Aftercare
Heal it right.
Your artist just spent hours on you. The next two weeks decide how it looks for the next twenty years. Here's the stuff every artist tells you to buy — one shopping list, sorted by when you actually need it.
Days 1–5 · Bandage
Saniderm
Waterproof second-skin bandage. Sleep, shower, live your life.
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First 3 days · Ointment
Aquaphor
Petroleum-based ointment for the raw stage. Thin layer, no pooling.
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Daily wash · Soap
Dr. Bronner's
Fragrance-free castile soap. Gentle two-a-day cleaning, dirt cheap.
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Days 1–14 · Balm
Hustle Butter Deluxe
Vegan tattoo balm. The tin most artists send you home with.
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Week 2+ · Lotion
Aveeno Unscented
Fragrance-free lotion for the peeling and itching phase.
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Forever · Sunscreen
EltaMD SPF 46
Zinc-based sunscreen. The only thing that keeps healed ink sharp.
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Chairside earns a small commission when you buy through these links. Costs you nothing extra. Every product here is one artists actually recommend.
The short version
Don't do
these things.
Most ruined tattoos aren't ruined by the artist. They're ruined in week one.
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Don't pick or scratch the peeling. You'll pull pigment out with the scab and leave patchy spots that need a touch-up.
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Don't soak it. No pools, lakes, hot tubs, or long baths for two to three weeks. Showers are fine.
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Don't smother it. A thick greasy layer traps bacteria and pulls ink. Thin enough that it doesn't look shiny.
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Don't use scented anything. Fragrance and alcohol sting fresh ink and dry the skin out.
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Don't put it in the sun. Not while healing, not without SPF after. Sun is the number one reason old tattoos look muddy.
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Don't guess if something looks wrong. Spreading redness, heat, or pus means call your artist, then a doctor.