Before & After Tattoo
Getting inked by us is only one short part of whole tattoo process. A great tattoo deserves great care FROM YOU!
How you prepare your skin and care for it afterward can significantly influence the healing process, your comfort, and the long-term appearance of your tattoo.
Please read these guidelines carefully and keep them in mind throughout your tattoo journey!
10 Most Important Rules
The 3 essentials: clean, moisturizing & sun protection
01. Prepare Your Skin: Moisturize properly for 1–2 weeks before coming and avoid tanning and skin irritation.
02. Keep It Clean: Always wash your hands before touching your tattoo and avoid unnecessary contact.
03. Wash Gently, Not Harsh: Clean with lukewarm water and mild, fragrance-free soap without scrubbing.
04. Moisturize Properly !! : Apply a thin layer of suitable aftercare product (up to 3–5 times).
05. Don't Block Skin: Avoid thick, sticky creams or excessive product that keeps your skin too moist.
06. Don't Rub: Gently dab, not rub, when washing, drying with towel, or applying aftercare cream.
07. Never Scratch or Pick: Let peeling skin and scabs fall off naturally to prevent irritation, scarring, and ink loss.
08. Avoid Direct Sunlight: Protect your fresh tattoo from UV exposure to support healing and prevent fading.
09. No SPF Until Healed: Cover with clean, loose clothing and us SPF 50+ once healed (typically from 4 weeks).
10. Watch for Warning Signs: If irritation worsens, contact us or a doctor promptly for possible infection.
Tattoo Care Step-by-Step Instruction
How to Prepare Your Skin - Healthy, well-moisturized skin is the best canvas for a great tattoo!
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Moisturize Your Skin: Start moisturizing daily 1–2 weeks before your appointment — very dry skin can make tattooing more difficult and affect how smoothly the needles work.
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Avoid Sunburn & Irritation: Keep your skin away from excessive sun exposure, tanning, harsh exfoliation, and irritating skin treatments.
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On Your Tattoo Day: You can arrive with moisturized skin, as we'll clean and disinfect the area before tattooing, but please avoid applying SPF products, especially chemical sunscreens, on the day.
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Extra Care for Very Dry Skin: If you have particularly dry skin, prepare it carefully in advance — severely dry, cracked, or irritated skin may require us to reschedule your appointment, even on the day.
Remember: Your skin is our canvas — the better it's prepared, the better we can wor
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How to Prepare for Your Appointment - A little preparation makes a big difference
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Get enough sleep: Arrive well-rested. Fatigue can increase discomfort during your session.
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Eat a proper meal: Don't arrive on an empty stomach. Bring snacks and water for longer sessions.
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Stay hydrated: Drink enough water in the days leading up to your appointment.
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Avoid alcohol and recreational drugs: Do not consume alcohol for at least 24 hours before your appointment.
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Wear comfortable clothing: Choose loose clothing that provides easy access to the tattoo area.
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Plan your recovery: Avoid scheduling swimming, sauna visits, intense workouts, or beach holidays immediately after getting tattooed.
Important: Please inform your artist in advance about skin conditions, allergies, relevant medications (especially blood thinners), pregnancy, or other health concerns. Never stop prescribed medication without medical advice.
If you're feeling unwell or have damaged, irritated, or sunburned skin in the tattoo area, contact us before your appointment.-
What Happens to Your Skin During Healing?
Your tattoo heals in stages, from a fresh micro-wound to renewed and settled skin. Understanding each stage helps you care for your tattoo properly and recognize what's normal.
Important: Healing times vary depending on tattoo size, placement, technique, and individual skin conditions. Always follow your skin's actual healing condition rather than a fixed number of days.
Stage 01 | Days 1–7 — Fresh Tattoo & Early Healing
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Your skin is recovering from thousands of tiny needle punctures, so mild redness, swelling, tenderness, and some fluid release are normal during the first few days.
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Focus: Hygiene, gentle handling, and protecting sensitive skin from irritation and contamination.
Stage 02 | Days 7–20 — Peeling & Skin Renewal
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As the surface heals, dryness, itching, flaking, and light scabbing may occur, making your tattoo look temporarily dull or uneven.
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Focus: Let the skin peel naturally, maintain balanced moisture, and avoid scratching or picking.
Stage 03 | Days 20–30 — Skin Recovery & Settling
The surface may be largely healed, and your tattoo gradually becomes clearer and smoother, although deeper skin recovery may still be ongoing.
Focus: Continue gentle skincare and avoid irritating any areas that haven't fully healed.
Stage 04 | After around 1 Month — Long-Term Tattoo Care
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Once fully healed, your tattoo becomes part of your skin's long-term appearance, but UV exposure, dryness, and natural skin aging can gradually affect how it looks.
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Focus: Moisturize regularly and use broad-spectrum SPF 30–50+ whenever your healed tattoo is exposed to sunlight.
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How to Take Care of Your Fresh Tattoo
Your new tattoo is essentially a controlled skin wound.
Proper hygiene and aftercare are essential to prevent complications and support optimal healing.
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01. SECOND SKIN (Adhesive-film for tattoo)
At Inktastic, we usually cover your fresh tattoo with a tattoo-specific adhesive film (Second Skin), a thin, transparent, breathable, and water-resistant protective film that helps shield your tattoo from dirt, bacteria, and friction during the initial healing process.
How Long Should You Keep It On?-
Follow your artist's instructions, as removal times depend on the specific film and your tattoo.
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Generally films is to be removed within 24-48 hours. But you have to check your skin condition consistently.
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Normal fluid buildup: Small amounts of trapped ink, plasma, or blood are normal.
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Remove the film early if it leaks, water gets underneath, the tattoo becomes exposed, or you experience irritation.
How to Remove Second Skin-
Wash your hands thoroughly.
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Remove the film slowly under lukewarm running water, preferably in the shower.
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Gently stretch the film back along your skin, keeping it close to the surface rather than pulling straight upward.
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Never rip it off quickly or forcefully.
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Wash your tattoo gently with mild, fragrance-free soap and pat dry with a clean paper towel.
Important: You can usually take a short shower while the film is properly sealed, but avoid swimming, soaking, or hot baths. Once removed, continue with the regular cleaning and moisturizing routine unless your artist instructs you to apply a new film.
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02. CLEANSING
Once the dressing is removed:-
Wash your hands thoroughly.
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Gently clean the tattoo with lukewarm water and mild, fragrance-free soap.
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Remove excess ink, plasma, or residue without scrubbing.
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Pat dry using a clean, disposable paper towel.
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Allow the skin to dry before applying aftercare.
Repeat approximately twice daily, or as recommended by your artist.
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03. MOISTURIZING
Moisturize regularly as needed to prevent excessive dryness, but avoid thick or sticky layers.-
Always Use Clean Hands: Wash your hands thoroughly before every application.
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Apply a Thin Layer: Too much product can keep the skin excessively moist and cause irritation.
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Dab, Don't Rub: Gently dab or spread the product without rubbing or putting pressure on your tattoo.
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Let It Absorb: Allow the product to absorb before covering your tattoo with clothing (around 30 seconds or until no longer sticky).
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Remember that your skin is super sensitive: using your usual body cream can irritate, as skin condition is different.
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Change the product immediately if you have any issue (allergic reaction, irritation etc.)
Tips for Choosing Tattoo Aftercare Products-
Fragrance & Colorant-Free: Choose gentle formulas without added fragrances or colorants.
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Easy to Carry: Pick a convenient size for reapplying 3–5 times daily, as needed.
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Hygienic Packaging: Prefer tubes or pumps over jars to minimize contamination from repeated use.
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Not Too Oily or Sticky: Avoid heavy, greasy textures that attract dust, trap heat, or build up with reapplication.
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Not Too Light: A lightweight cream may provide longer-lasting moisture than a lotion without requiring frequent reapplication.
You can also purchase suitable tattoo aftercare products that meet these recommendations directly at our studio.
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04. TO AVOID & BE CAREFUL
During the healing period:-
Wear clean, loose, breathable clothing.
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Never scratch, pick, or peel the skin.
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Keep your tattoo away from dirt and unnecessary friction.
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Avoid swimming pools, baths, hot tubs, and saunas until fully healed.
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Avoid heavy sweating and exercises that stretch or rub the tattoo, especially during early healing.
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Keep your fresh tattoo out of direct sunlight.
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Do not apply sunscreen to unhealed skin; use clean, loose clothing and shade for protection instead.
!! When to Seek Help: Mild redness, tenderness, and itching can be normal, but worsening pain, spreading redness, increasing swelling, pus, or fever may indicate a complication. Seek medical attention promptly if these occur.-
Keep Your Art Looking Its Best
Your tattoo ages with your skin — and that's completely natural.
Over time, tattoos may gradually fade, soften, or lose some of their original sharpness. While tattoo aging cannot be completely prevented, proper care and professional tattooing techniques can make a significant difference in how your tattoo looks over the years.
Why Do Tattoos Age or Fade?
Several factors influence how your tattoo changes over time:-
UV Exposure: Sunlight can break down tattoo pigments and accelerate fading.
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Natural Skin Aging: Changes in skin elasticity, texture, and structure can affect how sharp your tattoo appears.
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Ink & Color: Different pigments and colors may fade at different rates.
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Tattoo Placement: Areas exposed to frequent sunlight, friction, or significant skin changes may age differently.
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Design & Technique: Very fine lines, tiny details, insufficient spacing, and inconsistent needle depth can influence long-term clarity.
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Individual Skin & Healing: Skin type, healing response, and aftercare can affect pigment retention and the final appearance.
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How to Keep Your Tattoo Looking Its Best
01. Moisturize Regularly
Keep your skin hydrated with gentle skincare to maintain a smooth, healthy appearance.
02. Protect Against UV Exposure
Use broad-spectrum SPF 30–50+ whenever your healed tattoo is exposed to sunlight, and reapply as needed.
03. Maintain Healthy Skin
Avoid excessive tanning, repeated skin irritation, and unnecessary friction.
04. Choose Your Tattoo Artist Carefully
Tattoo quality is not just about how beautiful a design looks when it's fresh — it's also about how well it is created to age.
An experienced, professionally trained artist understands proper needle depth, skin characteristics, pigment application, and design placement.
Good technical execution and thoughtful design choices can help minimize avoidable pigment spreading, uneven healing, and premature loss of detail.
05. Consider Long-Term Design Quality
Extremely tiny details or tightly packed fine lines may become less defined over time.
A well-planned design should consider not only how it looks today, but how it may look years later.
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A Great Tattoo Is Made to Age Well.
At Inktastic, we believe a quality tattoo should combine artistic creativity, technical expertise, and an understanding of how designs settle and evolve in the skin.
Our artists consider not only the immediate result, but also the long-term appearance of your tattoo — because great tattooing is about creating artwork you'll enjoy for years to come.-
How long does a tattoo take to heal?
Most tattoos take approximately 2–4 weeks to heal at the surface. (depending on size, design & skin type)
Deeper recovery may take longer, depending on the tattoo and your skin.
Can I shower after getting a tattoo?
Yes, generally you can take a short, lukewarm shower, following your artist's dressing instructions. Avoid soaking the tattoo, strong water pressure, and hot water.
Can I exercise after getting tattooed?
Light activity may be possible, but avoid intense sweating, excessive friction, and stretching of the tattooed area during early healing. Return to your routine gradually as your skin recovers.
Can I swim or go to the sauna?
No. Avoid swimming pools, oceans, lakes, hot tubs, and saunas until the tattoo is completely healed. This helps reduce the risk of irritation and infection.
Is peeling or itching normal?
Yes. Mild itching, dryness, and flaking are common during healing. Never scratch, pick, or forcefully remove peeling skin.
Why does my tattoo look faded or cloudy?
A temporary cloudy appearance can occur as the surface skin renews.
Your tattoo's final appearance becomes clearer as healing progresses.
Can I expose my new tattoo to the sun?
No. Avoid direct sunlight during healing. It is very important to have good final healing result!
Once fully healed, regularly apply broad-spectrum SPF 30–50+ sunscreen to help protect your skin and reduce UV-related tattoo fading.
What if my tattoo looks infected?
Increasing redness, spreading swelling, worsening pain, pus, red streaks, or fever are warning signs.
Seek medical attention promptly. Your tattoo artist can advise on routine aftercare but cannot diagnose or treat an infection.
Do tattoos need touch-ups?
Sometimes. Certain areas, fine details, and individual skin characteristics can affect pigment retention.
Allow your tattoo to heal fully before requesting a touch-up assessment. To check if you need a touch-up, contact us through "online check-up"
How can I keep my tattoo looking good for years?
The most important habits are regular moisturizing, effective sun protection, and avoiding unnecessary skin damage.
Healthy skin helps maintain the appearance of your tattoo.