Aftercare
Looking after a new tattoo
A tattoo is a controlled wound, and it heals like one. Keep it clean, keep it out of the sun, and stop touching it. That is most of the job — the rest is below.
Written by the artists at Mother Goose Tattoo, Kensington. If your artist gave you different instructions, follow theirs — they know what they put in your skin.
The short version
- 1
Leave the wrap on for a few hours.
- 2
Wash twice a day, fragrance-free.
- 3
Moisturise thin, not thick.
- 4
No picking, no sun, no swimming.
Day by day
What happens, and when
Hours 0–4
Leave the wrap on
Your artist wraps you before you leave. Leave it alone for the first few hours — longer if you were given a second-skin film, which can stay on for two to three days. If the film fills with a lot of fluid or the seal lifts, take it off early and move to the wash step.
First wash
Clean hands, lukewarm water, fragrance-free soap
Wash your hands first. Take the wrap off under lukewarm running water, then wash the tattoo gently with fragrance-free soap and your fingertips — no cloth, no scrubbing. Rinse until it stops feeling slippery. Pat dry with a clean towel or paper towel; do not rub.
Days 1–3
Wash twice a day, moisturise thin
Wash morning and night. After each wash, once the skin is dry, apply a thin layer of fragrance-free moisturiser — thin enough that the tattoo still looks matte, not shiny. A thick layer suffocates it and traps bacteria. Some redness, warmth and clear or lightly inked weeping is normal.
Days 4–14
It peels and it itches — leave it be
Flaking, tightness and itching are the tattoo healing, not a problem. Do not pick, scratch or peel the flakes; pulling a flake early pulls the ink out with it and that becomes a patchy heal you will need touched up. Keep moisturising thinly. Loose clothing over the area.
Weeks 2–4
The cloudy stage
Once the flaking stops the tattoo often looks dull, cloudy or slightly milky. That is the new layer of skin over the top and it settles. Do not panic and do not book a touch-up yet.
Months 2–3
Fully healed
The deeper layers finish healing somewhere between two and three months. This is when you and your artist can honestly judge the piece — and when a touch-up, if it needs one, is worth doing.
Do
- Wash twice a day with fragrance-free soap and clean fingertips.
- Moisturise in a thin layer — matte, not shiny.
- Wear loose, clean clothing over the area.
- Sleep on clean sheets for the first week.
- Drink water and eat properly — healing is a physical job.
Don’t
- No picking, scratching or peeling the flakes.
- No pools, spas, baths, rivers or the ocean until it is fully healed.
- No direct sun on a healing tattoo — and sunscreen on it forever after.
- No gym, sweat or heavy friction over the area for about a week.
- No petroleum jelly, no scented lotion, no "healing" balms with fragrance.
Worth taking seriously
When to see a doctor
Infections are uncommon and very treatable early. See a GP — not your artist — if you get any of the following:
- — Redness that spreads outward from the tattoo after day three.
- — A hot, hard, swollen area, or pain that gets worse instead of better.
- — Yellow or green discharge, or a bad smell.
- — A fever, chills, or feeling generally unwell.
- — A rash or hives around the tattoo, which can be a reaction to a pigment.
This guide is general information from working tattoo artists, not medical advice.
Questions we get asked
Aftercare FAQ
How long does a tattoo take to heal?
The surface heals in about two weeks — that is when the flaking finishes.
The deeper layers take two to three months. A tattoo can look healed long before it actually is, which is why touch-ups are judged at the three-month mark, not the two-week one.
Can I shower with a new tattoo?
Yes, shower normally from day one — but no soaking. No baths, pools, spas or the ocean until it has fully healed.
Healing usually takes two to three weeks. A quick shower is fine; a long soak reopens the skin and risks infection and ink loss.
Why is my tattoo peeling?
Peeling is the normal healing process — a tattoo is a controlled wound and the top layer of skin flakes off as it repairs, usually from day four to day fourteen.
Do not help it along. Picking a flake early pulls ink out of the skin and leaves a patchy spot that needs a touch-up.
What moisturiser should I use on a new tattoo?
Anything fragrance-free and simple.
A basic sorbolene or an unscented moisturising cream works. Avoid petroleum jelly, scented lotions and thick occlusive balms — they trap heat and bacteria against a healing wound.
Can I go to the gym after getting tattooed?
Give it about a week, longer for a large piece or one over a joint.
Sweat, friction from equipment and gym surfaces are all infection risks, and stretching fresh skin over a moving joint can distort the linework while it heals.
Is it normal for a new tattoo to be red and warm?
Mild redness, swelling and warmth for the first few days is normal.
What is not normal: spreading redness, a hot hard area, yellow or green discharge, a bad smell, or a fever. Any of those means see a doctor — not your artist.
When can I get a touch-up?
After three months, once the tattoo is genuinely healed.
Talk to the artist who did the piece — they know what they put in and how it settled. Most artists will sort a small touch-up on their own work.
How do I stop my tattoo fading?
Sunscreen, and then more sunscreen.
UV is what fades tattoos — not age, not washing. Once the piece is healed, keep SPF 50 on it any time it is in the sun. Keeping your skin moisturised helps it hold its contrast too.
Next piece
Find your artist
Black and grey, realism, fine-line or colour — see who does what, then book direct.
Meet the artistsCovering something up
Lightening & removal
Ink Off Laser is in the same building — a few sessions can give your artist a much better canvas to work on.
inkoff.com.au