Aftercare

How to care for your new piece

The first 24 hours, the first week, the first month, and the life of the piece — exactly what to do, what to avoid, and when to reach out. Save this page or bookmark it; you’ll want to come back to it during healing.

At a glance

What you need to know

The short answer. Full timeline and detail below — but if you only read one thing on this page, read this.

  • Full healing time

    4 – 6 weeks for most pieces.

  • Wash

    Twice daily, unscented soap, lukewarm.

  • Moisturize

    Thin layer, 3 – 4× a day for two weeks.

  • Avoid

    Sun, soaking, picking, tight clothing.

  • When to contact me

    Fever, spreading redness, or anything that worries you.

Healing timeline

Four stages, six weeks, one healed piece.

Every piece moves through the same four stages. Knowing where you are in the arc takes most of the worry out of healing.

  1. Phase 01 · Day 1

    Wrap & wash

  2. Phase 02 · Days 2 – 7

    Active healing

  3. Phase 03 · Weeks 2 – 6

    Settling

  4. Phase 04 · Month 2+

    Long-term

The full guide

Phase by phase.

What to do on day one, through the first week, into the settling month, and for the long-term life of the piece.

Phase 01 · Day 1

Day 1 — the first 24 hours

I'll wrap the piece before you leave. The wrap stays on overnight to protect the skin while it weeps plasma and ink.

  1. 01Keep the wrap on for 4–8 hours, or as long as I tell you on the day.
  2. 02Once you remove it, wash gently with unscented antibacterial soap and lukewarm water.
  3. 03Pat dry with a clean paper towel — never a cloth towel.
  4. 04Apply a thin layer of the aftercare ointment I send you home with.
  5. 05Sleep on clean sheets. A fresh white t-shirt over the piece helps.

Phase 02 · Days 2 – 7

Days 2 – 7 — the active healing window

This is when the piece looks worst before it looks best. Scabbing, peeling, dull color, itching — all normal. The shading will look matte and slightly fuzzy. It's not finished healing; resist judging it yet.

  1. 01Wash twice a day, every day, with unscented soap.
  2. 02Moisturize 3–4 times a day with a thin layer of unscented lotion.
  3. 03Wear loose clothing that doesn't rub the piece.
  4. 04Sleep on your side opposite the placement if possible.
  5. 05Don't pick. Don't scratch. Don't peel anything that hasn't fully come off.

Phase 03 · Weeks 2 – 6

Weeks 2 – 6 — settling

The piece is closed but still settling. Color saturation deepens. Shading sharpens up. By week six it looks like itself.

  1. 01Continue moisturizing daily for the first month.
  2. 02Strict no-sun on the piece for the first month — sunscreen SPF 30+ after.
  3. 03No long baths, swimming pools, hot tubs, or saunas until fully sealed (~3 weeks).
  4. 04Light exercise OK after day 3. Heavy lifting on the placement — wait the full two weeks.
  5. 05Book a touch-up consult if any spot looks uneven after week 6.

Phase 04 · Month 2+

Month 2 and beyond — protect the piece

The piece is healed, but the work you do now decides what it looks like in ten years. UV is the single biggest factor in long-term fading — more than ink quality, more than skin type, more than aftercare in the first month.

  1. 01Apply SPF 30+ any time the piece is in direct sun. Reapply every two hours.
  2. 02Stay out of tanning beds entirely — they fade tattoos faster than the sun.
  3. 03Keep skin hydrated. Dry skin makes pieces look flat; moisturized skin keeps them sharp.
  4. 04Book a touch-up at the 6-month mark if anything settled unevenly — first one's on me.
  5. 05Send me a healed photo in good light. It helps my portfolio and helps the next client.

Quick reference

Do & don’t

Do

  • Wash gently 2× daily with unscented antibacterial soap
  • Moisturize 3–4× daily with a thin layer of unscented lotion
  • Pat dry with paper towel, never a cloth towel
  • Sleep on clean sheets, on your opposite side
  • Wear loose, breathable clothing
  • Drink water — hydration helps healing

Don’t

  • Pick, scratch, or peel anything off the piece
  • Sit in direct sun on the piece for the first month
  • Submerge in baths, pools, hot tubs, or open water (3 weeks)
  • Use scented soaps, lotions, or essential oils
  • Re-bandage with anything other than the wrap I sent you
  • Let a pet sleep on or near the fresh piece

When to see a doctor

Warning signs.

Most healing is messy but normal — itching, dull color, peeling are all expected. These are the signs that mean see a doctor first, then message me.

Fever, chills, or feeling generally unwell
See a doctor first. Then message me.
Hot, painful, spreading redness — especially if streaking outward from the piece
See a doctor first. Then message me.
Yellow or green discharge, or a strong smell
See a doctor first. Then message me.
A patch that's still raw or weeping after day 7
Send me a photo in daylight — most of the time this is normal late healing, but I want to see.

Need to
reach out?

If something feels off during healing, send a photo in daylight — I'd rather you ask than worry. Most things people stress about are completely normal.

Contact me