A tattoo is an open wound for the first few days — how you treat it decides how it heals. Follow this and your piece will stay crisp for years.
🕐 Day 1 — Leave the wrap on
- Keep the bandage/second skin on as long as your artist told you — usually a few hours, or up to a couple days for second skin.
- When you take it off, wash your hands first. Then wash the tattoo gently with lukewarm water + unscented soap.
- Pat dry with a clean paper towel — never rub.
- Apply a thin layer of unscented lotion or tattoo aftercare ointment. Thin — if it's shiny and slick, you used too much.
📅 Days 2–14 — The routine
- Wash 2x a day with unscented soap, pat dry, thin layer of lotion.
- Don't pick, scratch, or peel — let flakes fall off on their own. Picking pulls ink out.
- Wear loose clothing over the area. Tight fabric + fresh tattoo = irritation.
- No soaking. Quick showers only — no baths, pools, hot tubs, or ocean for at least 2 weeks.
- Keep it out of direct sun while healing. After it's healed, sunscreen is forever — sun is the #1 tattoo fader.
- Skip the gym for a few days if the tattoo is somewhere that stretches or sweats heavy. Sweat + bacteria = bad combo.
🗓️ What healing looks like
- Days 1–3: Red, a little swollen, maybe oozing a bit of plasma/ink. Normal.
- Days 4–7: Itching and light peeling/flaking. Normal — don't scratch.
- Weeks 2–4: Looks healed on the surface, but the skin underneath is still settling. Keep moisturizing.
🚨 Hit me up if you see this
- Spreading redness or red streaks moving away from the tattoo
- Hot to the touch, swelling that gets worse after day 3
- Thick yellow/green discharge or a bad smell
- Fever or chills
That's beyond normal healing — contact your artist, and see a doctor if it doesn't improve. Don't try to tough it out.
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