TATTOO AFTERCARE - everything you need to know

If you've just had your tattoo done, don't think your tattoo journey is over. In fact, as soon as you step out of the tattoo studio, you're far from finished. That's when it all begins: the aftercare of your tattoo.

• Listen to the advice of your tattoo artist
• Clean your tattoo regularly
• Never apply too much tattoo cream
• Do not pick or pull at flakes and scabs
• Stay out of the sun until your tattoo is healed
• Avoid water as much as possible with your tattoo
• Care for your tattoo until it's healed

To enjoy your tattoo for as long as possible, we recommend taking its care seriously.

Your artist will tell you the exact same thing. The final result and appearance of your tattoo depend not only on the skills of your tattoo artist but also on the care you provide.

• Tattoo aftercare is important for your tattoo's recovery
• Tattoo aftercare prevents tattoo irritations and infections
• Tattoo aftercare prevents unnecessary touch-ups
• Tattoo aftercare ensures a beautiful final result for your tattoo

Cleaning your tattoo is the first step in its care. Especially during the first few days, it's incredibly important to keep your tattoo clean. Our tattoo soap is specially developed to make this as pleasant as possible.

You'll notice it immediately when you start cleaning your tattoo for the first time. When you wash off the blood, ink, and petroleum jelly from your new tattoo, the Cleansing gel not only cleans your tattoo thoroughly but also soothes it instantly. This is due to the cooling and anti-inflammatory action of the tattoo soap.

You'll immediately feel your tattoo, which is essentially still a wound, calm down. Swelling and redness will also be significantly reduced.

You don't have to worry about dry, tight skin. The cleansing gel ensures your skin does not dry out. It's suitable for frequent washing of your tattoo and always leaves a protective layer.

Benefits of aftercare soap:

• cleans and cares
• soothes the pain of tattooing
• reduces itching and burning
• antibacterial
• does not dry out the skin

After cleaning, it's important to give your tattoo extra care and especially prevent it from drying out. Moisturizing your tattoo is the next step in its care.

Applying cream to your newly done tattoo isn't really pleasant. Your skin is completely raw, just like a scrape, and feels irritated. Applying a thick, greasy ointment is not at all comfortable then.

Our tattoo aftercare cream is developed to spread very easily over your fresh tattoo. After application, it is also fully absorbed into your skin. So the After Tattoo does not stick to your clothes. The cream is not greasy at all.

We often get asked what the difference is between a tattoo ointment and a tattoo cream. A cream does not seal your skin and allows your tattoo to breathe properly.

The After Tattoo contains ingredients that help with the rapid healing of your tattoo and also nourish your skin well. Panthenol soothes itching and burning, while Vitamin E gives your skin a significant boost and keeps it supple.

Once your tattoo has healed, the trick is to keep it looking good for as long as possible. The ☀️ sun will be your biggest enemy. Not just in summer, but all year round. Your tattoo will gradually fade and look less vibrant over the years.

Our tattoo day cream is specially developed to care for your healed tattoo daily and protect it against fading. The Daily Tattoo Care contains a UV filter that protects your tattoo from sun rays.

Tattoo regeneration means that your tattoo heals quickly and healthily. With the right care, you ensure good regeneration and prevent your tattoo from unnecessary irritation or even infection.

Your tattoo is essentially a significant abrasion. This means your new tattoo is open to all kinds of unpleasant germs and bacteria. So, take care of that tattoo!

Even after your tattoo is completely healed, you're not done with its care. Not only do you get older, but your tattoo does too. We'll tell you later how to keep your tattoo looking good for as long as possible.

HOW TO HELP YOUR TATTOO HEAL AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE?

• Leave the plastic wrap on for as long as your artist told you. One artist might ask you to leave it on for a maximum of an hour, another might say a whole day. Your artist knows what's best for your tattoo.

• Clean your tattoo after removing the cling film with lukewarm water and alcohol-free soap. This removes excess ink, plasma, and blood.

• Pat your tattoo dry after cleaning. Use a clean, lint-free cloth. Make sure you don't rub, but pat.

• Always apply only a small amount of cream or ointment. Make sure your skin is completely dry before applying the tattoo cream or ointment. Do not apply too thickly, but certainly do not let your tattoo dry out.

• Wash your tattoo regularly. For the first few days, it's important to clean your tattoo at least twice a day. Make sure bacteria don't get a chance to infect your tattoo.

• Repeat this care process until your tattoo is healed. How long that takes exactly varies per person. Assume 2 to 4 weeks.

• Do not pick or pull at the flakes and scabs. Not everyone suffers from it to the same extent, but please leave them alone.

• Stay out of the sun. No direct sunlight and applying sun creams to your tattoo is absolutely forbidden before your tattoo is healed.

• Avoid water as much as possible. You can take a short shower with your tattoo, but swimming or soaking in a bath should be avoided for a while. Water can contain nasty bacteria that can completely ruin your new tattoo if you're not careful.

• Continue to care for your tattoo after it has healed. Protect it from the sun with a sunscreen and prevent your skin from drying out.

What can you expect once your artist has finished tattooing? We'll go through it step by step and explain how to best care for your tattoo.

Once your artist has finished tattooing, you can't just put on your clothes and walk out. Firstly, because you would give bacteria free rein, and secondly, it wouldn't feel pleasant at all.

Your artist will clean your tattoo one last time and apply petroleum jelly, for example. Afterward, your tattoo will be wrapped with cling film, but it could also be another type of bandage or a special self-adhesive tattoo film.

One of the most frequently asked questions is how long you should leave the film on your tattoo. It's quite exciting to remove it for the first time. Generally, it's recommended to remove the film after 2 to 4 hours.

If your artist works with second skin tattoo film, you can leave it on longer.

Not every artist has the same working method, keep that in mind. Just listen to your artist's advice. They know what's best for your tattoo.

Please note!

Before you remove the film, you must absolutely make sure to wash your hands very thoroughly and that you are certain you can clean your tattoo. It is important that you can immediately clean your tattoo with water and a mild alcohol-free soap.

After washing your hands, carefully peel off the tape holding the film in place. It's skin-friendly tape, so it won't hurt. Then, very gently remove the film. You'll notice quite a bit of gunk underneath. Well, not gunk. It's just a mixture of ink, your own blood and blood plasma, and if applied, petroleum jelly or something similar.

You need to wash all that 'gunk' off. Not by just putting the shower on at the temperature it was at before you got tattooed. That really doesn't feel good, we can tell you that.

Not only that. Water that is too hot, and the steam that is released, will open your pores again. That is not beneficial for your tattoo. You want your pores to remain closed to retain as much ink as possible. Lukewarm water works best. Also read Can you shower with your new tattoo?

You clean your tattoo not only with water, but also with a mild, gentle, alcohol-free soap. Preferably with a soap specifically developed for cleaning tattoos. By soap, we preferably mean a soap-free soap or wash gel with a skin-friendly pH value.

First lather the soap with water in your hands, then wash your tattoo with circular motions. Due to the petroleum jelly, it can feel quite slippery. Only use your hands for cleaning. No sponges or anything similar.

You usually won't get petroleum jelly off in one go. You can safely wash your tattoo several times in a row this way.

Don't be alarmed if you see ink running towards your drain. That's excess ink.

It is ESSENTIAL that you rinse off all soap!

After washing, you should carefully dry your tattoo. Make sure you don't automatically grab a towel from the drying rack and rub yourself dry. Absolutely do not do that! Gently pat your tattoo dry, especially with a clean cloth. Do not use a cloth that might shed lint or fibers.

You've probably experienced it before. Moisturizing doesn't work if your skin is still wet. For example, if you come out of the sea and immediately apply sunscreen. The same applies now. So make sure your tattoo is completely dry. We even recommend waiting a few more minutes before moisturizing. Then your skin will have completely aired out.

When moisturizing, the key is to apply a THIN layer. It's important not to seal off your skin. Your tattoo needs to breathe. Oxygen is incredibly important for the healing of your tattoo. However, make sure your tattoo doesn't dry out. It is essential to keep the skin moist and supple. This promotes the healing process of your tattoo. With a sufficiently moist tattoo, you have the least chance of scab formation and you reduce the chance of your tattoo itching. Too much moisture, on the other hand, increases the risk of infections. Just a thin layer of cream.

The cream, ointment, or lotion you use to moisturize your tattoo is also important. Use creams specifically developed for tattoo care. You can't just apply your perfumed body lotion to it. It is essential that your tattoo regenerates properly.

If your tattoo is covered with tattoo film, you don't need to apply anything to your tattoo as long as the film is on.

How do you ensure your tattoo heals beautifully and you can enjoy it for as long as possible? Then, in the coming period, in addition to washing and moisturizing, you should especially avoid a number of things.

• Rewrapping your tattoo with foil
• Wearing too tight clothing
• Wearing wool or other fuzzy clothing
• Touching your tattoo with dirty hands
• Touching your tattoo with dirty hands
• Picking at your scabs
• Exercising too soon with your tattoo
• Bathing with your tattoo

We already mentioned this when caring for your new tattoo. It is important not to seal off your tattoo. It needs sufficient oxygen. This won't happen if you rewrap your tattoo with cling film. Under cling film, it can get warm and humid, which bacteria love. So avoid it as much as possible.

So, is it allowed? Yes. Your artist might even recommend leaving the film on for 24 hours and advise you to sleep with the film on for the first night. Then you refresh the film during the day. In this case, always follow your artist's advice.

Wearing too tight clothing is not beneficial for your tattoo's healing; in fact, it can seriously damage the skin and lead to inflammation. Preferably wear loose clothing. It will also feel much more comfortable.

Wearing wool or other fuzzy clothing is not advisable with your fresh tattoo. Even if you have the self-adhesive film on your tattoo, there's a risk that lint might get into your tattoo. It's best to wear cotton clothing. This is also the easiest to clean if ink or blood gets on it.

That will undoubtedly happen, but oh so dangerous! The risk of infection is really lurking. If it does happen, just clean your tattoo an extra time with your chosen tattoo soap. Don't forget to wash your hands first, and only then your tattoo.

That's definitely going to happen too! Beautiful tattoos are simply irresistible and beg to be touched. DO NOT DO IT! We don't need to explain why.

Is that not allowed either? No, however tempting it may be.

Not every tattoo develops scabs, especially if you have the second skin on your tattoo.

Do you get them? Try to leave them alone as much as possible. Those scabs on your tattoo will fall off on their own. As long as they are attached, they are necessary for your tattoo's healing. If you pull them off, you risk damaging your tattoo and possibly even leaving a scar on your new tattoo.

If you start exercising too soon with your new tattoo, you risk disrupting the healing process. Your body needs all its energy to heal your tattoo, especially if it's a large area. We should also immediately add that the type of sport you do matters.

A lot of sweating and movement is not conducive to your ink. Especially not in the first few days. The tattoo ink is busy settling into your skin. Leave this process undisturbed as much as possible. The same, of course, applies to heavy labor.

If you absolutely must exercise, make sure as little dirt as possible gets into it. Of course, no dirt at all is impossible. So, wash it again. Preferably immediately after exercising, and then care for it as you usually would.

As long as your tattoo is not fully healed, it is advisable not to bathe with your new ink. The warmth will open your pores, leaving them wide open for bacteria that are always lurking, and you risk the ink bleeding. The same applies to the Sauna. Just be patient! Swimming with your new tattoo is definitely not a good idea.

When your tattoo starts to peel, it's very tempting to pick at the flakes and see if you can gently remove them. You guessed it, DON'T do it. If you pull the skin, there's a high chance you'll damage your tattoo, with all the associated risks. When, if, and to what extent your tattoo peels varies per person, body part, and artist.

Itchiness. No matter how much it drives you crazy, LEAVE your tattoo alone! It might be the most important tip of all. So much can go wrong. Not only can you ruin the appearance of your tattoo by scratching off scabs or flakes when it itches, but you also run a very high risk of your tattoo becoming infected! Nails and hands are a breeding ground for bacteria.

That might be very tempting when your tattoo starts to itch. But this prevents your tattoo from breathing enough, which is essential for its healing process. Always apply a thin layer of cream to your tattoo. The goal is to keep your tattoo supple and moisturized. Don't drown it!

Now that we've talked about drowning, we can also tell you that too much alcohol is not good for your tattoo's healing. Too much alcohol dehydrates the body and prevents many vitamins and minerals from being absorbed.

Not only that, but if your tattoo bleeds heavily, too much alcohol is also not advisable. Alcohol thins the blood, after all. The same applies if you use blood thinners and want to get a tattoo.

Drink enough water, especially during the first few days of your tattoo aftercare phase.

Tattoos and sun don't mix well. As long as your tattoo isn't healed, your skin is still so delicate that the sun can cause a lot of damage. We're not talking about your tattoo fading, but about tattoo irritations like blisters, bumps, infections, and so on. Each of these can be very painful and cause significant damage to your tattoo and your health.

If sun exposure is truly unavoidable, try to protect your tattoo as much as possible by covering it.

The first three weeks after getting your tattoo are undoubtedly the most important weeks for its care! Or perhaps even longer for some, as it varies per person. The care you give your tattoo in the first few weeks largely determines whether your tattoo will look beautiful or if you'll ruin it. Keep a close eye on your tattoo during the healing process! Pay attention to how your tattoo develops. During this period, the risk of infection or inflammation of your tattoo is highest.

Good luck with your new tattoo!

Then check out our All-in Bundle for the care of your freshly inked tattoo. 
For cleaning, caring, AND sun protection.

Our blogs about caring for your tattoo:

• Can you apply sunscreen to your new tattoo?
• My tattoo keeps itching. How do I get rid of it?
• Do you already have a friendship tattoo?
• Help, my tattoo is bleeding!
• How long does a finger tattoo last?
• How to prepare for your first tattoo?
• What should you consider for a tattoo cover-up?
• Alcohol and your new tattoo. Do they go together?
• Moisturizing your new tattoo
• When is your tattoo healed?
• How to use tattoo film?
• Sunbathing with your new tattoo. Do's & don'ts
• How to keep your tattoo looking good in the sun?
• Swimming with your new tattoo. Do's & don'ts
• Cleaning your tattoo
• Exercising with your new tattoo. Do's & don'ts
• Sleeping with a new tattoo
• What is a tattoo blowout?
• Aging and tattoos