So, the session is behind you - but the work isn’t over yet. Proper healing is crucial for both your health and the final appearance of the tattoo. So how do you do it right?

Ideally, you should always follow the personalized instructions from your tattoo artist, since every tattoo varies in how traumatic it is for the skin. But if you didn’t receive any aftercare guidance, here are two universal healing methods that work well in most cases.

Traditional healing with ointment and wrap

Pros: full control over the healing process, no side effects if instructions are followed properly

Cons: you’ll need to change the bandages every 4–5 hours, It can be tricky to care for tattoos on hard-to-reach areas like your back

Ointment: Aquaphor, Hustle Butter

Bandage: regular pads for babies, adults, or pets.

2-4 hours after the session, remove the bandage. Gently wash the tattoo with cool water and soap. No sponges, brushes, or scrubbing!
Pat the tattoo dry with a towel using light touches, then apply a thin layer of ointment. Cover it with a new pad, making sure it fully covers the tattoo with some extra space around it.
For the first 3 days, repeat this process 4-5 times a day.
After those three days, continue washing and applying ointment without a bandage for another week, 4 times a day.

On the 5th-6th day after the session, you can switch to any moisturizing cream if you’d like.

The top layer of skin on the tattoo will periodically peel off in flakes with bits of pigment - this is normal. Do not scratch or pick at it! If it itches, try gently patting the area to relieve the sensation.

❗️The main takeaway for aftercare:

The bandage protects the open wound from infection.
The ointment prevents dryness and scarring.

Keep this in mind!

Method 2 – Healing with Second Skin

Pros: great for small tattoos and hard-to-reach areas, no need to constantly change dressings - just apply and leave on for 4 days

Cons: occasionally causes side effects like allergic reactions to the adhesive, lower safety if the film loses its seal, often makes people overly relaxed and careless about proper aftercare

The healing film is applied right after the session. During the healing process, your tattoo releases lymphatic fluid, which stays under the film instead of evaporating. This environment helps your tattoo heal, while the film protects it from outside contaminants.

Here’s what to do next:

On the fourth day after the session, remove the film. It’s easiest to do this in warm water — stretch the film along the skin, not away from it.
For another week, gently wash the tattoo with soap and apply moisturizer 2-3 times a day. Any basic moisturizing cream will work (baby cream, face cream, etc.)

If you choose to use Second Skin, it’s crucial to make sure the film stays fully sealed over the fresh tattoo at all times. If it opens or lifts - you must either apply a fresh one or switch to the traditional healing method with ointment and wraps.

Also don’t forget:

After removing the film, you still need to moisturize the tattoo 2–3 times a day for a while. This is especially important for larger pieces, which take longer to heal.

The same restrictions apply to both healing methods:

No sun exposure or tanning beds for 2 weeks
No workouts for 1 week
No swimming (pools, lakes, ocean) for 2 weeks
No hot baths or saunas for 2 weeks
Avoid alcohol for the first 2 weeks

VERY IMPORTANT ❗️

YOU are also responsible for the quality of your tattoo.

If you ignore the healing process, best case - you’ll end up with a design full of imperfections. Worst case — you could get blistering, scarring, or even a nasty infection if you don’t wear a protective wrap properly.

👉 I have a visual article with photos showing what happens when aftercare rules are broken.

Hope this guide was helpful. Wishing you smooth healing and lots of joy from your new tattoo!

AFTERCARE GUIDE

Healed tattoos