Tattoo Aftercare

How you look after your new tattoo in the first weeks decides how well it heals and how it looks for years. This is our general guide.

Your artist's advice comes first. You will be given aftercare instructions for your own tattoo. If anything here is different from what your artist told you, follow your artist. This page is general guidance and not medical advice.

The first day

• Leave the covering on for as long as your artist tells you.
• Wash your hands before you touch your tattoo, every time.
• When you take the covering off, rinse the tattoo gently with lukewarm water and a mild, fragrance-free soap. Use your fingertips, not a cloth or sponge.
• Pat it dry with clean paper towel, or let it air dry. Do not rub.

The first two weeks

• Wash gently once or twice a day, and dry it fully each time.
• Apply a very thin layer of the fragrance-free moisturiser or aftercare balm your artist recommends. It should not look shiny or feel greasy. Too much stops the skin breathing.
• Wear loose, clean, soft clothing over the area.
• Do not pick, scratch or peel. Flaking and itching are normal, and picking can pull ink out and cause scars.
• Keep the tattoo out of the sun and away from sunbeds.
• Avoid baths, swimming pools, the sea, hot tubs and saunas. Showers are fine.
• Go easy on heavy exercise and anything that makes the area sweat or rub for the first few days.
• Avoid shaving over the tattoo until it has fully healed.

What is normal

• Redness, tenderness and slight swelling for the first few days.
• A little clear or slightly coloured fluid in the first day or two.
• Dry, flaky or itchy skin in the second week, a bit like mild sunburn peeling.
• A cloudy or dull look for a while after the flaking. The colour settles as the deeper skin heals.

When to get advice

Contact a doctor or call NHS 111 if you notice any of these, and tell us too:

• Redness that spreads or gets worse after the first few days
• Increasing pain, heat or swelling
• Pus, a bad smell, or a rash that spreads
• A fever or feeling unwell

Healing time

The surface usually looks healed in two to four weeks. The skin underneath can take longer to settle completely. Keep looking after it during that time.

Once it has healed

• Use sun cream (SPF 30 or higher) on the tattoo whenever it is in the sun. Sun is the biggest cause of fading.
• Keep the skin moisturised.
• A free or discounted touch-up may be offered at the artist's discretion within three months. Please read the touch-up section of our Terms & Conditions, which explains when a fee applies.

Questions?

If you are unsure about anything, get in touch and send a photo if you can. We would rather hear from you early. New to tattoos? Read our guide to your first tattoo.