Tattoo aftercare.
Looking after your tattoo matters as much as doing it well. If you have questions, message me.
Before your session
- Get a good night’s sleep and eat something before your session.
- Avoid alcohol for the 24 hours before.
- Moisturise the area in the days before and keep it out of the sun.
- If you take any medication or have a skin condition, let me know beforehand.
The first 4 days: the film
At the end of the session I put a self-adhesive protective film on your tattoo. It’s antibacterial and breathable, and it keeps moisture out. You keep it on for 4 days.
It’s normal for the tattoo to release some ink under the plastic. Don’t take it off because of that.
If the film irritates your skin, or comes loose so part of the tattoo is exposed or water can get in, take it off straight away and start the aftercare.
How to remove the film
- 1After 4 days, run hot or warm water over the plastic: it softens the adhesive.
- 2Peel the film off slowly and gently.
- 3Wash the tattoo with soap and water, and pat it dry without rubbing.
The next 10 days
- Apply Eucerin Aquaphor no more than twice a day, for 10 days.
- Always use a thin layer: applying too much cream, or applying it too often, makes the tattoo heal less well and lose colour.
- If your skin looks hydrated, once a day is enough.
- No sport or anything that makes you sweat for 10 days.
- Avoid the beach, pools, spas and direct sun for the first 2 weeks.
- Don’t shower with very hot water.
- Once it has healed, always protect it from the sun with SPF 50 or higher.
How long does a tattoo take to heal?
The surface layer of the skin usually closes in two to three weeks. In the first few days it’s normal for the area to be a little red and to weep some ink, so don’t worry.
After that, the skin keeps recovering for a few more weeks. Once it has healed, sun cream is the best care: the sun causes the most fading, especially in fine line tattoos.
In the guide: Your first tattoo: what to know before you start
Have you had micropigmentation? Aftercare changes a little depending on the area.
Any questions?
Everyone’s skin is different. If anything worries you while it heals, write to me.
Write to me