Aftercare Guide
Tattoo Aftercare Instructions
Your artist covered the tattoo. The rest is on you.
Follow the path your artist recommended — ignore the rest.
Recommended Aftercare Products
Hustle Butter Deluxe · Redemption Tattoo Butter · Tattoo Goo · Headrush Healing Gel (available at our studio)
Standard Bandage
Your artist bandaged your tattoo for the trip home. This first bandage protects it from bacteria and clothing friction.
Phase 1 — First 48 Hours (3× daily)
Repeat 3 times a day — morning, afternoon, and before bed. You sleep in the bandage.
- 1Wash your hands before touching the tattoo. Every time.
- 2Remove the bandage and discard it. Never reuse.
- 3Wash the tattoo under lukewarm running water using an unscented antibacterial liquid soap (Dial, Neutrogena, or similar). Wash with your fingertips only — no cloth, no sponge. Keep washing until the skin looks matte and is no longer shiny with lymph fluid or ink. The first wash is critical.
- 4Pat dry with a clean paper towel only. No fabric towels — they leave fibres behind and cause inflammation.
- 5Apply a thin layer of aftercare product. A thin layer. More is not better.
- 6Cover with a fresh non-woven gauze pad secured with medical tape. New bandage every time — no exceptions.
⚠ No bar soap, scented soap, loofahs, washcloths, or sponges on a fresh tattoo.
Phase 2 — Day 3–4 Onward
- •Remove the bandage for good. Done with covering.
- •Continue applying aftercare product 3–4 times a day. Keep the skin consistently moisturized.
- •After 10–14 days, transition to a regular unscented moisturizer.
Second Skin Film
Second Skin is a transparent, breathable, waterproof film applied over your fresh tattoo in-studio. It acts as a full physical barrier for several days while your skin starts to heal underneath.
Wearing the Film
Leave Second Skin on for 3–5 days, or exactly as recommended by your artist.
Normal: Blood, plasma, and ink fluid collecting under the film is completely expected. That is the healing process doing exactly what it should. Do not remove the film because of this.
Removing Second Skin
- 1Wash your hands first.
- 2Find an edge and peel slowly in the direction of hair growth.
- 3Best method: remove it during a warm shower. Steam loosens the adhesive.
- 4After removal, wash gently with unscented antibacterial soap, pat dry with a paper towel.
- 5Apply a thin layer of aftercare product and continue moisturizing until fully healed.
HeadRush Healing Gel
Headrush Healing Gel is our in-house aftercare product — a 100% natural, all-organic alternative to adhesive film.
Ingredients: Shea Butter, Aloe, Coconut Oil · No latex, no adhesives, no polyurethane · Vegan
Why We Use This Instead of Traditional Second Skin
Over the years a number of clients developed allergic reactions to adhesive film — rashes, irritation, and occasional light scarring. The gel eliminates that risk entirely. Since introducing it in-studio, we have had zero adverse reactions reported.
Application Protocol
- 1Wait 5–10 minutes after your session. Let the tattoo clot naturally and stop weeping.
- 2Apply a thin, even layer directly over the tattoo.
- 3Leave on for 2–24 hours. Most clients apply before bed and wash off in the morning shower.
- 4Reapply for 3–4 days.
- 5Continue moisturizing with Hustle Butter, Redemption, or Tattoo Goo after the gel phase.
General Healing Rules
These rules apply regardless of which method you used. A tattoo is a wound. Treat it accordingly.
What's Normal in the First Few Days
- •Redness, mild swelling, and soreness around the tattoo
- •Ink, lymph fluid, or blood on the surface — especially in the first 24 hours
- •Itching as the surface heals. Do not scratch
- •Peeling and flaking on days 3–5. Normal. Do not pick
During Healing (10–21 days) — Do NOT:
- ✕ Scratch, pick at, or traumatize the tattoo in any way
- ✕ Apply sunblock on an unhealed tattoo
- ✕ Wear tight clothing over the tattooed area
- ✕ Go swimming — pool, lake, ocean, or hot tub
- ✕ Sit in a sauna, steam room, or take a bath (showers are fine)
- ✕ Do intense physical activity causing heavy sweating around the tattoo
- ✕ Expose the tattoo to direct sunlight or UV rays (including tanning beds)
⚕ Signs of Infection — See a Doctor Within 24 Hours If:
- • Skin is red, warm, and increasingly painful past day 3
- • You notice pus or unusual discharge (clear/yellow lymph in first 48h is normal)
- • Swelling is getting worse, not better
A properly cared-for tattoo rarely gets infected. When in doubt — contact your artist before doing anything.
Questions about your healing?
Contact your artist or our studio before doing anything you're unsure about.
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