A tattoo is an open wound as well as a piece of art. How you treat it over the next two weeks decides how sharp, bright and even it looks for the rest of your life. Follow the steps below — and if your artist gave you specific instructions at your appointment, their advice always takes precedence over any general guide.
The First 24 Hours
Your artist will cover the tattoo before you leave. What you do next depends on which dressing you were given:
- Standard wrap or cling film — leave it on for 2–4 hours, then remove it, wash the tattoo (see below) and let it air-dry before applying a thin layer of balm.
- Second skin film (a clear, breathable adhesive dressing) — leave it in place for 24 hours to 5 days as instructed. See Second Skin Film.
Some clear or slightly bloody fluid (plasma and excess ink) under the dressing is completely normal on day one. Sleep on clean sheets and, if you can, avoid lying directly on the tattoo.
Washing Your Tattoo
Wash the tattoo 2–3 times a day for the first two weeks — morning, evening, and after anything that makes you sweat or gets it dirty.
- Use lukewarm water — not hot, which opens pores and draws ink out.
- Use a fragrance-free antibacterial soap. Perfumed shower gels irritate healing skin.
- Wash with clean fingertips only — no flannels, sponges or loofahs, which harbour bacteria and scrub off scabs.
- Rinse thoroughly, then pat dry with a clean paper towel. Bath towels carry bacteria and catch on flaking skin.
- Let it air-dry for a few minutes before moisturising.
Showers are fine from day one. Baths are not — do not soak or submerge a healing tattoo.
Moisturising
After every wash, apply a very thin layer of tattoo balm or a fragrance-free moisturiser — just enough to make the skin look slightly satin, not wet or shiny.
Over-moisturising is the most common mistake we see. A thick layer suffocates the skin, traps bacteria and can cause spots, prolonged scabbing and patchy healing. If the tattoo looks greasy, you have used too much — dab the excess off with a clean paper towel.
What to use: a dedicated tattoo balm, or a simple unscented moisturiser. What to avoid: petroleum jelly, heavily perfumed lotions, and anything with alcohol or "cooling" additives.
Second Skin Film
If your tattoo was covered with a second-skin dressing, it is breathable and waterproof — you can shower with it on, and it protects the tattoo through the messiest stage of healing.
- Keep it on for the period your artist specified, typically 24 hours to 5 days.
- Fluid collecting under the film is normal. If it leaks, or a lot of fluid pools, remove the film early, wash the tattoo and continue with the standard routine.
- Remove it under warm running water — stretch and peel it back slowly and flat against the skin, like removing tape. Never rip it off dry.
- Wash the tattoo straight after removal, pat dry and apply a thin layer of balm.
If the skin around the film becomes red, itchy or bumpy, you may be reacting to the adhesive — remove it and switch to the standard routine.
Healing Timeline — What's Normal
Everyone heals differently, but most tattoos follow this pattern:
- Days 1–3 — FreshRedness, warmth, swelling and tenderness. Some clear fluid and excess ink. The tattoo looks bold and slightly raised.
- Days 4–7 — Flaking beginsThe surface dries and starts to peel like sunburn, often taking coloured flakes with it. Itching starts. This is the stage where picking ruins tattoos — hands off.
- Weeks 2–3 — The "dull" phaseFlaking finishes and the tattoo may look cloudy, dull or shiny. This is completely normal: it's a fresh layer of skin over the ink, and it settles.
- Weeks 4–6 — SettlingColour and contrast come back. The tattoo starts to look how it will look permanently.
- Months 2–3 — Fully healedThe deeper layers have finished repairing. This is the right time to assess whether any area needs a touch-up.
Do & Don't
Do
- Wash with clean hands, 2–3× a day
- Pat dry with clean paper towel
- Moisturise thinly after every wash
- Wear loose, clean clothing over it
- Sleep on freshly washed bedding
- Drink water and eat well — healing is a bodily process
Don't
- Pick, scratch or peel flaking skin
- Soak it — no baths, pools, sea, saunas or hot tubs (2–3 weeks)
- Expose it to direct sun or use sunbeds
- Let pets, dirty gym equipment or unwashed hands touch it
- Wear tight clothing that rubs the area
- Shave over it until fully healed
Exercise: light activity is fine after 48 hours, but avoid heavy sweating, stretching the area or anything that rubs against it until the flaking has finished.
Warning Signs — When to Get Help
Mild redness, warmth, swelling and tenderness in the first 2–3 days are a normal part of healing and should improve day by day. The signs to act on are the ones that get worse instead of better:
- Redness that spreads outward from the tattoo after day 3
- Pain or swelling that increases rather than settles
- Yellow or green discharge, or a foul smell
- The area feels hot to the touch
- Fever, chills or feeling unwell
- A rash, hives or blistering (possible reaction to a product or the dressing)
If you notice any of these, contact the studio and speak to a medical professional — your GP or NHS 111. Tattoo infections are uncommon and very treatable, but they need proper medical treatment, not aftercare advice. Caught early, they rarely affect the finished tattoo. We are tattoo artists, not doctors — for anything health-related, please get medical advice.
Message us on WhatsApp with a photo if you're unsure whether what you're seeing is normal — we would always rather look than have you worry.
Long-Term Care & Sun Protection
Once healed, a tattoo needs very little — but two habits decide how it ages:
- Sun protection. UV light is the single biggest cause of faded, blurred tattoos. Once fully healed, use SPF 30–50 on the tattoo whenever it is exposed. During healing, don't use sunscreen — cover the area with loose clothing instead.
- Moisturised skin. Well-hydrated skin keeps a tattoo looking crisp. A regular unscented moisturiser is enough.
Avoid sunbeds over tattooed skin entirely, and keep newly healed tattoos out of chlorine and salt water for the first month.
Piercing Aftercare
Piercings heal differently from tattoos — and much more slowly. Earlobes take around 6–8 weeks; cartilage, navel and most body piercings take 6–12 months to fully heal.
- Clean twice a day with a sterile saline solution — not alcohol, peroxide or tea tree oil, all of which damage healing tissue.
- Don't twist or rotate the jewellery. This is outdated advice that tears the healing channel.
- Leave the jewellery in place until the piercing has fully healed.
- Keep hair products, make-up and cosmetics away from the area, and change pillowcases regularly.
- Avoid swimming pools and submerging the piercing while it heals.
Some swelling, clear crusting and mild tenderness are normal for the first few weeks. The same warning signs listed above apply — if you suspect infection, seek medical advice.
Touch-Ups
We offer one free touch-up per tattoo, requested within 3 months of your session. It covers areas that healed unevenly through the tattooing process itself.
Touch-ups needed because of picking, sun damage or aftercare neglect are charged at the artist's standard rate. Hands, fingers, feet, lips and elbows heal inconsistently by nature and may need paid top-ups regardless of aftercare.
Wait until the tattoo is fully healed (2–3 months) before judging it — the dull phase in weeks 2–3 fools a lot of people into thinking something has gone wrong when it hasn't. Full details are in our Terms of Service.
Aftercare FAQ
How long does a tattoo take to heal?
The surface of a new tattoo usually heals in 2–3 weeks, but the deeper layers of skin keep settling for around 2–3 months. Your tattoo can look fully healed on the outside while still repairing underneath, which is why sun protection and moisturising matter well beyond the first few weeks.
When can I take the wrap off my new tattoo?
If your artist used a standard wrap, remove it after 2–4 hours, then wash the tattoo. If you were given a second-skin film (a clear adhesive dressing), leave it on for 24 hours to 5 days as advised by your artist — it can be left longer than standard wrap because it is breathable and waterproof.
How often should I wash and moisturise my tattoo?
Wash it 2–3 times a day with lukewarm water and a fragrance-free antibacterial soap, using clean hands only. Pat dry with a clean paper towel, then apply a very thin layer of tattoo balm or fragrance-free moisturiser. Too much product suffocates the skin and can cause spots or slow healing.
Is peeling and itching normal?
Yes. Flaking and itching typically start around day 4–7 and are a normal part of healing. Never pick, scratch or peel the flakes off — pulling scabs away early lifts the ink out with them and causes patchy, faded areas that need a touch-up.
When can I go swimming or back to the gym?
Avoid swimming pools, baths, saunas, hot tubs and the sea for at least 2–3 weeks — submerging a healing tattoo is the most common cause of infection and ink loss. Light exercise is fine after 48 hours, but avoid heavy sweating and anything that stretches or rubs the area until it stops flaking.
How do I know if my tattoo is infected?
Some redness, warmth and swelling in the first 2–3 days is normal. Warning signs are the opposite of improvement: redness that spreads outward after day 3, increasing pain or swelling, yellow or green discharge, a bad smell, or a fever. If you see any of these, contact the studio and speak to your GP or call NHS 111 — infections are treatable and treated early they rarely affect the tattoo.
Do you offer free touch-ups?
Yes — one free touch-up per tattoo, requested within 3 months of your session, covering areas that healed poorly through the tattooing process itself. Touch-ups needed because of picking, sun damage or aftercare neglect are charged at the artist's standard rate. Hands, fingers, feet, lips and elbows naturally heal inconsistently and may need paid top-ups.
Can I put sunscreen on a new tattoo?
Not while it is healing — keep a new tattoo out of direct sun completely for the first 3–4 weeks and cover it with loose clothing instead. Once fully healed, apply SPF 30–50 every time it is exposed. Sun is the single biggest cause of faded, blurry tattoos over the years.
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