The hard part of getting a tattoo isn't the needle. It's the two weeks after. A piece that looked perfect when you walked out of the studio can lose detail, blow out, or fade unevenly if it's not healed properly. The good news: aftercare is simple. There are only a handful of rules, and they don't change.
This is the routine we recommend to everyone who walks out of Inkspace Tattoo Studio with fresh ink.
The first 24 hours
Your tattoo is wrapped before you leave the chair. Depending on the piece, you'll have either:
- Cling film / clear wrap — leave on for 2 to 4 hours, then remove.
- Second-skin film (Saniderm, Dermalize, etc.) — leave on for 2 to 5 days unless told otherwise.
When you take the wrap off:
- Wash your hands.
- Rinse the tattoo gently with lukewarm water.
- Use a fragrance-free, mild soap. Dial Gold, Cetaphil, or any pH-balanced unscented soap works.
- Pat dry with a clean paper towel. No cloth towels — they carry bacteria.
- Air-dry for 5 minutes.
- Apply a very thin layer of aftercare ointment.
Day 1 to Day 3 — the weeping stage
Your tattoo will leak a mix of plasma, ink, and a little blood. This is normal. It's the body building the first scab layer.
- Wash 2 to 3 times a day with the same routine above.
- Apply a thin layer of unscented healing ointment (Bepanthen, Aquaphor, or a tattoo-specific balm).
- Thin is the key word. A heavy layer suffocates the skin and traps bacteria.
Sleep on a clean sheet. If the placement allows it, sleep on the opposite side.
Day 4 to Day 14 — peeling and itching
This is when most people panic. Don't.
- The tattoo will start to flake and peel like a sunburn. The flakes will look like coloured ink. They are dead skin, not your tattoo falling off.
- It will itch. A lot. Do not scratch. Tap or slap the area gently if you must.
- Switch from ointment to a light, unscented moisturiser (Lubriderm, Eucerin, CeraVe).
- Keep washing once or twice a day.
By day 10 to 14 the surface should look mostly healed. The deeper layers continue healing for another 2 to 4 weeks.
What to avoid (for at least 2 weeks)
These are non-negotiable:
- No swimming. Pools, oceans, lakes, hot tubs — all of them carry bacteria and chlorine.
- No long, hot showers. Quick, lukewarm only.
- No direct sunlight. UV is the single biggest killer of tattoo colour. Cover up or stay in the shade.
- No sunscreen on a fresh tattoo. Once it's fully healed (4 weeks+), use SPF 50 every day.
- No gym sweat directly on the area. If you must train, cover it with breathable wrap.
- No tight clothing rubbing the piece.
- No alcohol for the first 48 hours. It thins the blood and slows healing.
- No re-wrapping unless your artist told you to.
Signs of trouble
A small amount of redness, swelling and warmth in the first 3 days is normal. What is not normal:
- Pus that is yellow or green
- Red streaking spreading away from the tattoo
- Fever or chills
- Severe, increasing pain after day 3
If any of those appear, message your artist and see a doctor. A tattoo infection treated quickly is a non-issue. Ignored, it can scar the piece permanently.
Long-term care — the next forty years
Once your tattoo is fully healed, two habits keep it sharp:
- Sunscreen. SPF 50 on the piece every time it's exposed. The sun fades black faster than any other colour.
- Moisturise. Hydrated skin holds ink better. Daily lotion is enough.
Touch-ups are normal. Most studios — including ours — offer free touch-ups on flash pieces within the first 3 months if any small spots need refilling.
A note on Indian summers
Delhi heat and tattoos don't mix well. If you can, plan fresh ink for cooler months, or at least for a week when you don't have outdoor commitments. Sweat, dust and Sun are the three things your healing tattoo wants nothing to do with.
If you've just been tattooed at Flash Tattoo Day, you have our WhatsApp. Send us a photo at day 3, day 7, and day 14. We'd rather hear from you too often than too late.
Healing well is part of the tattoo. Treat it right and the piece will outlast almost everything else you own.
Book your next piece → or browse new flash designs → when you're fully healed.
