Aftercare Advice
Tattoo
TATTOO AFTERCARE
It’s your art — look after it well, and it will last a lifetime.
✅ FIRST 2–4 HOURS
• Always wash your hands before touching your tattoo
• Leave bandage on until you get home
• Remove gently, wash with lukewarm water & unscented soap
• Pat dry with a clean paper towel — don't rub
• Air dry, then apply a very thin layer of aftercare cream – we recommend Bepanthen
✅ DAILY CARE (2–4 WEEKS)
• Wash twice daily — morning & night
• Pat dry, apply thin cream — don't overdo it
• Wear loose, clean clothing over the area
❌ AVOID
• ❌ Picking/scratching scabs — causes scarring & ink loss
• ❌ Soaking — no baths, pools, hot tubs for 3 weeks
• ❌ Sun & sunbeds — fades ink permanently
• ❌ Petroleum jelly, perfumed creams
• ❌ Touch with dirty hands
⚠️ NORMAL HEALING
• Days 1–3: Slight redness, oozing — normal
• Days 4–10: Itching, flaking — DO NOT PICK!
• Full healing: up to 6 weeks — be patient
⚠️ Contact your Doctor if
• Spreading redness, worsening pain
• Thick yellow/green pus or odour
• Fever
Piercing
PIERCING AFTERCARE
✅ DAILY CARE
• 🧼 Wash hands before touching — always
• 💧 Clean twice daily with sterile saline (0.9%)
• 🧻 Pat dry with clean paper towel — NOT cloth towels
• ✋ Don't twist, move, or touch the jewellery
• ⏳ Keep cleaning for the full healing time
❌ AVOID
• ❌ Alcohol, peroxide, antiseptic creams
• ❌ Picking crusts or moving jewellery
• ❌ Swimming, baths, hot tubs
• ❌ Sleeping on the piercing
• ❌ Makeup, creams, perfumes near it
📅 HEALING TIMES
• Ear lobe: 6–8 weeks
• Ear cartilage: 3–12 months
• Nostril: 4–6 months
• Septum: 6–8 weeks
• Navel/Nipple: 6–12 months
⚠️ NORMAL vs. WARNING
✅ Normal: Mild redness, clear crust, slight soreness
⚠️ Speak to your Doctor: Spreading redness, thick yellow/green pus, increasing pain, fever
Laser Removal
✅ FIRST 24 HOURS
• ❄️ Cool area if required — wrapped ice, 10–15 mins on/off
• 🧼 Wash gently with lukewarm water & mild unscented soap, a tiny amount of Aloe Vera can be applied
• 👕 Wear loose, soft clothing — no friction
✅ DAILY CARE
• 🧼 Clean gently twice daily — pat dry, don't rub, a tiny amount of Aloe Vera can be applied
• 💧 Thin layer of Vaseline if scabs form
• ☀️ SPF 50+ always — no sunbeds
• ✋ Never pick blisters or scabs — let them fall naturally
❌ AVOID
• ❌ Picking / popping blisters → scarring risk
• ❌ Baths, pools, hot tubs, saunas → 2+ weeks
• ❌ Sun & sunbeds → fades skin, slows results
• ❌ Shaving over area until fully healed
• ❌ Perfumed creams, makeup, exfoliants
⏳ HEALING
• ✅ Normal: Redness, swelling, warmth, tiny blisters — 1–2 weeks
• ⏱️ Scabs fall off: 7–14 days
• 📅 Next session: at least 28 days apart
⚠️ CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR IF
• Spreading redness / worsening pain
• Thick yellow/green pus or bad smell
• Fever