Good to Know
FAQ & Aftercare
Everything about booking, getting ready for your appointment and looking after your new tattoo.
Booking & Deposits
Flash Designs
Before Your Appointment
On the Day
Aftercare Guide
How you look after your tattoo in the first few weeks makes a real difference to how it heals and how it looks for years. Here’s the general idea. Always follow the instructions I give you at your appointment, as they’re made for your tattoo.
- 01First few hours
Leave it covered
- Keep the wrap on for as long as I tell you.
- Wash your hands before you touch your new tattoo.
- 02Days 1 to 3
Keep it clean
- Gently wash it 2 to 3 times a day with lukewarm water and a mild, fragrance-free soap.
- Pat it dry with a clean paper towel. Don’t rub.
- Apply a very thin layer of fragrance-free aftercare cream or lotion.
- Some redness, swelling and weeping is normal at first.
- 03Days 4 to 14
Let it peel
- It will flake, peel and itch. That’s normal.
- Don’t pick, scratch or peel it. Let the flakes fall off on their own.
- Keep moisturising lightly. A thin layer is plenty.
- 04Week 3 onwards
Protect it
- The surface should be healed, but the skin underneath is still settling.
- Once fully healed, use sunscreen on it every time it’s in the sun. It keeps fine lines crisp and black and grey looking rich for years.
While it heals, please don’t
- Soak it: no baths, pools, hot tubs, lakes or the ocean for about two weeks. Showers are fine.
- Expose it to the sun or tanning beds while it heals.
- Pick, scratch or peel the flakes.
- Smother it in thick layers of ointment. Skin needs to breathe.
- Let tight clothing or straps rub on it.
When to see a doctor
See a doctor if the redness, swelling, heat or pain gets worse after the first few days, or if you notice pus, red streaks spreading from the tattoo, a fever, or a rash. These can be signs of an infection or an allergic reaction.