Aftercare, in plain terms

Every artist has slightly different aftercare advice, and most of it works fine. Here's what we actually tell clients when they leave the studio.

Keep the bandage on for as long as your artist tells you – usually a few hours, sometimes overnight. Wash it with plain, unscented soap and lukewarm water, pat it dry, don't rub.

After that, a thin layer of unscented, fragrance-free moisturiser two or three times a day is enough. You don't need a specialised tattoo balm; you need to not overdo it. Too much product just traps moisture underneath and slows things down.

Skip the pool, the sauna, and direct sun for at least two weeks. Loose clothing over the area helps more than any product does.

If anything looks unusual – spreading redness, heat, or discharge that isn't just plasma in the first day or two – message your artist directly. That's what the direct contact is for.