What to expect during healing:

• Days 1-3: Fresh

  • It is normal for your tattoo to be red, swollen, and tender for the first 48 to 72 hours. There may also be some oozing of blood and/or ink during this time. These symptoms usually improve significantly each day. Prolonged symptoms should be evaluated by your artist and/or a physician. 

• Days: 4-14: Recovery

  • As the healing process continues, the top layer of skin peels, flakes, scabs, and itches—similar to recovering from a sunburn. Avoid scratching, rubbing, picking at scabs, and physically removing peeling skin. Doing these things can cause more injury, damage your tattoo, and prolong the recovery period. 

• Days 14-30: Healing

  • The visible signs noted above usually resolve by the third week, however, the tattoo will may remain dull and dark appearing until approximately one month after. Remodeling of the skin underneath the tattoo will continue for three to six months when tattoos are fully healed.

• Days 30+: Fully Healed

  • In general, it takes approximately one month from the time of tattooing for a tattoo to take on its permanent form in a young, healthy individual, though as mentioned above, tattoos are considered fully healed around 3 months. However, there are some factors that can influence healing time. For one, tattoos with more saturated color areas may take slightly longer to heal.

After Care Instructions:

After an hour remove the cover and wash the tattoo with an unscented anti-bacterial hand soap, such as Dial to reduce your risk of infection. Use lukewarm water as opposed to hot water, which can burn the tattoo. It is important to wash the tattoo lightly, but be sure to remove all ointment, blood, and any other residue.

After washing the tattoo, apply an ointment such as Aquaphor. Do NOT use Vaseline or petroleum jelly. It is VERY IMPORTANT to only use a very tiny amount of ointment and that you lightly rub it on in a thin, shiny, "barely there" layer over the tattoo. The tattoo should have just a slight sheen after rubbing on the ointment. Using too much ointment can oversaturate the tattoo and cause excess scabbing or cause scabs to come off prematurely.

Use the ointment for about 3-5 days. During these days, wash your tattoo every morning right when you wake, and right before bed. It is also important to wash the tattoo several times throughout the day. The more you wash your tattoo, the easier and faster your tattoo will heal. If your tattoo is in a hard-to-reach area, have a friend help you-just make sure they wash their hands thoroughly before they do so. If you do not keep your tattoo clean, you run the risk of both infection and excess scabbing which could result in poor healing. During these first few days, depending on where your tattoo is located, the tattoo may be prone to swelling. Using a bag of ice, elevating the tattooed area, and taking ibuprofen can help reduce the swelling.

Around the 3rd to 5th day, you should notice your tattoo has formed a thin, hard layer, which will begin to peel. This is normal. At this stage in the healing process, you can switch from using the ointment to a non-scented hand lotion. Aveeno, Curel, and Lubriderm non-scented are common recommendations. For the next two weeks, keep washing the tattoo and use the lotion as needed. Keep the skin moisturized to prevent cracking and bleeding.

There may be scabs on your tattoo that take longer to come off than others. If this is the case, just let the scabs fall off on their own and be mindful not to pull them off prematurely, as this could result in loss of color.