AVOID THE FOLLOWING

  • Oily products, such as Vaseline or Neosporin

  • Antibacterial products

  • Scented lotions and perfumes

  • Aloe vera

  • Swimming, saunas, and soaking

  • Excessive sweating

  • Direct sunlight

  • Tight-fitting clothes

  • Scratching or picking at tattoo scabs

  • Gardening

Day 1

You’ll come home from the tattoo studio with a dressing over your tattoo. Your artist should tell you how long to wait before removing the dressing. You’ll probably notice fluid oozing from the tattoo. This is blood, plasma, and some extra ink. Your skin will also be red and sore. It might feel slightly warm to the touch.

When it’s time to remove the dressing, wash your hands thoroughly before gently peeling back the wrap.

Use warm water and fragrance-free soap to cleanse the area. Rinse well before lightly patting the skin dry. Wait a few minutes before applying whatever ointment or lotion your artist recommends.

Days 2–3

By now, your tattoo will have a duller, cloudier appearance. This happens as your skin heals. Scabs may start to form.

If you’ve already removed your dressing, continue to wash your tattoo once or twice a day. You might notice some ink running into the sink. This is just excess ink that’s come up through your skin.

Allow the skin to dry before applying whatever ointment or lotion your artist recommends.

Days 4-6

“Second skin” is typically removed during this time. Some artists recommend running the area under water while you peel back the adhesive layer. Make sure your hands are clean before getting started.

You might find it helpful to pull to the side lightly, allowing the adhesive to stretch until it lifts from the skin slowly. Cleanse the area and allow the skin to dry before applying whatever ointment or lotion your artist recommends.

Any redness should start to fade. You might notice some light scabbing over the tattoo.

The scabs shouldn’t be as thick as the scabs you get when you cut yourself, but they may be raised. Don’t pick at the scabs — this can cause scarring.

Keep washing your tattoo once or twice a day, and apply ointment or lotion as needed.

Days 6–14

By now, any scabs have hardened and will begin to flake off.

Don’t pick at them or try to pull them off. Let them come off naturally. Otherwise, you could pull out the ink and leave scars.

At this point, your skin may feel very itchy. Gently rub on a fragrance-free and alcohol-free moisturizer several times daily to relieve the itch.

If your tattoo is still red and swollen at this point, you might have an infection. Go back to your tattoo artist or consult with a healthcare professional.

Days 15–30

In this last stage of healing, most of the big flakes will be gone, and the scabs should be going away. You might still see some dead skin, but it should eventually clear up, too.

The tattooed area might still look dry and dull. Keep moisturizing until the skin looks hydrated again.

By the second or third week, the outer layers of skin should’ve healed. It may take 3–4 months for the lower layers to heal completely.

By the end of your third month, the tattoo should look as bright and vivid as the artist intended.