Looking after your tattoo
Most tattoos heal in about 30 days. Until then it's an open wound, so treat it gently and it will look its best for years.
- 1
First 4 days
Keep the second skin on. Take it off completely if it starts to peel and part of the tattoo shows, or if ink leaks out at the sides: that means there's a gap, and bacteria can get trapped underneath. If it doesn't last the 4 days, that's no problem at all.
- 2
Every day while it heals
Wash it gently with antibacterial soap. Moisturise whenever it feels dry, with cocoa butter or Cicaplast, never anything scented. Don't scratch it or pick at scabs.
- 3
For 2 weeks
Skip the gym and other exercise. Stretching and sweat can make the ink spread under the skin, and a gym isn't the cleanest place for a healing wound.
- 4
For 30 days
No pools or sea, no direct sun, and no sunscreen on the tattoo yet.
- 5
Once it's healed
Sunscreen whenever it sees the sun, so the lines and colour stay crisp for years.
When to get help
A little redness and tenderness in the first few days is normal. See your GP if it becomes sore, inflamed or oozes yellowish fluid. If it's very red and swollen, or you have a fever or feel unwell, get help the same day: call NHS 111, or go to A&E if you can't see a GP within 24 hours. In an emergency, call 999.
Your free touch-up
Once it has healed, after about 30 days, send me a photo. If anything needs a little more work, one touch-up is free within 3 months of your session.