Aftercare.

You will leave your appointment with your new tattoo wrapped. This could be in an adhesive film or a non-adhesive film sometimes with an absorbent padding. Each method will require a different approach to the aftercare.

Please see which section here applies to your tattoo and follow the directions.

A lot of my work is big and these sessions can be quite draining, you may feel tired over the next few days so try and stay well rested, hydrated and eat well.

When handling your fresh tattoo you must have clean hands.

Adhesive film is used on smaller, or more delicate tattoos. This film is breathable and lets you forget about your tattoo for 3-4 days. In these first days you don’t need to do anything.

Avoid heavy exercise, baths, pools and saunas etc but you can shower as normal.

Pay close attention that the adhesive isn’t causing irritation, in a similar way to a plaster might, this is rare but possible. If you feel the skin is being irritated remove the film & follow the steps below.

All being well four days after your tattoo you will carefully and slowly remove the film in a warm shower and immediately wash thoroughly with soap and your hand, no flannel or sponges. Your tattoo may have dry ink stuck to the skin, it is crucial that the tattoo is washed very well.

Pat dry and apply a thin layer of lotion 3-5 times a day for the next few weeks. From here as and when if the skin seems dry. You may notice some flaking/peeling at around day 7, this should not be encouraged off and will likely all be gone in a few days.

A high-factor sunscreen should be worn on your tattoo every time you are in the sun. The sun will be the biggest thing to fade black ink.

If this adhesive films come off for whatever reason before day 4, follow all of the above steps as recommended. Contact me if you have any concerns.

Non-adhesive film is a common and effective way of helping a tattoo heal.

You will need to remove the film and any absorbent pads used and wash your tattoo in the shower before going to sleep unless advised otherwise. There will likely be ink, blood or plasma on your tattoo, it is essential that this is all washed off.

It will feel sore, often like a bad sunburn. I have been there many times and I understand it may be difficult to want to jump in the shower and wash, however these first few washes will ensure the rest of the healing goes smoothly and by day 3-4 things should be feeling much better.

Remove all of the film and in a warm shower wash your new tattoo thoroughly with soap and your hand, no flannel or sponges. The tattoo needs to feel smooth and free of any dry blood. If there’s any patches that feel rough you need to use small circles with a soapy hand until it feels smooth.

Unless I have advised otherwise, your tattoo should not be re-wrapped.

Pat your tattoo dry with dry kitchen roll, ideally something like Plenty. Do not use a bath towel to dry your fresh tattoo for 3 days.

Apply a thin layer of lotion 3-5 times a day for the next 10-14 days or until healed. You can expect the tattoo to peel/flake on day 5-7, this should not be picked or encouraged off but gently moisturised. Once this has all come off the tattoo will look shiney and needs to be hydrated until it has a more matte finish, this time period varies person to person.

Avoid heavy exercise, baths, pools and saunas etc but you can shower as normal but keep them short!

A high-factor sunscreen should be worn on your tattoo every time you are in the sun. The sun will be the biggest thing to fade black ink.

I have used all sort of things over the years to try and heal a tattoo quickly and easily with varying success.

My current favourite lotion by a mile is Aveeno. “Skin Relief Moisturising Lotion” in particular. It is very easy to apply and won’t leave you feeling greasy! I use it as an every-day moisturiser too now. You can get it from lots of places now like Boots & Tesco, but the blue lid is the better one.

I also like Palmers original formula cocoa butter. It is thicker and gloopier which may make it harder to apply to bigger tattoos. It smells like chocolate, but for areas like the leg or back it may be better to look at Aveeno.

Things I would swerve which you may have been recommended: Bepanthen, E45, Savlon. They are outdated, in my opinion.

A gentle skin-friendly soap will be the best thing to wash your tattoo with. I like Sanex 0%. Just avoid things that are heavily fragranced or contain things like tea tree oil, exfoliating properties or mint.

The majority of my work heals smoothly with no issues and looks great fresh and healed. Partly from a refined tattooing technique which I am forever honing, but also from 14 years of healing tattoos on myself.

Some things to look out for in the early stages of healing a tattoo that cause no immediate concern include: Bleeding (generally only seen in heavy black and gone in 12/24 hours). Bruising, swelling, discomfort, excess ink washing away for a day or two, peeling/flaking tightness and sensitivity. You may also feel a little run down especially if you have just gone through a big session or over several days, rest up and stay healthy.

Infections are rare in tattooing when everything is carried out correctly (my hygiene as well as your aftercare) but if there is a concern of this please contact me.

Given the nature of skin, it is uncommon but possible that your tattoo will need a re-touch. If an area has healed (3+ months) lighter than the rest, or there’s any inconsistency contact me here within 1 year of the tattoo being made and I will retouch it free of charge.