Day 1
- Wash your hands like you’re about to perform surgery*
- Peel off the cling film 1-2 hours after getting inked (try not to stare at it too much)
- Use cool water to gently rinse away any plasma, blood, or ink—yep, that’s all normal
- Pat your tattoo dry with kitchen roll (not your favorite towel, no matter how tempted you are)
*If you’re rocking tattoo spray instead of cling film, skip straight to washing.
Days 2 & 3
- Wash your tattoo 2-3 times a day like clockwork
- No soap, no scented stuff—save those fancy smells for perfume ads
- No scrubbing, rubbing, or exfoliating with anything rough
- Don’t slap on creams or moisturizers just yet; your tattoo needs to breathe
Day 4 Onwards
- Your tattoo might look dry and flaky—don’t freak out, it’s part of the process
- Time to bring in the moisturizers (but only the unscented kind—your tattoo isn’t into perfume either)
- My faves: Palmer’s Cocoa Butter, Coconut Oil, and Aveeno
- Don’t go crazy—no need to drown it; just massage the cream in gently
Do not…
- Scratch, pick, or mess with scabs (seriously, hands off!)
- Swim, sauna, steam, or dunk your tattoo like it’s a soggy chip
- Bake it in direct sunlight or slap suncream on while it’s still healing (save that for later)
- Got questions or feeling unsure? Don’t hesitate to reach out—because even tattoos need a little TLC.
Got questions or feeling unsure? Don’t hesitate to reach out—because even tattoos need a little TLC.