Healing guide
From our Colchester tattoo studioTattoo aftercare guide
Look after it, and it looks after you.
- Remove the dressing after about two hours.
- Wash with warm water and mild, fragrance-free soap, using clean hands only. Pat dry and leave it to breathe the first night.
- Apply aftercare cream 2 to 3 times a day for 7 to 10 days.
- Don't pick or scratch. Peeling, scabbing and a silver sheen are all normal.
- Shower rather than bathe. No swimming, saunas or steam rooms until healed, and no sunbeds for about 4 weeks.
Love Hope Tattoo Care is available in the studio and online.
Black Hope Tattoo is not liable for the aftercare or healing of your tattoo.
What's normal while it heals
Days 1 to 3
Some redness, swelling and tenderness. Keep it clean and let it breathe.
Days 3 to 7
Flaking and peeling like sunburn, and some itching. Don't pick or scratch.
Weeks 2 to 4
The surface settles and may have a silver sheen. The deeper layers keep healing for up to 8 weeks.
Aftercare tips
- Avoid touching, scratching or picking
- Use the cream your artist recommends
- No swimming, saunas or steam rooms until healed
- Avoid sunbeds and sunbathing; use high-factor sun cream once healed
Questions
Tattoo aftercare FAQ
How long does a tattoo take to heal?
The surface heals in about 2 to 4 weeks, and the deeper layers in up to 8 weeks. Peeling, flaking and a silver sheen in the first weeks are all normal.
What cream should I put on a new tattoo?
Use a fragrance-free aftercare cream 2 to 3 times a day for 7 to 10 days, in a thin layer. Love Hope Tattoo Care is available from the studio and online.
When can I shower, swim or go to the gym after a tattoo?
You can shower straight away, but avoid baths, swimming, saunas and steam rooms until it has healed. Avoid heavy sweating and friction on the area for the first few days.
Is it normal for a new tattoo to itch and peel?
Yes. Around day 3 to 7 it will flake like sunburn and may itch. Do not pick or scratch it; a light layer of cream helps.
When can I go in the sun after a tattoo?
Keep it out of direct sun and off sunbeds for about 4 weeks. Once healed, use high-factor sun cream to stop it fading.
