Tattoo Aftercare
How to look after your new tattoo, from the first few hours until it has fully healed. If I gave you different instructions on the day, follow those.
Last updated
Healing Shapes How Your Tattoo Looks
A new tattoo is an open wound, and how you look after it in the first few weeks decides how it looks for the rest of your life. Good aftercare keeps lines sharp, shading smooth and colour even, and it lowers the risk of infection.
The steps below are the general aftercare I recommend for tattoos done at Black Hope Tattoo in Colchester. Everyone heals a little differently, and different wraps need different care, so if I gave you specific instructions on the day, follow those first. Planning your next piece? See my floral, black and grey and flash work.
The First Few Hours
- Keep the wrap or film on for as long as I told you on the day. Second-skin films usually stay on longer than cling film.
- Wash your hands before you touch the tattoo, every time.
- When the wrap comes off, wash gently with lukewarm water and an unscented soap, then pat dry with clean kitchen roll.
The First Two Weeks
- Wash the tattoo two or three times a day and let it air dry.
- Apply a very thin layer of fragrance-free aftercare balm or lotion. If it looks shiny, you have used too much.
- Expect flaking and itching. Do not pick, scratch or peel. Let it come away on its own.
- Wear loose, clean clothing over it and change your bedding.
Until It Has Fully Healed
- No swimming, baths, saunas or hot tubs. Short showers are fine.
- Keep it out of the sun and off sunbeds.
- Avoid the gym if the tattoo will rub or stretch, or cover it loosely and clean it straight after.
- The surface usually settles in two to four weeks. The deeper layers take longer, so keep caring for it.
Once Healed
- Use a high-factor sun cream on it whenever it is exposed. Sun is the biggest reason tattoos fade.
- Keep the skin moisturised to keep lines crisp.
- If anything needs a touch up after healing, message me and we will sort it.
What Is Normal and What Is Not
Normal While Healing
- Redness and slight swelling for the first few days
- Some clear or ink-tinted fluid in the first day or two
- Tightness, tenderness and warmth around the area
- Flaking and peeling, a bit like sunburn, after around a week
- Itching while it heals
- A cloudy or dull look while the new skin settles
Get Advice If You Notice
- Redness that spreads or gets worse after a few days
- The area getting hotter, more swollen or more painful
- Yellow or green pus, or a bad smell
- Red streaks spreading from the tattoo
- Fever, chills or feeling generally unwell
- Raised, bumpy or very itchy skin that does not settle
Aftercare FAQs
How long does a tattoo take to heal?
The surface usually heals in around two to four weeks. The deeper layers of skin take longer, often a couple of months, so keep moisturising and protecting it from the sun.
What should I wash my tattoo with?
Lukewarm water and a gentle, unscented soap. Use clean hands, then pat dry with clean kitchen roll rather than a towel.
Which cream should I use?
A fragrance-free tattoo balm or plain unscented lotion. Use a very thin layer. Too much cream can suffocate the skin and slow healing.
Can I go swimming with a new tattoo?
No. Avoid swimming pools, the sea, baths, saunas and hot tubs until the tattoo has fully healed, as they can cause infection and fading.
Can I go to the gym?
Light activity is fine, but avoid exercise that makes the tattoo rub, stretch or get sweaty for the first few days. Clean it straight after training.
Is it normal for my tattoo to look faded while healing?
Yes. A healing tattoo often looks cloudy or dull. Once the new layer of skin settles, the true look comes through.
Book a Tattoo in Colchester
Tell me your idea, where it's going and roughly how big. I'll reply with availability and a quote.