The first 24to 48 hours
You'll leave the studio with your tattoo covered in a Saniderm bandage. What you do in the next day or two sets the tone for the whole healing process.
If you have Saniderm (the clear film bandage)
Leave it on for 48 hours minimum, up to 5 days if it's staying sealed. When you remove it, do it in the shower under under running water or over the sink. While holding the skin taut peel slowly from one corner, working with the skin rather than yanking it off.
Washing
Wash twice a day for the first two weeks. Once in the morning, once before bed. Warm water, fragrance-free antibacterial hand soap, clean hands. No washcloths, no loofahs, nothing abrasive against fresh ink.
Pat dry each time gently with a clean towel paper or cloth. NEVER use the handtowel that hangs in your bathroom. After you dry it, apply a thin layer of unscented lotion or aftercare balm.
The first two weeks what to expect
Normal
- Redness and swelling around the tattoo for the first day or two
- Itching, especially around days 3 to 7
- Peeling and flaking (this is the outer layer of skin shedding)
- The tattoo looking dull or too light while it heals
- A slight raised texture during peeling
Call or message me or see your doctor if you see
- Excessive redness that's spreading outward
- Fever or heat radiating from the area after the first 48 hours
- Pus or thick discharge (a little clear plasma in the first 24 hours is normal)
- Blistering
- Rash outside the tattooed area
The itching is real and it's annoying. Do not scratch, pick, or peel the flaking skin. That's how you pull ink out and end up with light spots. Slap it gently if you need to do something soothing.
What to avoid for 2 to 4 weeks
- Direct sun exposure. UV breaks down fresh ink fast and can cause blistering on a healing tattoo. Once it's fully healed, SPF 30+ every time it's in the sun indefinitely.
- Soaking in water. No pools, hot tubs, lakes, or long baths. A regular shower is fine; submersion is not. Chlorine and bacteria are both bad for a healing tattoo.
- Working out heavily for the first few days, especially anything that stretches or sweats heavily over the area.
- Tight clothing rubbing the tattoo.
- Picking or peeling.
Long term
Most tattoos are surface-healed in about two weeks and fully healed underneath in 2–3 months. The way a tattoo holds color and line crispness over years comes down to two things: how well it was done, and how consistently you protect it from the sun.
SPF on healed tattoos isn't optional if you want the work to look good in ten years. Mineral sunscreen sits on top of the skin rather than absorbing into it, which is what most tattoo artists prefer for healed work.
Questions?
If something looks off or you're unsure what's normal, feel free to reach out.
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