Tattoo aftercare, your healing guide

Studio: [STUDIO NAME]
Phone: [STUDIO PHONE]
Email: [STUDIO EMAIL]
Date of tattoo: ____________________
Artist: ____________________

Your tattoo is a fresh wound. How you care for it over the next 4-6 weeks affects how it heals and how it looks long-term. Follow these steps and contact us if you have any concerns.

First 24 hours

If your tattoo is covered with cling film

• Remove the film after 1-2 hours.
• Wash the tattoo gently with lukewarm water and fragrance-free soap.
• Pat dry with a clean paper towel (not cloth).
• Apply a thin layer of fragrance-free moisturiser if it feels dry.

If your tattoo is covered with "second skin" (clear adhesive film)

• Leave the film on for 3-5 days, per the artist's specific instructions.
• Some fluid build-up under the film is normal.
• Remove in the shower under warm running water, peel slowly.
• Then start the daily washing/moisturising routine.

Daily routine, days 2-14

Wash twice daily

1. Lukewarm water, not hot.
2. Fragrance-free soap (Dr Bronner's Baby Mild, Simple, Aveeno).
3. Hands only, no cloth, no flannel.
4. Pat dry with a clean towel.

Moisturise 2-3 times daily

Thin layer of fragrance-free, hypoallergenic moisturiser:

• Bepanthen Antiseptic Cream
• Hustle Butter Deluxe
• Tattoo Goo
• Aquaphor

Avoid: anything fragranced, anything with essential oils, anything with lanolin if you have lanolin allergy.

What you'll see

• Days 2-3: clear or slightly pink fluid (plasma) seeping. Normal.
• Days 3-5: tightness and itching as scabbing begins.
• Days 5-10: dry scabs form. Don't pick or scratch.
• Days 7-14: scabs come off naturally as flakes of dry skin.
• Days 14-21: tattoo may look dull or patchy, normal, the colour comes through as deeper layers settle.

What to avoid

For 2-3 weeks

• ❌ Swimming (pools, sea, lakes)
• ❌ Baths (showers only)
• ❌ Sauna, steam room, hot tub
• ❌ Direct sunlight or sunbeds
• ❌ Heavy gym work stretching or sweating the area
• ❌ Tight clothing rubbing the tattoo
• ❌ Fragranced products (perfume, scented body wash, scented lotion)
• ❌ Picking or scratching scabs
• ❌ Tanning beds
• ❌ Second tattoos in the same area

For 6+ weeks

• ❌ Prolonged sun exposure on the tattoo

For life, to keep the colour

• ✅ SPF 50+ on tattoos when exposed to sun
• ✅ Reapply sunscreen every 2 hours in prolonged sun
• ✅ Moisturise regularly

When to contact us

Contact the studio if you have any questions. We're here.

When to seek medical advice

Most tattoos heal without issue. Contact a GP, call NHS 111, or go to A&E if you see:

See a GP / call 111 (within 24-48 hours)

• Spreading redness beyond the tattoo edge after 48 hours
• Yellow or green discharge or pus
• Persistent severe itching beyond normal healing
• Raised plaques or nodules in the tattoo

Go to A&E / 999 immediately

• Red streaks spreading from the tattoo (cellulitis)
• High fever
• Spreading rash across the body
• Breathing difficulty, throat swelling, faintness (anaphylaxis, call 999)

If you go to A&E or your GP, tell them you've had a tattoo recently and bring this aftercare sheet.

Touch-ups

If anything looks patchy or hasn't healed quite right, contact us at 6 weeks after the session. Most studios offer a free or low-cost touch-up within the first 6-12 months.

Your tattoo long-term

Once healed, your tattoo is part of you. To keep it looking sharp:

• Daily moisturiser keeps the skin and tattoo healthy.
• SPF 50+ in sun protects the colour from fading.
• Healthy skin habits generally, hydration, sleep, not smoking.

Welcome to your tattoo. Thank you for trusting us with the work.

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Adaptation notes for studios: customise contact details, replace recommended products with what you specifically supply, and adjust timing instructions for the specific dressing type you used. Provide a printed copy at the end of every session.