Your essential guide to tattoo aftercare

1. Leave the bandage on for a few hours: Your tattoo artist will likely cover the fresh tattoo with a bandage or plastic wrap. Leave this on for the time recommended by your artist to protect the area from bacteria and airborne irritants.
2. Gently clean the tattoo: After removing the bandage, gently clean the tattooed area with lukewarm water and a mild, fragrance-free soap. Pat the area dry with a clean, soft cloth, avoiding any harsh rubbing or scrubbing.
3. Apply a thin layer of cream: Once the tattoo is dry, apply a thin layer of recommended post-tattoo cream or a fragrance-free moisturiser to keep the area hydrated. Don't over-apply the products as this can clog pores and hinder the healing process.

1. Don’t submerge in water: You can get your tattoo wet when having a short shower, but it shouldn't be submerged or soaked in the bath or swimming pool for at least three weeks (or until it's fully healed).
2. Don’t pick: Avoid touching your tattoo as much as possible. "Picking will pull the ink out and probably scar, making it difficult to touch up," says tattoo artist Hayley Langan. “Keep your hands to yourself and let any flaking come away naturally.” Infection is also likely if you keep touching it with unwashed hands.
3. Don’t expose to the sun: While your tattoo is healing, stay out of the sun or wear clothes that protect it. Sun exposure on traumatised skin can affect how it heals and lead to fading. "After it has healed (which can take up to 6 weeks depending on the type and size of tattoo), regular sun cream should be fine," says Hayes. “If you want to keep the colour vibrant, use a high SPF.”
4. Don't wear tightly fitted clothing: Opt for loose-fitting clothing that won't rub against or irritate the tattooed area, as wearing tight clothing may cause friction and impede the healing process.
5. Don’t apply irritants: A basic, fragrance-free moisturiser (not Vaseline) is all you need to keep your tat hydrated. Apply 2-3 times a day until healed, or as instructed by your artist.
6. Avoid excessive physical activity: Minimise strenuous physical activities that could cause excessive sweating or friction on the tattooed area. This will help prevent irritation and potential damage to the freshly inked skin.

Healing time for a tattoos can vary depending on the size, location, and intricacy of the design, as well as other external factors such as skin type and overall health. In general, it should take around two-to-three weeks for the surface of the tattoo to heal. However, complete healing beneath the skin can take up to six months.

During the first few weeks after your appointment, the tattooed area may go through different stages of healing - including scabbing, peeling, and itching. And while the surface may appear healed after a few weeks, you should continue to protect the tattoo against direct sunlight and extreme temperatures.

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It all depends on the type of tattoo you have, and therefore your artist’s advice. “If you have a very open, blacked-out tattoo which is a lot more exposed and more likely to become infected, you need to keep that wrapped up for a little bit longer,” explains Rawlings. “If it’s a fine-line one, you can take the clingfilm off after a couple of hours – the clingfilm is more to protect the tattoo from clothing on the journey home.”

Celebrity tattoo artist Claudio Traina adds that the clingfilm should only be left on for a maximum of four days (again, depending on the advice given to you by the person who inked you), then it’s time to clean and moisturise. “The golden rule is never to re-bandage the tattoo once you’ve removed the plastic wrap applied by your tattooist,” he tells us.

A fresh tattoo is effectively a wound, so it's important to keep it clean in order to avoid infection. “It will need to be cleaned two or three times a day until healed, but particularly in the first 24-48 hours”, says Hayes. But always remember to wash your hands thoroughly first.

When you take the wrap off, clean the tattoo with an antibacterial, fragrance-free soap or warm water, pat your skin dry, then apply a thin layer of fragrance-free moisturiser over the top. Rawlings recommends getting into a lukewarm shower, and with clean hands, using a clean cloth to wash the tattoo. “Go for an antibacterial soap – nothing perfumed as that will sting and irritate.”

Advice will vary from artist to artist, but on average, new tattoos should be moisturised once or twice a day until healed, which can take up to six weeks depending on the size and type of your tattoo. Some tattooists believe in dry healing, which eliminates the use of any creams or ointments, but popular advice says to keep your healing ink well hydrated, but able to breathe.

Avoid creams containing ingredients such as petroleum (which is why Vaseline is a no-go), which can trap bacteria and stop the wound from breathing. Also look out for fragrance or alcohol on the ingredients list, which can cause irritation and fading.

It’s completely natural for a new tattoo to feel sore and bruised while it heals, but any tightness, redness or throbbing could be the first signs of an infection. “If there’s any pus or watery residue, especially with a yellow or green colour, this suggests a skin infection,” says Rawlings. “As much as your body might heal on its own, it's best for your health if you get advice from your pharmacist, or speak to your GP about a possible need for antibiotics.”

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