How to care for your new tattoo
So You Just Got a New Tattoo, Here's How to Take Care of It
Whether it's your first tattoo or your fifth, the next two weeks matter just as much as the work itself. A tattoo that heals right stays sharp for years. One that's rushed or neglected can fade, blur, or lose ink it shouldn't. The good news is aftercare isn't complicated, you just need to follow a few steps in order.
Here's a day by day breakdown, plus answers to the questions we hear most often once people leave the shop.
Day by Day Aftercare
Right after the shop Leave the wrap on until you get home, usually 2 to 4 hours, unless your artist used a second skin film, which can stay on longer. The wrap keeps bacteria off the tattoo while it's still fresh and open.
First 24 hours Wash your hands first, then gently clean the tattoo with fragrance free soap and lukewarm water. Pat it dry with a clean paper towel and let it air out. This step clears off excess ink and plasma. Skip the lotion for now, the skin needs to breathe a little before you start moisturizing.
Days 2 to 3 Wash once or twice a day. After each wash, apply a thin layer of fragrance free lotion or a tattoo specific balm. The goal is light moisture, not a thick coating. Your skin is doing the real work here, the lotion just helps it along.
Days 4 to 6 Flaking and itchiness usually start around now, and that's normal. Keep washing gently and moisturizing afterward, but don't scratch or pick at it. Picking can pull ink out with the flakes, so let them fall off on their own.
Days 7 to 10 Most of the peeling wraps up in this window. The tattoo might look a little dull or cloudy, that's just part of healing, not a sign anything went wrong. Keep it clean and moisturized and the color will come back sharper as the skin settles.
Days 10 to 14 The skin should feel smooth again by now. If you're heading outside, put SPF 30 or higher on the tattoo. Sun exposure is one of the fastest ways to fade fresh ink, so sunscreen matters here more than people expect.
Week 3 and beyond Once the tattoo is fully healed and the skin feels smooth, you're clear to get back to the gym, swimming, shaving, all of it. If it still feels tight or scabby, give it a bit more time before pushing back into normal activity.
A Few Things to Avoid
Don't scratch, peel, or rub at the flakes. Let them come off naturally. Picking leads to patchy healing and can pull ink out of the skin.
Don't soak it. Skip swimming, hot tubs, and long baths until the tattoo is fully healed, at least two weeks out.
Don't rewrap it in plastic. The tattoo needs air. Wrapping it back up traps moisture, and trapped moisture is how bacteria grows.
Don't use Vaseline or thick petroleum jelly. It blocks airflow and slows healing down instead of helping it.
Don't use scented lotions, scented body wash, or anything with alcohol in it. Fragrance and alcohol both irritate fresh tattoos.
Don't expose it to direct sun while it's healing. Fresh ink fades fast in the sun. Once it's healed, cover it or use SPF 30 or higher if you're going to be outside for a while.
Questions We Hear All the Time
It's really itchy, can I scratch it? Light tapping is fine if you need relief, or moisturize again. Just don't dig in and scratch.
My tattoo is peeling and looks dull, did something go wrong? No, that's a normal part of healing. The color comes back once it's fully settled.
When can I work out again? Light workouts are usually fine after 3 to 5 days, as long as you're not rubbing or sweating directly on the area. For heavier sessions, wait until after the first week.
When should I start using sunscreen on it? Once the scabbing and peeling are done, usually around day 10 to 14. SPF 30 or higher daily after that keeps the color from fading.
One spot looks lighter than the rest, is that normal? It can be. Give it the full 4 to 6 weeks to heal before judging it. If it still looks uneven after that, come in and we'll take a look about a touch up.
Can I sleep on it? Try to avoid it for the first few nights. Sleep on the opposite side if you can, and wear clean, loose clothing so nothing sticks or rubs against it overnight.
The Bottom Line
Healing a tattoo well comes down to three things: keep it clean, keep it moisturized, and keep it protected. A healed tattoo that still looks bold months and years later is worth the two weeks of careful aftercare it takes to get there.
If anything looks off or you're not sure, don't guess. Call your artist or reach out to us directly, it's your skin and it deserves to heal right.
