How you care for your tattoo in the first weeks determines how it looks for decades. Follow this guide carefully.
Your tattoo is an open wound that requires careful attention. Following these instructions precisely protects your health and ensures your tattoo heals vibrant and crisp. When in doubt, call us — never guess with aftercare.
Your artist will wrap your tattoo in plastic wrap or a second-skin bandage. Leave it on for the time they specify (typically 2–4 hours for plastic wrap, or 24–72 hours for second-skin/Saniderm).
The tattoo will feel warm, slightly swollen, and tender — this is normal. You may notice some redness around the edges. The area may ooze a small amount of clear/golden plasma; this is also normal.
You'll notice your tattoo starting to peel and flake — like a sunburn. This is the outer layer of skin healing. Do not scratch or pick at it under any circumstances.
Most of the obvious peeling is done. The tattoo may have a slightly milky or shiny appearance — this is new skin forming over the ink. The outer surface is nearly healed.
The surface skin is fully healed. The tattoo should look crisp and the colors should be vibrant. The deeper layers of skin are still healing beneath the surface, however.
Your tattoo is now fully healed, including the deeper skin layers. Colors will have settled to their final appearance. This is when your tattoo looks its absolute best.
A quick reference for the healing period.
Most healing discomfort is normal, but some signs require attention.
Light redness immediately after, some swelling for the first 24–48 hours, mild tenderness, clear or slightly golden plasma weeping, itching and peeling in week 1–2, colors appearing faded during healing (they return!), a milky or shiny surface texture.