Aftercare.

You are leaving the studio with the tattoo already covered. Leave the covering exactly as it is — the method you were given today decides when and how it comes off. A little blood, plasma, and ink under the covering is normal. That is the body starting to heal, not a problem.

Once the covering is off, keeping the tattoo clean is the single most important habit of the first two weeks.

• Wash with clean hands only — never a washcloth, loofah, or sponge.
• Use lukewarm water and a fragrance-free, antibacterial soap.
• Work gently with your fingertips to lift away plasma, ink, or ointment. No scrubbing.
• Rinse fully, then pat dry with a clean paper towel. Do not rub, and skip shared cloth towels — they hold bacteria.
• Wash 2–3 times a day for the first week or two.

Healthy skin heals cleaner and holds detail better. The goal is a thin film of moisture, not a thick coat.

• Apply a thin layer of unscented healing ointment or fragrance-free lotion after each wash.
• Thin is the rule. Too much suffocates the skin and can cause breakouts that pull ink out.
• Keep it up 2–3 times a day until the surface is fully healed — usually 2–3 weeks.
• If the skin feels tight or looks dry between applications, add a little more, but only enough to take the dryness away.

Healing runs on its own schedule, and every body is a little different. Here is the normal arc — so you know what to expect, and what not to worry about.

1. Days 1–3

   Raw & weeping

   Redness, mild swelling, warmth, and tenderness. Some oozing of plasma and ink is normal, especially overnight.

2. Days 4–14

   Peeling & flaking

   Dries and sheds like a light sunburn. Itching is normal. Flakes may carry specks of color — let them fall on their own.

3. Weeks 2–4

   Surface closes

   The top layer seals over. The tattoo can look shiny, cloudy, or waxy while the deeper skin keeps healing.

4. 1–3 months

   Fully settled

   Surface healed in 4–6 weeks. The deeper layers settle completely over the following two to three months.

For the first 2–4 weeks, until the surface is fully healed:

• Scratching, picking, or peeling. Let every flake and scab come off on its own — picking pulls ink and leaves gaps.
• Soaking the tattoo. No pools, ocean, baths, hot tubs, or saunas. Quick showers are fine.
• Direct sun and tanning beds. UV on fresh ink fades and damages it fast.
• Tight, dirty, or rough clothing rubbing against the area.
• Heavy sweating and intense workouts for the first few days.
• Re-shaving the area until it is fully healed.

A little redness, warmth, and clear fluid in the first few days is part of normal healing. The signs below are not — if you notice them, contact a doctor.

Once you are healed, a few habits keep the piece sharp for years. For black & grey work, the sun is the single biggest threat — UV breaks down ink and flattens the contrast that gives the tattoo its depth.

• Use SPF 30+ on the tattoo any time it is in the sun — for life, not just while healing.
• Keep the skin moisturized. Hydrated skin holds linework and contrast crisper for longer.
• Look after your skin in general — the tattoo ages with it.
• Black & grey pieces occasionally need a small touch-up over the years. If you want one, reach out.

Healing is half the work. The linework and contrast you walked out with only stay that sharp if the heal is clean — so follow these steps and let the skin do the rest. Thank you for trusting the process.