Look after it
Aftercare, kept simple
Your artist will talk you through aftercare for your specific piece on the day. This is the general guidance that applies to most fresh tattoos.
The first two weeks
Five habits for a clean heal
Keep it clean
Wash your tattoo gently once or twice a day with lukewarm water and a mild, unfragranced soap. Pat dry with clean kitchen roll, never a shared towel.
Moisturise, thinly
Apply a thin layer of unfragranced moisturiser or the aftercare product your artist recommends, two or three times a day. More is not better: the skin needs to breathe.
Hands off
Itching and light flaking are normal. Picking and scratching pull ink out and can scar, so leave every flake to fall in its own time.
Stay out of water and sun
Showers are fine. Baths, swimming pools, saunas and sunbeds are not until the tattoo is fully healed. Once healed, high factor sunscreen keeps the colour bright for years.
Dress for it
Loose, clean clothing over the area for the first week or two. Avoid tight waistbands, straps or anything that rubs the fresh tattoo.
If something does not look right
A fresh tattoo can be warm, a little swollen and tender for the first couple of days. If redness spreads, the area becomes hot or painful, or you feel unwell, contact your artist straight away and consider speaking to a pharmacist or GP. Always follow the specific advice your artist gave you: it overrides anything on this page.
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