How to look after a new tattoo
Good aftercare is most of what decides how a tattoo heals and how sharp it stays. The basics are simple, and here they are, the same guidance we give every client at Order Tattoo in Jaipur. If anything is unclear, message us, we would rather you ask.
The first few hours
Leave the covering your artist applied on for the time they tell you, usually a few hours. Then wash your hands, remove it gently, and clean the tattoo.
Washing
Wash gently with lukewarm water and a mild, fragrance-free soap, using clean hands, not a cloth. Rinse, then pat dry with a clean paper towel. Do this a couple of times a day while it heals. Do not soak it.
Moisturising
Once it is dry, apply a thin layer of a fragrance-free moisturiser or the aftercare your artist recommends. Thin is the word: too much suffocates it. Keep it lightly moisturised, never gloopy, until it has settled.
What to avoid while it heals
No direct sun or tanning on it. No swimming pools, sea, baths, or soaking. No picking or scratching, even when it itches or flakes, let the scabs fall off on their own. Skip the gym and heavy sweating for the first week, and avoid tight clothing rubbing on it.
How long it takes
The surface usually looks healed in about two to three weeks. The deeper layers keep healing underneath for a couple of months, so be gentle with it for longer than it looks like it needs.
When to see a doctor
A little redness, swelling, and flaking early on is normal. Spreading redness, heat, pus, or a fever after a few days is not, and means you should see a doctor. With clean aftercare it is rare.
Thinking about a piece?
If you are planning a tattoo in Jaipur, message us on WhatsApp.
Questions
- How long does a tattoo take to heal?
- The surface usually heals in about two to three weeks, while the deeper layers keep healing for a couple of months. Be gentle with it longer than it looks like it needs.
- How often should I wash a new tattoo?
- Gently, a couple of times a day, with lukewarm water and mild fragrance-free soap, then pat dry. Do not soak it.
- What should I put on a new tattoo?
- A thin layer of fragrance-free moisturiser, or the aftercare your artist recommends. Thin, not thick.
- Can I go swimming or to the gym with a new tattoo?
- Not while it heals. Avoid swimming, soaking, and heavy sweating for at least the first week or two.
- Why should I not pick the scabs?
- Picking can pull out ink and scar the tattoo. Let scabs and flakes fall off on their own.
- What are the signs of an infected tattoo?
- Spreading redness, heat, swelling, pus, or fever after a few days. If you see these, see a doctor.