How To Take Care Of Your New Tattoo

Getting a new tattoo is an exciting experience. Whether it’s your first piece of ink or you’re adding to an existing collection, proper aftercare is crucial to ensure your tattoo heals beautifully and stays vibrant. Here’s a step-by-step guide to taking care of your new tattoo.

1. Listen to Your Tattoo Artist’s Instructions

Every tattoo artist may have slightly different aftercare recommendations based on the type of tattoo and your skin type, so it’s essential to follow their guidance. They know how to best care for their specific techniques and materials.

2. Leave the Bandage On

Once your tattoo is finished, our artists will cover it with moisturiser and clingfilm. You must leave this on for at least 1-2 hours. This protects the fresh tattoo from bacteria and other external elements.

3. Wash Your Hands Before Touching the Tattoo

Before doing anything to your tattoo, always wash your hands thoroughly. Your new tattoo is an open wound, and you don’t want to introduce bacteria that could cause an infection.

Concurrently, do not let little children or dogs/pets touch the tattoo either as this can lead to infections and spread of bacteria.

4. Gently Wash the Tattoo with cool water

Once it’s time to remove the bandage, wash the area gently with lukewarm water and a mild, fragrance-free soap. Here at Devlin Ink, we sell an outstanding cleanser by Ink Doctor.

Avoid using a washcloth, loofah, or anything abrasive. Use your hands to gently clean away any plasma, ink, or ointment residue. Do not scrub the tattoo—just a gentle wash will suffice.

5. Pat Dry with a Clean Towel

After washing, pat the area dry with a clean, soft towel. Avoid rubbing, as this can irritate the skin and damage the tattoo. Alternatively, you can let it air dry for a few minutes.

6. Apply a Thin Layer of Ointment 2-4 times a day for the next 3 weeks

Once the tattoo is dry, apply a very thin layer of ointment recommended by our artist, such as Ink Doctor Tattoo butter, Cocoa Butter, Bepanthen or Aveeno.

Be careful not to over-apply, as too much ointment can suffocate the skin and slow down the healing process. This can also lead to ink falling out and your tattoo becoming patchy.

7. Avoid Tight Clothing

For the first few days, wear loose, comfortable clothing that won’t rub against your tattoo. Friction can cause irritation and even pull off scabs prematurely, which can affect the final appearance of your tattoo. This often leads to ink falling out causing patches in your tattoo.

This is particularly important for clients to have had a rib or hip tattoo where clothing such as jeans or bras could constantly be rubbing the tattoo. Following your tattoo, try to make sure you are wearing loose fitting trousers or sports bras that do not rub against the tattoo. Alternatively, you can also put clingfilm on when you are wearing tight clothing to protect the tattoo from the friction of the clothes.

8. Stay Out of the Sun/Sunbeds/ Self-Tanning

Direct sunlight can fade a fresh tattoo, and the healing skin is more susceptible to sunburn. The UV light from the sun/sunbed directly breaks down the ink pigment in your skin leading to fading. Keep your tattoo covered or stay in the shade during the healing process. Once it’s fully healed, always apply sunscreen with at least SPF 30 when exposing your tattoo to the sun. We recommend for the best results to use SPF 50.

Placing the tattoo into direct sunlight will void your right for a free top up at Devlin Ink.

9. Avoid Soaking in Water

While showers are fine, avoid submerging your tattoo in water for at least two weeks. This means no swimming, hot tubs, or baths. Soaking your tattoo can cause the scabs to soften and fall off too early, potentially leading to patchy or faded areas.

10. Expect Peeling and Itching

As your tattoo heals, it will begin to peel, similar to a sunburn. This is normal, and you should avoid picking at the flakes to prevent any damage to the design. Your tattoo may also become itchy, but resist the urge to scratch. Instead, apply a gentle, fragrance-free moisturizer to soothe the area.

During this stage, you need to make sure that you are not wearing clothing or jewellery that could pull the scars off. For example, if you just had a wrist tattoo, avoid wearing your watch or bracelets for the next few weeks until your tattoo is healed.

Scratching or picking at scabs will void your right to a free top up at Devlin Ink.

11. Do not exercise for the next few days

The minimum you should wait before exercising is 48 hours, however, we at Devlin Ink recommend at least 3 days. When you exercise, you are not only engaging in excessive movement which can cause increased friction on your new tattoo, but also you will sweating. Sweating can lead to pigment drop out as well as an increased likelihood of an infection from the bacteria in the sweat and the machines you may be touching or pressing against.

12. Watch for Signs of Infection

While some redness, swelling, and tenderness are normal during the first few days, watch out for signs of infection such as excessive redness, pus, or a fever. If you suspect something’s wrong, contact your tattoo artist or a healthcare provider.

13. Long-Term Care

Once your tattoo is healed, keeping it moisturized and protecting it from the sun will help preserve its color and sharpness. Tattoos tend to fade over time, but with proper care, you can ensure yours looks fresh for years to come.

Final Thoughts

Caring for a new tattoo is all about keeping it clean, moisturized, and protected from potential irritants like bacteria and the sun. By following these steps, you’ll give your tattoo the best chance to heal properly and stay as vibrant.

Got any questions or need further advice? Don’t hesitate to reach out to us! You may contact us using our email: DevlinInktattoos@gmail.com or alternatively pop into the shop for a chat.