AFTERCARE

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW TATTOO!

During the tattooing process, a wound is created in your skin. It’s very important to take good care of your tattoo to keep the final result as beautiful as possible.

Plastic wrap / Cling Film

Once you’re home and done going out for the day, you can remove the wrap.You can leave it on for a maximum of 6 hours. This is mainly to protect your fresh tattoo from dirt on clothing or from the environment. After removing the cling film - clean your tattoo as stated below.

Second Skin

If your tattoo is covered with second skin (adhesive film), you can leave it on for up to 5 days. However, if you notice any leaks, holes, or irritation, remove it immediately and continue with the standard aftercare routine.

To remove your second skin:

Remove the second skin after a shower or with lukewarm water
Start from the bottom and stretch the film, don't rip it off!!
Clean your tattoo as stated below

Check this video for some visual instructions.

Cleaning your tattoo

After removing the wrap or second skin, wash your tattoo for the first time. Always wash your hands thoroughly first. Then gently wash your tattoo with lukewarm water and a mild, fragrance-free soap. Pat dry with a clean towel or disposable paper towel. Repeat this routine twice a day — once in the morning and once before bed — for the first week. This helps prevent bacteria and dust from collecting in the wound fluid.

Tip: Unicura - balance soap (the purple one), is perfect!

When showering, avoid letting the water stream hit your tattoo directly and make sure no soap residue stays behind. Keep your showers short (max. 10 minutes) and not too hot to prevent the scab from getting too soft, which could cause ink to fall out. Do not use sponges or washcloths on your tattoo. Always pat the area dry with a clean towel.

Moisturizing your tattoo

Moisturizing is very important for a new tattoo. Only start applying a thin layer of breathable ointment — such as Bepanthen tattoo ointment, baby cream, or a cream recommended by your tattoo artist — once your tattoo is no longer an open wound. You’ll notice this after about 3 days when your skin starts to feel tight, dry, or forms a scab. Apply ointment 2–3 times a day and stop once your tattoo has stopped itching, the scabs are healed, and at least 2.5 weeks have passed. Never use Vaseline! It can affect the quality of your tattoo and seals the skin, creating an environment where anaerobic bacteria can get trapped and multiply.

For the first 3 days, when your tattoo is still an open wound, you may use Bepanthen wound gel if you like, but this isn’t essential for proper healing.

Try to touch your tattoo as little as possible. If you do, always wash your hands first. Do not scratch or pick at scabs! Your tattoo will likely develop scabs and itch — sometimes a lot. Scratching can pull out pieces of the tattoo, leaving empty spots.

What not to do

It’s important to let your tattoo breathe, so do not cover it again with bandages, plastic wrap, or plasters. Avoid swimming, saunas, hot tubs, tanning beds, and direct sunlight for at least 6 weeks. Never expose a healing tattoo to the sun, as your protective skin layer is damaged and this can cause scarring that is irreversible. Even after your tattoo has healed, the tattooed skin will always be more sensitive to sunlight. That’s why you should always apply at least SPF 50 sunscreen to your tattoo when it’s exposed to the sun.

In the first week, avoid heavy exercise to minimize sweating, friction, and the risk of infection. Also be mindful of what you wear during the first two weeks: avoid tight clothing over your fresh tattoo to reduce rubbing. Tight clothes can cause your tattoo to fade faster or heal poorly.

General notes

It’s perfectly normal for your tattoo to leak some ink and wound fluid in the first week. Be careful with white clothing and bedding. Also keep in mind that the healing of your tattoo depends on many factors: your tattoo artist, your skin, immune system, the weather, the ink used, and your aftercare. Tattoos also generally heal to a slightly lighter shade than the fresh black you see on the day they’re done. Fineline tattoos tend to fade a bit faster than tattoos with thicker lines and more shading, partly because of the delicate technique and the smaller amount of ink placed in the skin. That’s why good aftercare is so important.

Touch-ups within the first 6 months after getting your tattoo are free of charge. After 6 months, a touch-up fee of €45 will apply — unless you’re getting another tattoo at the same time, in which case the touch-up will be done for free.

Contact your doctor if you develop a fever, extreme redness, swelling, bleeding, persistent wound fluid or wound fluid with pus, color changes, or chronic pain. When in doubt, always reach out to your tattoo artist or your doctor.