The aftercare
Your new tattoo is an open wound. Treat it with patience and respect. The next two weeks decide how the piece will read for the rest of your life.
No. 01The first night
Leave the wrap I sent you home with on for 2 to 4 hours. When you take it off:
- Wash your hands first. Always.
- Rinse the tattoo gently with lukewarm water and a fragrance-free liquid soap. No washcloth, no scrubbing. Use your fingertips.
- Pat it dry with a clean paper towel. Do not rub.
- Let it breathe, uncovered, for at least 20 minutes before any product touches it.
You may see some plasma, ink and blood under the wrap. That's normal. It's how the body starts healing.
No. 02The healing window
Day 1–3Sore, swollen, may weep clear fluid. Wash 2–3 times a day. Keep it dry between washes. No moisturiser yet.
Day 4–7A thin, shiny layer forms. Begin applying a pea-sized amount of fragrance-free moisturiser 2–3 times a day. Bepanthen, Cetaphil, or any unscented hypoallergenic balm.
Day 7–14Flaking and itching. Do not scratch. Do not pick. The flakes carry your ink. Keep moisturising.
Week 3–6Surface looks healed but the deeper layers are still settling. Keep moisturising. Sunscreen once fully healed.
No. 03What not to do
- No swimming. Pools, the ocean, the bath. Showers only, for at least 2 weeks.
- No direct sun. UV breaks down fresh ink. Cover up or stay in shade for the first 4 weeks.
- No gym. Sweat is the enemy of a healing tattoo. Skip the workouts for the first week.
- No picking, peeling, or scratching, even when it itches like hell. Slap it gently or moisturise instead.
- No tight clothing rubbing over the area. Let it breathe.
- No animals sleeping on it. Your cat is not a healing aid.
If anything looks genuinely wrong (spreading redness, hot to touch, pus rather than plasma, fever), message me first, then see a doctor. Infections are rare and treatable when caught early.
No. 04For life
Once fully healed, the only ongoing protocol is SPF 30+ on the tattoo whenever it sees sun. Sunblock is the difference between a piece that stays sharp for thirty years and one that fades into a smudge in three.
Moisturise when your skin is dry. Drink water. Eat. The healthier you are, the better your ink ages.
Questions? DM me anytime.
DM @b.inx_20 →