Aftercare

Before anything else

First Things First

Getting tattooed is draining on your body.

Make sure you eat something soon after your appointment and plan for a quiet afternoon or evening of rest. To alleviate swelling, elevate the area above your heart and take ibuprofen. You may also apply a cold pack to the wrapped tattoo for 20 minutes per hour.

Jump to
Standard Healing Film Healing Wet Healing Aftercare Cream
Healing Method 1

Standard Healing

Most common · beginner friendly · suitable for all tattoos
  1. 1Leave the wrap on for a minimum of 1–2 hours.
  2. 2Wash hands, remove wrap and gently wash the tattoo with soap and warm water. Rinse with plain water. Pat dry with a clean towel.
  3. 3Apply a thin, shiny "barely there" layer of aftercare cream.
  4. 4Apply a new dressing before bed on the first night.
  5. 5Continue washing morning and night, applying a thin layer of aftercare cream twice daily, or as needed if it feels dry and tight.
  6. 6After a few days the tattoo will begin to itch and flake/peel like a sunburn. Do not pick or scratch.
  7. 7Once shedding is complete and shiny smooth new skin is revealed, your tattoo is healed. Continue moisturising for two more weeks to assist the deeper skin layers still repairing.

Things to know

Healing takes anywhere between 7–21 days.
No soaking, sun, surf, swimming, baths, or saunas until fully healed.
Do not let clothes or fabric sit or rub on the tattoo while it heals.
Sleep on freshly washed sheets, but not your best linen, as it may stain.
No pets in the bed until the tattoo heals, to reduce infection risk.
Always apply 30+ sunscreen to healed tattoos in the sun. UV breaks down pigment and accelerates fading.
If your tattoo doesn't itch, flake, or peel, that's also completely normal. Pimples near the tattoo are usually caused by too much cream blocking pores. Try adjusting the amount or switching products.
Healing Method 2

Transparent Film Dressing

Waterproof · locks out bacteria · low maintenance

For smaller tattoos, the film can be applied directly in the studio at the end of your appointment and can be left on for up to 3 days.

For larger colour tattoos, you'll leave with a standard wrap first. This gives the tattoo time to get through the initial weeping phase, which can be heavy on large colour pieces, before film is applied. After 12–24 hours, once fluid has settled, apply the transparent film yourself as a second-stage dressing.

Once the film is removed, you can either apply another piece and continue until the tattoo is healed, or switch to the standard healing method to finish.

Watch for fluid build-up In the first 12–24 hours, wound serum may accumulate under the film. This is normal in the early stages of healing. If it becomes excessive or breaches the seal, remove the film, clean the tattoo gently, and reapply a fresh piece.

Application

  • 1Clean and dry the surface, scissors, and any tap handles before starting.
  • 2Wash and dry hands. Clean tattoo with soap and warm water, rinse, pat dry.
  • 3Cut film to size, allow 3–5 cm around the tattoo. Overlap multiple pieces by at least 2.5 cm.
  • 4Peel and place over the tattoo. Smooth gently with paper towel to remove air bubbles. Do not stretch; tension causes skin trauma.
  • 5Remove the supportive top layer.

Removal

  • 1Peel up a corner. A warm shower or piece of medical tape can help lift the edge.
  • 2Gently stretch the dressing straight out and parallel to skin while supporting the dressing with your other hand. This will release the adhesion of the dressing to the skin. See example video here.
  • 3Wash and dry the tattoo, then redress or switch to the standard healing method.

Ink shedding under the film is a completely normal part of the healing process. It will look murky but will wash off when the film is removed.

Remove immediately if you notice Unusual heat, pain, redness, or milky discharge. Contact your artist and seek medical advice if symptoms persist or worsen. If you develop an adhesive skin reaction, discontinue use and switch to the standard method.
Film brands include Opsite Flexigrid, Tegaderm, Second Skin, Saniderm and Fixomull transparent. Pat the dressing dry after showering. The film is water resistant and handles normal showers fine but is not intended for swimming or submersion.
Healing Method 3

Wet Healing

Better for larger tattoos, adhesive allergies & high-motion areas

Wet healing is a more hands-on alternative to the film method. It works especially well for areas where film won't stick, for people with adhesive allergies, in hot weather where sweat can build up under a sealed dressing, and for large tattoos or areas covered by clothing where fabric contact can irritate and dehydrate the healing skin.

  1. 1Leave the initial wrap on for a minimum of 1–2 hours.
  2. 2Wash hands, remove wrap and gently wash the tattoo with soap and warm water. Rinse with plain water. Pat dry with a clean towel.
  3. 3Apply a thin "barely there" layer of aftercare cream.
  4. 4Cut a square of cling wrap slightly larger than the tattoo, place over and secure with medical tape or cohesive bandage.
  5. 5Every morning and night: remove the wrap, wash the tattoo, reapply cream, and rewrap. Continue for 4–5 days.
  6. 6Once you stop wrapping, continue with aftercare cream as per the standard method until all flaking and peeling has finished.
Don't wrap cling wrap completely around a limb onto untattooed skin. This can cause heat or sweat rash. If you're getting very sweaty, change the bandage as needed throughout the day as well.
Aftercare Cream

What to Use

Your tattoo is an open wound. Good hygiene is essential.
Bepanthen Recommended

An emollient with occlusive properties, a humectant, and pro-vitamin B5 for faster healing. Use it sparingly — a thin, barely visible layer is all you need. Bepanthen Tattoo Aftercare and Bepanthen Nappy Rash Ointment are the same formula and both work equally well. If it becomes too thick in cold weather, gently warm the sealed tube in warm water before applying. Available at all chemists and supermarkets.

Note: Bepanthen contains lanolin and is not vegan.

Other options

Hustle Butter DeluxeSmells good · Can also be used to moisturise healed tattoos · Vegan
Inky Tattoo SalveAustralian made · Vegan
Dr PicklesAustralian made · Beeswax or Vegan option · available at Woolworths
Ink NurseLightweight formula · Vegan · available at Chemist Warehouse
Organic Shea ButterBest natural alternative, preferable to coconut oil · available in health food stores. Vegan.
Always check ingredients for potentially irritating essential oils or allergens. "Natural" does not automatically mean better for healing. Petroleum-based ingredients are inert, non-irritating, and among the most effective moisture-retaining ingredients available. Their bad reputation is largely unfounded.
Good to know

Why Moisture Matters

Medical research shows that slightly moist wound conditions speed up healing, reduce pain, and lower the risk of scabbing and scarring. That said, it's a balance. Excess fluid or product sitting on the skin for too long can cause maceration, so less is more when it comes to cream.

Important

If Something Seems Wrong

Infections are uncommon but can occur if aftercare isn't followed properly. Our skin is our body's natural defence barrier, and because tattooing breaks that surface it becomes a potential entry point for bacteria and other contaminants until it heals. Bacteria like staph and E. coli live naturally on our skin, so you don't even need to come into contact with anything foreign to develop an infection, which is why staying on top of cleaning and hygiene during healing is so important.

If you notice unusual heat, persistent pain, spreading redness, or milky discharge, these could be signs of infection. It can sometimes be hard to distinguish the signs of infection from normal irritation, so this guide can help you tell them apart and advise on what to do next. If you're still unsure, your artist or studio is always a good first point of contact.