Tattoo 101: All you need to know about aftercare
Getting cooler one poke at a time

Finally got your first poke? Here’s everything you need to do to keep it looking good as new for ages.
The importance of tattoo aftercare is undermined way too often than it should. Itās an intricate procedure that should be attentively kept up with over the course of weeks to months, but itās easy to turn a blind eye to the consequences when youāre filled with excitement, thinking āWhat could possibly happen?ā (famous last words). Well, a lot.
READ: Beauty Chats: Everything you need to know before getting inked, according to the prosĀ
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Fresh tattoos are fresh woundsāor yassified wounds, if you will. And you should treat it like such. Beyond damaging the artwork, infections are a spine-chilling nightmare that absolutely no one wants to experience. One minute youāre going about your day with no care in the world, and next thing you know, youāre witnessing a ghastly crime scene on your body progressively worsen as you realise youāve just paid a wad of cash for an infection. Yikes.
But none of that should distress you if you simply do as your artist instructs and keep your new ink in good shape while itās healing. Besides, aftercare is fairly simple and only requires minimal effort with products that you likely already have at homeāso thereās no excuse to be lazy! Ahead, weāll guide you through everything you need to do and expect post-tattoo, along with professional advice from a veryĀ talented artist, Noah Chen.
How long does it take for a tattoo to heal?
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Generally speaking, the healing process takes roughly around two weeks to a monthāthough, it varies depending on a few factors. āItās hard to tell as it really depends on the tattoo, skin type, and how you take care of it,ā Chen explained.
Keep in mind that while it may seem as if itās fully healed within the first few weeks, in some cases, it can even take as long as six months for the flesh below the skin to properly recoverāso be sure to consistently keep up with the aftercare until youāre absolutely certain that itās completely healed below the surface. If it hasnāt made any progress within a month, then you might have a problem on your hands. Itās always recommended that you ask your artist for details, as they can provide you with a much more accurate answer.
When do I remove the bandage?
As much as youād like to rip off the bandage as soon as you step out of the studio, donāt. In the tattoo world, the clear bandage is referred to as a āsecond skināāand thatās exactly what it acts as. Specifically designed for tattoos, the second skin is a medical-grade bandage made of polyurethane acrylic adhesive. Itās flexible, waterproof, and most importantly, protects your fresh ink from bacteria and friction. According to Chen, āyou should keep it on for three to four days. Some tattoo artists use plastic wrap instead, which you should only keep on for 20 minutes.ā
What to expect
Swelling and mild bleeding
If you notice blood or clear fluid (blood plasma) oozing out of your tattoo in the first few days, donāt fretāitās totally normal. After all, your skin did just get rapidly punctured by needles for hours. That said, you should also expect some swelling, redness and itching post-tattoo, especially if you’ve gotten inked on a sensitive area of your bodyāparticularly in places that are close to your bones, with many nerve endings, or where the layer of your skin is thin, such as your elbows and kneecaps.
Peeling
Of course, like all wounds, bleeding will be followed by scabbing. During this stage, do notāand I mean Do Notāpick or scratch the area, although I know how tempting it can be. It will be itchy and unsightly, but rest assured, it will pass. Picking at your scabs could result in damaging the tattoo and removing bits of ink, so allow them to fall off naturally.
Colour change
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Once itās fully healed, your tattoo will not look the way it did when it was freshly done. Over time, the ink may appear duller and a little faded, especially with coloured tattoos. But that doesnāt necessarily mean that your artist did a bad job, itās most likely due to skin build-up. In this case, gently exfoliate the area and its pigment will eventually come back to the surface. Other causes that are irreversible include poor aftercare, too much sun exposure, and excessive frictionāall of which can be avoided with proper aftercare, but weāll get more into it ahead.
Aftercare
Do:
- Clean your tattoo daily
It goes without saying that keeping your tattoo clean is the most important part of the aftercare. No one wants to sit through hours of getting inked just for it to get a nasty infection that would just ruin the artwork entirelyānot to mention, tattoos are not cheap (and if it is, do not book that appointment).
You should be able to purchase cleaning products at the parlour that are specifically meant for tattoos. Alternatively, you can also use whatever you have at home as long as itās a fragrance-free gentle cleanser. After the second skin has been removed (with the approval of your artist), Chen instructed, āWash the tattooed area thoroughly with anti-bacterial soap and waterādonāt rub it, just let the water run through.ā Do this twice a day with mildly warm water, then lightly dab your skin dry with a clean soft cloth. Next, you shouldā¦
- Keep it moisturised
To ensure that the healing process goes as smoothly as possible, moisturising is key. Keeping the area hydrated prevents burning itches that are impossible to resist scratching, peeling and cracking issues that will ruin the design, and some serious scabbing which can obstruct the healing process. But donāt over-moisturise! With clean hands, gently apply a thin layer of fragrance-free ointment or lotion over the areaādo this at least two to three times a day for three to four weeks. The safest and most recommended product to use is Aquaphor, although any moisturiser is fine so long as itās tattoo-friendly.
- Let your tattoo breathe
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Tattoos need to breathe in order to heal, so leave yours completely uncovered if you can. If not, wear loose-fitted clothes made with soft materials such as cotton, and avoid any harsh fabrics like denim which can rub against your skin and cause excessive friction.
- Wear sunscreen
Applying sunscreen plays a huge role in how your tattoo will turn outāeven long after itās fully healed. Slight colour fading is normal, but excessive exposure to UV rays will damage collagen and accelerate the fading process significantly.
READ: Sunscreen 101: Your guide to all things SPF (and PA++++)
Donāt:
- Pick or scratch the area
Iāve already mentioned this above, but Iād like to further emphasise (again) that you should never pick, scratch, slap, rub, or peel your tattooānot even through your clothes. Applying moisturiser will help soothe the itch, but if thatās still not enough, your best and only option left is to keep yourself distracted as hard as possible.
- Swim
Until your new poke is fully healed, avoid swimming at all costs. Both chlorine and salt water will not only put you at risk of infection, but also leach the ink, making your tattoo a lot less vibrant.
- Intense activities
After getting a new tattoo, itās recommended that you refrain from doing any intense exercises for at least one to two weeks. Sweating may lead to an infection, and stretching the area will delay the healing process.
- Consume alcohol or seafood
What you consume before and after your appointment will also affect your tattoo, particularly with seafood and alcohol. Vibrio vulnificusāa nasty, life-threatening bacteria found in seafoodācan cause severe wound infections and gastroenteritis, while alcohol dilutes your blood, resulting in excessive bleeding which prevents ink from settling in your skin properly. Alcohol and tattoos are known enemies, so whatever party you have planned will just have to wait! āAvoid for at least four days, but every artist will have different advice,ā Chen explained. All things considered, consult with your artist before you indulge in anything that may affect your new ink.
Signs your tattoo may be infected
Despite being a rare occurrence, tattoo infections are still a possible outcome that you should never disregard. Wasting your money and destroying the artwork will be the least of your worries when youāre sitting in the emergency room in pain, and your skinās looking as if youāve been attacked by a flesh-eating zombie. The worst-case scenario can be avoided if you tackle the infection as soon as possible, so here are some signs to look out for:
- Abnormal redness and swelling that doesnāt go away
- Leaking foul-smelling pus
- Fever
- Chills and shivers
- Soreness getting progressively worse
- Rashes or hives
- Severe itching
Fever, chills, and oozing fluid two days post-tattoo are the most apparent indications of an infection, so if you experience any of these complications, seek professional medical assistance immediately. Moderate soreness, itching, swelling and redness are normal, and it should subside within a week or two. If youāre unsure, consult with your artist to verify.
Love Chen’s work? It’s hard not to! To book an appointment, text her at +60 11-5753 3877.
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