How to Take Care of a New Tattoo

Ah, the honeymoon period. Your new tattoo is fresh, vibrant, wrapped, and ready. But how do you ensure it stays that way?

Unwrap With Care

Your tattoo artist is the boss of how to take care of a tattoo. And they’ll get a feel for your skin type, enabling them to give you the best post-tattoo care instructions based on their experience and expertise. So, always follow their advice about when to remove the dressing and how to look after tattoos in general:

• Clingfilm – This is typically left on for the first 2 to 6 hours for optimal tattoo healing. Remove the wrap in the shower and follow the next steps (below).
• Medical grade adhesives - These breathable wraps can stay on for up to a few days. They’re a bit like VIP passes for healing your ink, and some tattooists recommend re-applying them in the early stages. This is to reduce itching, protect against bacteria, and prevent ink smudges on your clothes or bedding in the early days.

And remember, be gentle when you’re ready to unwrap. No tugging or yanking! This isn’t a game of Operation.

How to Clean a New Tattoo

It’s time for the first cleanse once the dressing’s off, which can be a really strange phenomenon psychologically. In fact, some people get really squeamish they’re going to wash away their new ink down the plughole!

But it’s a simple matter of common sense and the right bits and bobs once you know how to clean a new tattoo:

• Wash your hands - Non-negotiable!
• Gently wash your tattoo - You can use a fragrance-free soap. Although many freshly tattooed folks prefer to use a purpose-designed tattoo cleanser like Hustle Bubbles Deluxe® Foam Wash. It’s your tattoo’s NBF, delivering powerful but delicate cleansing with every pump, keeping your skin supple and your ink vibrant. Plus, you can forget the hassle of mixing or diluting. This ready-to-use foaming soap is as effortless as it is effective. But the endgame is the same, whatever product you choose. And that’s to rinse away plasma, excess ink, and any lingering blood.
• Pat dry with a clean towel or paper towel - No rubbing. You’re not drying the dishes here!

Moisturise, But Don’t Overdo It

• Apply a thin layer of recommended salve - One of our current faves is Fade The Itch™, an edgy aftercare serum shaking up tattoo healing. So you can ditch the cling film after just four hours and never look back. This non-greasy, fast-absorbing formula lets your skin breathe and accelerates healing in as little as four days. Smarter, faster tattoo care from the innovators at Cambridge Clinic. But the emphasis is on thin. Think dewy glow, not oil spill.

Pro tip: Avoid petroleum-based products like Vaseline during the early stages. They trap moisture and can wreak havoc with your tattoo’s healing game.

Your tattoo is starting to settle into its healing process on the second and third day after having it done. Here’s what to expect and how to take care of a new tattoo in its early days to keep it on track:

Get into a Daily Routine and Stick to the Basics

• Wash your tattoo once or twice daily, following the same gentle process we’ve already talked about (above).
• Apply a thin layer of salve after each wash to keep the area hydrated.

What’s Normal at this Stage?

• Dull or cloudy appearance - This is just your body’s healing process at work.
• Tenderness and warmth - Totally normal, if it doesn’t worsen.
• Ink in the sink - No biggie. Just excess pigment making its exit.

Red flag alert: Reach out to your tattoo artist or a healthcare professional if the redness intensifies, swelling worsens, or you spot pus. It’s hopefully just a case of everybody’s bodies healing differently. All the same, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Welcome to the ‘ugly duckling’ phase around days four, five and six. Now, your tattoo might not look its best. It will. But patience is key.

Scab 101 - Handle With Care

This is the stage when scabs can start to form, and your tattoo might feel tight, dry and itchy. Here’s how to take care of a tattoo at this prickly point in the proceedings:

• Wash gently and pat dry as usual.
• Switch to a specialist fragrance-free lotion if your artist gives the green light. In our humble opinion, After Inked® is the platinum standard vegan aftercare lotion for faster healing, while keeping your tattoos bold and your skin hydrated. It’s one of the pricier potions on the market. But there are also some great options if your purse strings are tight, like Penny Black™ Tattoo Butter. It’s premium in nature but not in price point. And it’s second-to-none for soothing, nourishing, and calming freshly inked skin, reducing redness and swelling while promoting fast healing.

The Golden Rule – Don’t Pick or Scratch (No Matter How Much You’re Dying to!)

Believe it or not, scabs play a major part in how to take care of a new tattoo. Think of them as your tattoo’s armour. Let them fall off naturally. And when in doubt, moisturise to combat itchiness.

At the end of the day, picking can lead to scarring or patchy ink. And you don’t want that, do you?

Pro tip: Lightly tapping your skin can relieve itching without causing damage.

Your tattoo is really on the road to healing between a week to a fortnight in. But there’s just one small catch. The itchiness might make you question your life choices!

Yes, it can be a bit tortuous, having to grit your teeth and bear it. But don’t worry. It doesn’t last forever. So, deep breath, and do these things:

Let it Be

Your tattoo will start peeling, much like having sunburn. This is completely normal. But DON’T pick at flakes, whatever you do. They’ll fall off soon enough, when they’re ready.

Moisturise! Moisturise! Moisturise!

Hydration is your best friend. For this reason, apply your lotion liberally throughout the day to keep dryness and itching at bay, sticking to professional, tattoo specific fragrance and alcohol-free options to avoid irritation.

You’re almost there by the 15 - 30-day mark! By now, most of the scabs and flakes are gone, and your tattoo is looking more like the showpiece you’d imagined.

Brilliant news! But it’s not your cue to forget how to take care of a new tattoo, even when its not so new anymore:

• Hydration station - Your tattoo should look healed on the surface by this point. But the deeper layers of your skin are still doing their thing. This is why it’s important to keep moisturising to ensure your ink stays vivid and your skin stays supple.
• Sun Safety - Your tattoo is still delicate. So, you need to protect it from harsh UV rays by wearing sun-blocking clothes or using a high-SPF sunscreen (only once your artist gives the go-ahead).

A friendly word of warning. Sun exposure is the ultimate ink-fader. Skip this step at your peril!

Your tattoo might be healed. Yay! But the journey doesn’t end here. Conversely, it calls for ongoing, consistent care to keep your tattoo fresh:

It’s a fact of life things don’t always go as planned. The same applies to tattoos. So, what happens if something goes wrong? And what are the most common issues that crop up? Here’s how to spot the warning signs and how to take care of a new tattoo should things go pear-shaped:

• Infections - Symptoms include redness, swelling, warmth, and pus. Seek medical advice immediately if you suspect an infection.
• Allergic Reactions - Red, itchy bumps or raised skin around the tattoo can signal a reaction to the ink. Red pigments are especially notorious for causing issues.
• Scarring - Picking at scabs or scratching an itchy tattoo can lead to scars. Prevention is better than cure. But, pay your artist a visit if scarring occurs.

Q: When can I hit the gym?

A: Initially stick to light exercise that doesn’t involve excessive sweating or stretching the tattooed area. And be mindful about rubbing against equipment if you’re used to getting physical!

Q: Can I swim with a new tattoo?

A: Nope. No pools, hot tubs, wild swimming, or dips in the sea until your tattoo is fully healed, which averagely takes a month or slightly more, depending on your skin type and unique biology.

Q: Is dry healing legit?

A: Some people swear by it. But moisturising with credible products reduces itching and promotes faster healing. So, speak to your artist before going rogue.

Looking for more tips, products, or advice from the pros at Stretch It Body Jewellery? Visit our website to find out how to take care of a new tattoo and keep your ink looking its best.

After all, taking care of your new tattoo goes beyond post-tattoo care instructions. It’s deeper than that, because you’re preserving a piece of art that’s now a part of you. And that deserves all the TLC you’ve got to give.