The Complete Tattoo Aftercare Guide

I give this same talk at the end of every session. You've just sat through hours of work, you're buzzing, you want to show everyone — and I'm standing there saying "okay but here's the important part." Aftercare isn't glamorous, but it's the difference between a tattoo that looks incredible in ten years and one that fades within two.

Here's everything I tell my clients, written down properly.

Walking Out of Memento

Before you leave the studio, I wrap your tattoo with a medical-grade second skin film. It's a transparent, breathable barrier that seals everything in — protects against bacteria while letting your skin start healing undisturbed.

Within the first few hours, you'll see fluid pooling underneath. Plasma, excess ink, a bit of blood. It can look alarming, but it's completely normal. It's exactly what your body should be doing.

Days One Through Five: Leave It Alone

This is the simplest phase and the hardest for impatient people. Your job is to not touch it.

• Don't peel the edges. If a corner lifts, trim it with clean scissors. Don't pull the whole sheet off.
• Showers are fine, baths aren't. No pools, no ocean, no hot tubs. Sydney beaches will still be there in two weeks.
• Sleep carefully. Try not to sleep directly on the tattoo. Fresh sheets on the bed.
• Loose clothing over the area — friction is your enemy right now.

Removing the Film

After 4–5 days, peel it off in a warm shower. Let the water run under the edge and go slow — against the direction of hair growth helps. It's a bit like removing a stubborn bandaid. Not pleasant, not painful, just annoying.

Once it's off, wash the area gently with lukewarm water and fragrance-free soap. Nothing fancy — Cetaphil, QV, anything from the chemist that says "sensitive" and has no fragrance or dyes. Pat dry with a clean paper towel. Never rub.

Days Five Through Fourteen: The Routine

This is where consistency matters most. Your tattoo will feel dry, tight, itchy. It'll start peeling like sunburn. All normal.

Clean hands, thin layers, three times a day. That's the whole secret.

Wash it three times a day with your fragrance-free soap. After each wash, apply a very thin layer of moisturiser. What I recommend:

• Bepanthen — the nappy rash one (the blue tube, not the antiseptic)
• Hustle Butter — vegan, made specifically for tattoos, available at most studios
• Coconut oil — organic, unrefined, from Coles or Woolies

The key word is thin. A sheen, not a coat. Too much traps heat and moisture, which can cause breakouts or slow the healing.

The Peeling Phase

Around day five to seven, your tattoo starts peeling. Coloured flakes come away and the skin underneath looks dull and patchy. This is the stage where most people panic. It's temporary. I promise.

• Never pick at it. You will pull ink out. You'll create patchy spots that need a touch-up.
• Don't over-moisturise to try to stop the peel — it needs to happen.
• Soft fabrics only. Cotton, bamboo. Nothing scratchy.

The itch can be maddening. A gentle slap — not scratch — or a thin layer of moisturiser takes the edge off.

Weeks Two Through Four

The surface looks healed, but the deeper layers are still recovering. It's tempting to hit the beach at week two because "it looks fine" — but that kind of sun exposure is exactly what causes colour to fade early. The skin might look done. It isn't.

• Keep moisturising daily
• Avoid direct sun on the tattoo
• No swimming yet
• Light exercise is fine — just wipe sweat away and wash after

The Rest of Your Life

Once it's healed, it's part of you. But skin needs care, and so does your ink.

• Sunscreen. Non-negotiable. UV is the number one reason tattoos fade. SPF 50+ on any exposed tattoo, every time you're outside. I cannot stress this enough — especially in Australian sun.
• Stay hydrated. Healthy skin holds ink better. Drink water.
• Moisturise. Doesn't need to be tattoo-specific — any quality unscented moisturiser.

When to Worry

Some redness, swelling, and warmth in the first few days is normal. But message me or see a doctor if you notice:

• Redness or swelling that's increasing after day three
• Pus — thick, opaque, yellow-green (not the clear plasma you saw early on)
• Red streaking away from the tattoo
• Fever or chills
• A raised rash across the tattooed area

The Short Version

Keep it clean. Keep it moisturised. Keep it out of the sun. Don't pick at it. Trust the process.

You sat through the hard part already. Give your body a few weeks to do its thing, and you'll have a tattoo that looks exactly as it should — for a very long time.