Aftercare

I’ll explain aftercare in person at the end of your session, tailored to the specific area tattooed, your project, and any travel plans you may have.

This page is here as a clear reference to return to during healing. If anything feels unclear at any point, please reach out.

What you’ll need

• a pH neutral, fragrance free soap
• a pH neutral cream or balm
• cling film
• micropore tape
• kitchen roll

Products such as Seba Med for washing and Aquaphor soothing balm for moisturising have given consistently good results. If you prefer a more minimal option, plain coconut oil can also work well once the skin has started to settle.

The first days
In most cases, you’ll leave the studio with your tattoo wrapped in cling film.

At home, before going to bed, remove the film and take a shower using warm water. Gently remove any plasma buildup using your clean hand. Soap isn’t necessary at this stage unless you feel you need it. At the end of the shower, apply cold water to the area to help close the pores.

Let the tattoo air dry, or gently pat it dry with clean kitchen roll. Rewrap it in cling film before sleeping.

Repeat this process four times a day for the first two days, in the morning when you wake up, around lunchtime, in the afternoon, and before going to sleep. Your tattoo may build up some plasma overnight, particularly during the first night. This is normal and expected, and you can gently rinse it away and continue with the routine.

If changing the plastic four times a day isn’t possible, keep the area clean, wear loose cotton clothing, and avoid anything that puts stress on the skin. Once you stop using plastic, it’s important not to return to it later.

If you’re travelling shortly after your appointment, I may apply second skin instead. In that case, you can remove it once you’re home and follow at least one full day of the process described above.

Keeping the tattoo covered during the first days often reduces itchiness and heavy scabbing and has consistently given good results.

Ongoing care
Wash the tattoo gently with lukewarm water and a pH neutral soap. Use your hand rather than a cloth or sponge. Pat dry carefully with a clean paper towel.

Apply a very thin layer of cream. The skin should feel lightly moisturised, not greasy. Work the cream into the skin rather than leaving a thick layer on the surface, especially when using richer balms.

Some areas, such as behind the knee or the inner elbow, can stay sensitive for longer and may take more time to settle. In these spots, less cream is usually better. If the area starts to feel irritated, pause moisturising and let it dry out for a day or two. Adding more cream in these areas often makes things worse rather than better.

Avoid direct sun, sunbeds, scented products, and perfumed lotions for the first month and a half.

Avoid soaking the tattoo. No baths, swimming pools, saunas, or sea swimming until it’s fully healed. As a general rule, I wouldn’t do any of the above for at least the first month. A simple way to assess healing is to look for shiny areas. If any part of the tattoo still looks shiny, it’s still healing.

If you’re active or enjoy sports, it’s best to allow at least a week for the tattoo to settle. Ten days is even better if you can manage it. If that’s not possible, try to wait a minimum of five days and keep movement, friction, and sweat to a minimum.

Keep the area clean and protected from friction. Avoid contact with pet hair while the tattoo is fresh. If you have animals at home, keeping the area covered with clean cotton clothing during the first week is usually enough.

What to expect
Redness, warmth, mild swelling, flaking, and light scabbing are all normal parts of healing.

Different areas heal at different speeds. Because I work with varied techniques and multiple tones of grey, it’s normal for some areas to appear lighter or settle faster than others. Changes in contrast during healing are intentional and part of the process.

Over time, the tattoo should feel less sore, not more. If something starts to feel unusually painful or increasingly uncomfortable, trust your instinct and reach out so we can advise. If needed, it is always fine to seek medical advice as well.

Healing timeline
The primary healing phase takes around two weeks. The skin continues to settle over four to six weeks. A tattoo reaches its final appearance over several months. Raised areas or sensitivity often resolve naturally with time.

If you think a touch up may be needed, please allow at least four to six weeks before assessing this, as it isn’t possible to judge healing accurately before then.

If you’re unsure
If at any point during healing you feel unsure about how your tattoo is settling, please reach out. Clear photos can help us assess the situation and flag anything that may need attention.

Once healed
Once your tattoo is fully healed, you’re welcome to check in. If you’re local or visiting the area, I prefer to see healed work in person when possible, as it allows me to give final feedback and address any small adjustments if needed.

I also allocate time each month for professional photo sessions. If you’d like to take part, I’d be happy to do so and share the high resolution images with you once they’re edited.

My priority is that your tattoo settles well and feels complete once it has fully healed. Thoughtful feedback is very welcome.

For guidance on how to take clear healed photos, please follow this link.