Aftercare5 min read
The tattoo you leave with and the tattoo you have in a month are not the same thing. How a piece is cared for in the first few weeks affects sharpness, colour and whether a touch-up is needed at all.
Days one to three are about cleanliness. Keep the covering on for as long as you were told, then wash gently with clean hands and unscented soap, pat dry, and apply a thin layer of the recommended ointment. Thin is the key word — smothering a fresh tattoo traps moisture and softens the lines.
Days four to fourteen bring flaking and itching. This is normal and it is also the stage where tattoos are most often damaged. Do not pick, scratch or peel anything off; let the skin shed on its own schedule. Swap to a light unscented moisturiser once the flaking starts, and keep the area out of pools, baths, saunas and the ocean.
Weeks three and four look finished but are not. The deeper layers are still settling, which is why a tattoo can briefly look cloudy or dull before it clears. Keep moisturising, keep it out of direct sun, and start using sunscreen on it once it is fully healed — UV exposure is the main reason tattoos fade over time.
Once your piece has fully healed, bring it in. If a touch-up is appropriate it is carried out complimentary, and a healed tattoo is the only fair way to judge whether one is needed.
