Aftercare & touch-ups

Always wash your hands thoroughly before touching your tattoo. Every time, from day one.

• Wash gently using your clean palm and a neutral, fragrance-free soap. Never use washcloths or sponges.
• Pat dry with a clean paper towel. Don’t rub, and don’t use a bath towel.

• Wash at least once a day with lukewarm water and neutral soap.
• On the first night only, you may wrap the tattoo in cling film to stop it sticking to your bedding.
• Wear loose, soft, clean clothes. Avoid anything abrasive.
• Foot tattoos: go barefoot as much as possible. If you must wear shoes, wrap the tattoo in cling film with a clean cotton sock.

• Your tattoo will peel like a sunburn — this is completely normal. Do not pick, scratch, or peel it.
• Apply only the ointment we supplied. Use a tiny amount and rub it in until the skin is no longer shiny — if it looks gloopy, you’ve used too much.
• Wash, dry, and moisturise one to three times a day for at least two weeks.
• Do not use Vaseline, Sudocrem, nappy-rash creams, or scented body lotions.

• No swimming, saunas, hot tubs, or baths for two weeks. Showering is fine.
• Keep out of direct sunlight for three weeks. Once healed, always use SPF 50+.
• No tight jewellery, abrasive fabrics, or shoes that rub the area.
• Avoid the gym for at least one week — two is safer.

Your tattoo should be fully healed by now. You can now:

• Gym: you’re clear to work out — but gyms are breeding grounds for staph and bacteria, so wash the tattoo with antibacterial soap immediately after you finish sweating.
• Water: stick to showers. Still no swimming, baths, hot tubs, or saunas — submerging the tattoo now is a fast track to an infection.
• Sunlight: keep it covered with loose clothing outdoors. No direct sunlight, and no sunscreen on it yet — sunscreen chemicals irritate unhealed tissue.
• Maintenance: keep washing gently once or twice a day and applying a very thin layer of unscented lotion.

If you have zero scabs, no flaking, and the skin no longer looks highly reflective or “onion-skin” shiny, the surface is officially healed and you can drop the strict restrictions.

• Water: you can safely take baths, use saunas, and swim in pools or the sea.
• Sunlight: you can expose the tattoo to the sun, but apply a generous layer of SPF 50+ first. UV is the number-one cause of fading — protect your investment.
• Maintenance: you can stop the hyper-vigilant routine. Just keep it clean in the shower and use a daily moisturiser to keep the skin hydrated and the ink looking sharp.

As the tattoo settles you might notice a light patch or an area where the ink has dropped out. If you need a touch-up, here’s how we handle it:

• Wait until week six. We can’t safely tattoo the area until the skin is fully healed.
• The policy: we offer one complimentary touch-up within the first 90 days of your appointment. Take a clear photo in good lighting and send it over so we can book you in.
• The fine print: free touch-ups don’t apply to high-wear areas (hands, feet, joints), or to damage caused by not following the two-week aftercare.

Let us know once you hit week six and we’ll get you booked in.

Some redness and tenderness early on is normal. But if you notice signs of infection — spreading redness, heat, swelling, pus, or a fever — seek medical advice, and feel free to contact us too at info@loveforink.com.