Tattoo Aftercare Guide

How you look after a new tattoo in the first few weeks has a big effect on how it heals and how it looks once it settles. This guide covers the basics. Your artist's instructions for your specific piece always come first, so follow whatever they tell you on the day over anything written here.

Right after your session

Your artist will cover your fresh tattoo with a dressing before you leave. Leave it in place for as long as they tell you, this varies depending on the dressing used and the piece itself. When it is time to take it off, remove it gently under warm running water rather than peeling it away from the skin.

Washing

• Wash the area gently, twice a day, for as long as your artist recommends.
• Use a mild, fragrance-free soap. Anything heavily scented or harsh can irritate healing skin.
• Use warm water, not hot. Hot water can strip the skin and draw out more colour than it should.
• Pat the area dry with a clean towel. Do not rub it.

Moisturising

Once the area is clean and dry, apply a thin layer of a fragrance-free moisturiser. The aim is to keep the skin comfortable and supple, not to smother it. A thick, heavy layer can trap moisture against the skin and slow healing rather than help it, so less is more here.

What to avoid while it heals

• Swimming pools, baths, spas and the ocean, all of these carry a higher risk of infection on open or healing skin.
• Direct sun on the tattoo. Cover it up or keep it out of the sun entirely while it heals.
• Picking, scratching or peeling any scabs. Let them come off on their own.
• Tight clothing that rubs against or traps the area.
• Heavy gym sessions straight after your tattoo, sweat and friction are not what healing skin needs early on.

How long healing takes

The surface of most tattoos heals over in roughly two to four weeks. The skin underneath keeps settling for longer than that, sometimes a few months, before the tattoo has properly finished healing. Colour and linework can look slightly different once it is fully settled compared to how it looks in the first couple of weeks, that is normal.

Looking after it long term

Once your tattoo is fully healed, sunscreen over the area whenever it is exposed helps keep linework crisp and colour from fading over the years. It is one of the simplest things you can do to keep a tattoo looking sharp long after the healing process is done.

When to call us, and when to see a doctor

If your tattoo is not healing the way you expected, or something does not look right, call us on (02) 4257 8288 and we will talk you through it.

See a doctor if you notice signs of infection: redness that is spreading rather than settling, heat coming off the area, swelling that is getting worse rather than better after a few days, any pus or discharge, or a fever. These are not normal parts of healing and are worth getting checked properly.

Your artist's instructions for your specific piece always come first. If anything about your healing does not match what you expect, ring the shop on (02) 4257 8288 rather than guessing.