The care you give your tattoo in the hours, days and weeks after your session determines how it heals and how it looks for the rest of your life. The healing process is straightforward when you understand what to expect and follow a consistent routine. This guide covers what to do from the moment you leave the studio through to full healing, with clear guidance at every stage.
What to do in the first hours after getting your tattoo
Your artist will clean the finished tattoo and apply a covering before you leave the studio. This covering, whether cling film or a medical-grade second skin film such as Saniderm or Tegaderm, protects the fresh wound during your journey home. Leave it in place for the time your artist specifies. For cling film this is typically two to four hours. For second skin film it may be up to 24 hours or longer. Do not remove the covering early to look at the tattoo or show people. The covering is doing an important job.
Day-by-day aftercare guide
Remove covering, first clean, begin aftercare
Once home and the covering removal time has arrived, wash your hands thoroughly. Remove the covering gently, wetting it with lukewarm water if it sticks. Wash the tattoo with fragrance-free soap using clean fingertips, using light circular motions to remove plasma, excess ink and any residue. Rinse completely, pat dry with a clean paper towel and allow ten minutes to air dry. Apply a thin layer of fragrance-free aftercare moisturiser. The tattoo will be red, slightly raised and sore. This is normal inflammation. Use dark bedding or place a clean dark towel under the tattooed area overnight.
Continue cleaning, manage weeping
The tattoo may continue to weep plasma and excess ink during the first two to three days. This is entirely normal. Clean two to three times daily with the same gentle washing method. Pat dry completely each time before applying a thin layer of moisturiser. The tattoo may look bright and vivid or may look slightly dull under the drying plasma. Avoid soaking in baths, swimming or submerging the area in water. Wear loose, breathable cotton clothing over the tattoo. Avoid direct sunlight on the tattooed area.
Peeling begins, manage itching
Peeling typically begins between days four and seven. The skin may feel tight, dry and itchy. This is the most challenging stage of healing for most people. Continue cleaning two to three times daily and apply a thin layer of moisturiser after each clean. Do not pick, scratch or peel the flaking skin. Apply an extra application of moisturiser if itching becomes very uncomfortable rather than scratching. The tattoo will look dull or milky during this phase as dead epidermal cells sit over the ink. This is temporary.
Active peeling, ink beginning to settle
Active peeling continues through the second week. The skin sheds progressively and the tattoo gradually begins to look more defined beneath. Reduce cleaning to twice daily as the wound transitions from active healing to settled repair. Continue moisturising after each clean. By the end of week two most of the visible peeling should be complete and the tattoo may enter a milky or slightly cloudy-looking settling phase. This cloudiness resolves over weeks three and four as the new epidermal layer matures.
Settling phase, colour returning
The surface is largely healed by week three. The skin may still have a slightly milky or shiny appearance as the new epidermal layer continues to mature. Colour and definition return progressively during this period. Reduce moisturising to once daily. Begin applying SPF 30 or higher to the tattoo when it will be exposed to sunlight. The tattoo is still healing in the deeper dermal layers even though the surface looks settled.
Long-term maintenance begins
Once the tattoo is fully healed, surface healing complete with no remaining dryness, peeling or sensitivity, transition to long-term maintenance. Moisturise the tattooed area daily as part of your normal skincare routine. Apply SPF 30 or higher whenever the tattoo will be in daylight. Sun exposure is the primary driver of long-term tattoo fading and consistent SPF use makes a significant difference to how the tattoo looks over years and decades.
What not to do after getting a tattoo
| Avoid | Why |
|---|---|
| Swimming, baths or soaking | Introduces bacteria and softens healing scabs, increasing infection risk and ink loss |
| Direct sunlight on the healing tattoo | Damages healing skin cells and can cause permanent fading before ink has anchored |
| Picking or scratching | Removes ink along with scab tissue, creates patchy healing and increases scarring risk |
| Tight clothing over the tattoo | Creates friction, restricts airflow and can disrupt forming scabs |
| Heavy exercise in the first week | Sweat and friction irritate the wound and prolonged sweating increases infection risk |
| Alcohol in the first 48 hours | Dilates blood vessels, increases fluid retention and impairs immune response |
| Applying sunscreen before healing is complete | Sunscreen on unhealed tattooed skin introduces chemicals to an open wound |
Questions about your aftercare after your session?
Our Leighton Buzzard artists give full aftercare guidance at the end of every session and are always available for questions.
Aftercare AdviceFor full aftercare guidance and studio contact details, Visit our tattoo aftercare page for full guidance from our Leighton Buzzard studio.
More from the Tattoo Aftercare Guide
This article is part of our Tattoo Aftercare Guide, covering every aftercare question clients ask after getting tattooed at Gravity Tattoo Studio. Browse every aftercare guide at our Tattoo Aftercare Guide hub.
Explore related topics including cleaning steps, moisturising frequency and how long tattoos take to heal. Find every aftercare guide at our Tattoo Aftercare Guide hub.