Aftercare
Tattoo Aftercare
How to heal your new tattoo so it stays sharp for years.
The next two weeks decide how your tattoo looks for the rest of your life. Follow these steps, and if your artist gave you different instructions, go with your artist.
The first few hours
- Leave the wrap on for as long as your artist told you. Plastic wrap usually comes off after a few hours. A clear adhesive film (like Saniderm or Second Skin) can stay on for several days.
- Wash your hands first, every time you touch your tattoo.
- Remove the wrap and wash gently with lukewarm water and a mild, fragrance-free soap. Use your fingertips, not a washcloth or loofah.
- Pat dry with a clean paper towel, then let it air-dry for a few minutes.
Days 1 to 14
- Wash 2 to 3 times a day the same way: clean hands, lukewarm water, fragrance-free soap, pat dry.
- Moisturize lightly. After washing, rub in a thin layer of fragrance-free lotion or the aftercare product your artist recommended. It should look slightly shiny, not greasy. Too much can clog the skin and slow healing.
- Expect peeling and itching around days 3 to 7. It's normal and means it's healing.
- Don't pick, scratch, or peel the flakes. Pulling them off can pull ink out with them. If it itches, lightly tap it instead.
- Wear loose, clean clothing over it. Tight fabric rubs and sticks.
For the first 2 weeks, avoid
- Soaking it: no ocean, pool, river, hot tub, or bath. Quick showers are fine. Yes, that includes the beach. Living on the Space Coast makes this the hardest rule, but it's the one that matters most.
- Direct sun. Keep it covered, and skip sunscreen until it's fully healed.
- Tanning beds, heavy sweating, and gym equipment touching the tattoo.
- Letting pets sleep against it.
After it's healed
- Use SPF 30 or higher whenever it's in the sun. Sun is the main reason tattoos fade.
- Keep the skin moisturized. Healthy skin keeps lines crisp and color bright.
When to get help
Some redness, swelling, and tenderness for the first couple of days is normal. See a doctor if you notice redness that keeps spreading, the area getting hotter or more painful after the first 48 hours, pus or a bad smell, or a fever. Then let us know too.
Questions while you heal? Call or text us at (321) 577-3747. Send a photo and your artist will take a look.
This is general aftercare guidance, not medical advice.