Tattoo After-Care

Tattoo Aftercare Guide

Aftercare starts as soon as your tattoo is done! A tattoo is more than just a piece of art and a way to assert your personal style. It’s a medical procedure too, because the artist uses a needle to insert the ink underneath your skin. Figuring out how to care for your tattoo can be tricky, though.

 Day of Tattoo

1. Keep tattoo dressing on for 2-4 hours(if tattoo done late at night, may leave on overnight).Once the covering comes off, you’ll probably notice fluid oozing from the tattoo. This is blood, plasma, and some extra ink. It’s normal. Your skin will also be red and sore/swollen. It might feel slightly warm to the touch.

2. After removing the covering, wash your hands with water and soap. Then gently wash the tattoo with warm water and fragrance-free soap (Example: Dial Gold). Pat your skin dry with a paper towel.

3. Apply a small amount of fragrance-free and alcohol-free moisturizer to the tattoo. Deeply rub in the moisturizer. Your skin should be soft, but not wet. Leave the covering off at this point to let your skin breathe.

First Week

1. Tattoo may appear dull/cloudy, or some scabs may form. This is natural healing by your skin.

2. Wash your tattoo 2-3 times a day, pat drying completely. Apply fragrance-free,alcohol-free moisturizer(tattoo aftercare ointment) after every wash, pat dry any excess moisturizer. You do not want a visible layer of moisturizer to sit on the surface of the tattoo.

Second Week to Month

1. Scabs may harden and skin will flake off, tattoo will become itchy. Do not pick at or scratch at tattoo! Let them come off naturally. Otherwise, you could pull out the ink and leave scars.

2. Continue the routine of moisturizing the tattoo 1-2 times a day.

3. If the tattoo dries up, apply moisturizer as necessary throughout the day.

4. For the entire month, do not submerge your tattoo under water (This includes swimming). Shower is fine. Submerging your tattoo can cause the pores in your skin to open allowing the ink to seep out.

Permanent - After First Month

​Continue to apply a moisturizer to tattoos semi-regularly to keep the tattoo in the best shape(a moisturizer like Aquaphor works best). Keep tattoo out of harsh, direct sunlight as best as possible, and always apply sunscreen to tattoos when spending time outdoors.