The aftercare instructions printed on shop business cards are usually fine. The advice that comes out of an artist’s mouth at the end of a six-hour session is often more useful. Here’s what came up across 40 conversations with working tattooers on our Pro Team.
1. “Don’t Google your tattoo for the first two weeks.”
Healing tattoos look weird. They scab, peel, look milky, look dull. Almost everything is normal. Searching “my tattoo looks gross” will scare you into picking at it.
2. “Wash your hands. Then wash again.”
The single biggest cause of preventable infections is bacteria from your own hands. Soap, lather, count to twenty.
3. “Less cream, more often.”
Glop is the enemy. A pea-sized dab covers a palm-sized tattoo. Twice a day, max three.
4. “Sleep on a clean sheet.”
If your tattoo is anywhere your body touches the bed, that pillowcase or sheet stays clean for at least the first week.
5. “Hydrate from the inside.”
Water before lotion. Dehydrated skin doesn’t heal as cleanly.
6. “Skip the gym for 48 hours.”
Sweat is salt and bacteria. Get back to it after a couple days, but wipe down equipment.
7. “If in doubt, text me a photo.”
Most artists would rather see a picture and tell you it’s normal than have you panic-post on Reddit.
8. “Tip your artist.”
Not aftercare. But it came up in 40 of 40 conversations.