch. This usually happens in 2-3 days, but everyone heals differently.
Dos and Don'ts
Do
- 01Listen to your artist
- 02Keep it exposed whenever possible
- 03Be careful to protect your tattoo from touching things
- 04Take it easy the first few days
- 05Moisturize whenever dry
- 06Use common sense
Don't
- 01Expose your tattoo to direct sunlight
- 02Submerge your tattoo in water
- 03Do any movements that cause pain to the tattoo site
- 04Use products not recommended for tattoo aftercare
- 05Pick your scabs or scratch your tattoo
Clothing & Itching
What to Wear
- Best
Nothing on it
Ideally you do not cover the tattoo with clothing at all.
- OK
Loose clothes
If you can't avoid it or will be in the sun, please wear loose clothes.
- Smart
Dark or old clothes
Keep in mind your tattoo will leak the first couple days so wearing something dark or that you don't care about might be a good idea.
- Avoid
Tight clothes
Irritation of the tattoo is harmful before it starts to scab, but tight clothing can also pull out scabs prematurely which will hurt the healing of the tattoo, so please be mindful of what you choose to wear for the first couple of weeks.
Don't scratch.
Do not under any circumstances scratch your tattoo or pick at the scabs / flakes! This can ruin your art.
When it hits
When your tattoo heals, especially at the height of the peeling stage, it may become intensely itchy. This usually begins within a week and can last for a few more.
What helps
- Slap it lightly
- Moisturize when dry
Some find relief by lightly slapping their tattoo. Moisturizing the tattoo when it is dry also helps.
Is It Healed Yet?
Surface Healed
The tattoo will probably be mostly healed and normal activities such as swimming can resume. This is the stage where all of the scabs have flaked off.
Ready for Touch-ups
After about a month, we can consider the tattoo to be healed. It can now be touched up or added to.
Deep Healing
To fully heal the deeper layers of skin takes about 3 months and at this point you can be confident your tattoo is as healed as it will get.
Artist Note
Keep in mind these are general timelines and not everyone heals the same. If you have any questions at all about the healing process please do not hesitate to reach out to me. It is always best to be conservative as your tattoo is for life!