Tattoo artists can have a lot of different advice on how to care for your fresh tattoo. One of the most common things I hear from clients is “I don’t know what advice to follow, it seems like every artist I get tattooed by tells me something different.” The truth is that aftercare really varies depending on the artist’s background, style, and your personal preferences as the client.
Personally, I tattoo in mostly black and gray with a very light hand. I only use Panthera brand ink for black because it is 100% organic, and I avoid using any tattoo inks that do not meet EU health regulations or may contain heavy metals. The specific shade of black I use is very dark, and instead of diluting it (creating a “greywash”) for the lighter tones in my tattoos, I just tattoo it extremely lightly, so the tattoo heals with high contrast and dimension with minimal trauma to the skin. I have experimented with this method for a few years now, and I have become very happy with the results I see in my healed work.
Because of how light and minimally traumatic my specific style of tattooing is, I recommend my clients to “dry-heal” their tattoos. This means simply keeping the tattooed area clean, washing it with a mild soap once or twice a day or as needed, and only moisturizing when necessary. That could be when it is feeling particularly dry or tight on the skin, or when it begins itching or peeling. I find that minimal moisture during the healing process, which typically only lasts about a week for my work, leads to the best healed results. You can refer to my “Healed Tattoos” tab if you would like to see some of my healed work.
I usually send clients home with plastic wrap secured to the tattoo with 3M surgical tape, unless clients have a preference to leave my studio with an unwrapped tattoo. I advise taking the wrap off as soon as you get home and giving it a wash. If it’s summertime or warm out, and you notice any sweating or fog under the plastic wrap, it’s best to remove immediately in order to prevent potential infection. If you have a sensitivity to latex or adhesive, let me know, and we can either secure the plastic wrap with self-adhering tape or skip it completely. Make sure to avoid baths, pools, lakes, the beach, any large bodies of water for at least a week after getting tattooed.
If you have any concerns or questions during healing, you can always message me on Instagram or send me photos, and I will help to the best of my ability.
ter abok, your skin should be healed and you will be good to expose it to sunlight
Doomscroll Tattoo 