Aftercare
How to Care for Your New Tattoo:
Step by Step
“A perfect result needs the right healing process.”
Not every tattoo needs the same aftercare. Size, style, placement, and your skin all play a part. That is why your artist decides which of the two methods suits your tattoo and explains it to you after your session.
Which aftercare method applies to you?
Your tattoo will heal either with a protective film or without one. Choose the method recommended by your artist to go straight to the relevant aftercare instructions.
Your aftercare at a glance
Option 1: With film
1. Day 1 to 3, up to day 5 if needed: The film stays on your skin.
2. After 3 to 5 days: Carefully remove the film and clean the skin.
3. From then until about two weeks later: Ongoing aftercare begins.
4. While healing: You'll find notes on bathing, sun, body care, products, clothing, and touching further down.
Option 2: Without film
1. Day 1 to 5: During the day, wash with clean hands, pat dry, and apply a thin layer of healing ointment every 3 to 4 hours. Disinfect the first time only.
2. Day 1 to 3, for tattoos with a lot of solid black: Cover the tattoo with an absorbent pad when you go outside and at night.
3. From day 6 for about two weeks: Apply a very thin layer of cream 2 to 3 times a day.
4. While healing: You'll find notes on bathing, sun, body care, products, clothing, and touching further down.
Tattoo care: How to heal your new tattoo properly
The right aftercare determines how well your fresh tattoo heals, here you will find all the steps, day after day.
Healing With Film
Day 1-3 (up to 5)
Leave the Membrane Alone: The Film does the Work
As long as the film is on your skin, you don't need to do anything. Really, nothing. This is one of the most important aftercare recommendations we can give you - don't overwhelm your skin.
If a small pocket or blister of wound fluid forms under the film during the first few hours, there is usually no reason to worry. The fluid will gradually become thicker as it evaporates. Please do not puncture the bubble, as bacteria can get in and your tattoo can become infected.
You can shower normally while wearing the film.
Allergy to medical adhesives
If the skin under the film around the tattoo (not the tattoo itself) turns red, hot, or irritated after it was applied (often as early as the next day), this points to an allergic reaction to the adhesive. It is rare, but it does happen. In that case, remove the film right away and continue with the steps under Healing without film. If you already know that you react to bandages or adhesive films, tell your artist before your appointment. We will then work without film from the start.
1st day without film
Removing the Film
After 3 to 5 days, remove the membrane. Carefully lift it at one corner or edge and let lukewarm water run between the skin and the film. Do not pull the film upward like a bandage. Instead, pull it slowly and flat toward the opposite edge. Stretching the material helps it gradually release from the skin. This makes the membrane considerably more comfortable to remove and helps minimize discomfort.
Remove the membrane earlier:
- the film is no longer sealed over the tattoo itself (lifting at the edges only is fine)
- fluid leaks out from under the film, because bacteria can then get in itching, redness spreading beyond the edges, or pain occurs, this can be a sign of a reaction, remove immediately
After that, continue with the steps under Healing without film.
After removing the film, wash the skin with warm water and a pH-neutral soap. Use clean, freshly washed hands.
Gently dry the skin with a clean disposable towel, such as a paper towel. Do not rub – simply pat the skin dry.
from then on...
Aftercare & Healing
For around two weeks after removing the film, continue applying a very thin layer of aftercare cream to your tattoo. Repeat this 2–3 times a day and always wash your hands thoroughly beforehand.
For moisturizing we recommend TattooMed – you can get the products directly at our studio.
Less is more, a very thin layer is all you need.
Healing Without Film
Not every tattoo heals under a film. This guide applies if you are allergic to the adhesive, if the film does not stay on (in summer this happens more often when you sweat a lot), if you had to remove it early, or if your artist recommends healing without film.
Day 1 to 5
Ointment care
Day 1 is the day of your tattoo session. After the first wash only, disinfect your tattoo once with Octenisept (available at pharmacies) and let it dry briefly. For every round after that, washing with clean hands is enough, because disinfecting more often irritates the skin.
Repeat these steps every 3 to 4 hours during the day:
1. Wash your hands thoroughly.
2. Wash the tattoo with clean hands, lukewarm water, and a pH-neutral soap.
3. Pat dry with a clean disposable towel. Do not rub.
4. Apply a thin layer of TattooMed or another healing ointment and let it absorb briefly.
5. If you are using pads: cover the tattoo with a fresh pad.
From day 6
Moisturizing
From now on, a moisturizer is enough. Apply a very thin layer 2 to 3 times a day for about two weeks. We recommend TattooMed. If your skin feels tight or dry, moisturize more often. After that, mornings and evenings are enough for about one more week.
For tattoos with a lot of solid black: absorbent pads
- Tattoos with large black areas release more ink, plasma, and blood during the first 2 to 3 days. Disposable underpads (absorbent pads, available at drugstores and pharmacies) soak this up and protect your tattoo, your clothes, and your bedding.
- Use the pads for the first 2 to 3 days, depending on the size of your tattoo. Once the tattoo is dry, you no longer need them.
- Cover your tattoo loosely with a pad when you go outside and at night.
- Change the pad every 3 to 4 hours during the day, always as the last step of your care routine. There is no need to change it at night.
- If you are at home, nothing is rubbing against the tattoo, and it is not leaking, you can leave it uncovered. Letting the skin breathe helps it heal.
Showering without film
Short, lukewarm showers are fine. Keep the water stream off your tattoo and pat it dry afterward.
Important
What to Do or Avoid
These rules apply to both aftercare methods. All time frames count from the day of your tattoo.
Body Care
Skip exercise completely during the first week. After that, stick to light workouts until your tattoo has healed. Saunas, steam rooms, and intense exercise are off limits for the entire healing period. In particular, try to avoid excessive sweating during the early stages of healing. No scrubs, exfoliating gloves, or brushes on your tattoo while it is healing.
Sun
Avoid direct sun exposure for the first 3–4 weeks. Even after that, consistent sun protection with a high SPF is essential to help keep your tattoo looking its best for as long as possible.
We explain why sun makes a tattoo age faster in our article Tattoo Aging Explained.
Clothing
Avoid tight or abrasive clothing directly over your fresh tattoo. Loose, breathable clothing is ideal.
Swimming & Bathing
No swimming pools, no sea, and no baths during the healing process. Prolonged soaking can soften the skin and interfere with healing.
Touching
Don't scratch or pick at your tattoo. Even if it itches, leave your skin alone and let it heal.
Products
We recommend TattooMed. Other fragrance-free tattoo aftercare creams work just as well. Avoid applying perfumed lotions or creams to your fresh tattoo.
Pets
Keep pets from touching or licking your fresh tattoo. Pet hair, saliva and dirt can contaminate the healing skin. Keep your tattoo away from your animals and, if needed, cover it with clean, loose clothing.
Alcohol
Avoid alcohol for the first 3 to 4 days after your session.
Warning Signs: When to Get in Touch
Mild redness, swelling, and a feeling of tightness are normal during the first few days. Contact your artist or our studio if:
1. the redness spreads or gets stronger after a few days
2. pain increases instead of fading
3. the area feels hot or swells noticeably
4. pus appears or the tattoo smells unpleasant
5. a rash or very strong itching develops
If you have a fever, chills, or red streaks leading away from the tattoo, please see a doctor right away. You can read more in our article Infected Tattoo: What to Do.
Whether it is a question or a symptom: always contact your artist first. Not your friends, not Google. That includes questions that might seem silly to you.
You can reach us at info@truecanvas.at or +43 650 6070 320.
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