Aftercare

Before booking an appointment you must read, understand, and agree to all booking terms and policies outlined across the ‘General Information’, ‘Appointment Information’, and ‘Aftercare’ pages.

By booking, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to these terms. If anything is unclear, contact me via email before proceeding.

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Even if you've been tattooed before, you must read these aftercare instructions in full and ensure you understand them and can follow them for the entire healing process.

Once your appointment is done, caring for the tattoo becomes your responsibility, and the healing time, process, and outcome may be affected by:

  • Your skin type and condition, and underlying health and immune system.

  • Your adherence to the aftercare instructions.

  • The products and methods you use during the healing process.

  • Any numbing agents or medications used before, during, or after the tattoo process.

Failure to follow these aftercare instructions may result in injury, infection, scarring, or other healing complications, and will not be covered under the complimentary touch up policy.

Required Aftercare Products

You will need:

  • Disposable paper towels (~$2-5)

  • Gentle, unscented, pH balanced liquid soap

    • Balm Tattoo 'Dragon's Blood Foam Wash' (200ml $38 - available for purchase)

    • *QV 'Gentle Wash' (350ml ~$8-15)

    • *Dermaveen 'Daily Nourish Soap-Free Wash' or 'Extra Hydration Soap-Free Wash' (250ml ~$10-15)

  • Gentle, unscented lotion

    • Balm Tattoo 'Dragon's Blood Butter' (50g $30 or 8g $8 - available for purchase)

    • *QV 'Skin Lotion' or 'Ceramides Lotion' (250ml ~$9-17)

    • *Dermaveen 'Daily Nourish Moisturising Lotion' or 'Extra Hydration Moisturising Lotion' (250ml ~$10-12)

The Balm Tattoo products are what I use during your appointment and recommend based on years of experience and client results. When used correctly, the 200ml foam wash and 50g butter should last most, if not all, of a full sleeve or multiple smaller tattoos.

Tattoo-branded products are not required - the recommended alternatives* are available at your local chemist or supermarket, or you may continue using your regular soap and moisturiser only if they are both:

  • Unscented and free from irritants (no fragrance, perfumes, essential oils, exfoliants, tanning agents, etc)

  • Non-occlusive (not too thick) and petroleum free (no bepanthen or barrier creams)

Aftercare Methods
If you have an allergy or sensitivity to adhesives please let me know before your appointment.

We’ll discuss which specific method to follow at your appointment.

  • If you're not allergic to adhesives, I'll apply 'Fixomull Stretch' - a latex-free, hypoallergenic, breathable dressing. Photos will be taken and sent to you before application, as visibility through the dressing is limited.

    Keep the dressing on for 7 days unless the tattoo becomes exposed or you develop an allergic reaction to the adhesive (increasing redness, itchy rash, or blisters around the edges). If you need to remove it early (following instructions below) send me a clear photo after washing and drying, take an antihistamine (allergic reactions only), and follow the 'Uncovered' method. Removing the dressing early may damage your skin and tattoo, similar to ripping off a scab.

    The edges of the dressing may peel due to friction from washing, drying, and movement. If the tattoo is fully covered, you can trim the peeling edges with clean scissors or secure with medical tape. If any part of the tattoo is exposed you’ll need to remove the dressing (following instructions below).

    1. You must wash the tattoo morning and night for the first 7 days. Start by washing your hands thoroughly and use your hands to clean the tattoo over the dressing (do not remove it!) with warm soapy water, using the foam wash or gentle, unscented pH balanced liquid soap.

      Be sure to remove all weep (blood, plasma, ink) and any 'slimy' residue, and rinse thoroughly with cool water to remove all soap residue. Pat dry with clean, disposable paper towel.

      Weeping through the dressing is normal in the first few days, just wash it off when you next shower. It's also normal for the tattoo to feel hard or tight after the first few days.

    2. Remove the dressing after 7 days by soaking it under the shower stream for 5-10 minutes, then peel it off slowly and gently while keeping the skin taut - do not rip it off or you may damage the skin and tattoo. If there's any resistance you can apply a small amount of gentle oil (coconut, jojoba, etc) to help break down the adhesive.

      Wash off all adhesive, oil, and soap residue thoroughly and rinse with cool water. Pat dry with clean disposable paper towel and dispose of the dressing - it's normal for there to be ink transfer on it.

    3. Once the dressing has been removed, send me a clear photo (after washing and drying) so I can monitor how it's healing. Your tattoo should be at the flaking stage, and some scabbing may occur - do not pick or scratch it or you may cause damage.

      Start applying a very thin layer of moisturiser after washing and drying. Repeat during the day only if the tattoo feels uncomfortably tight and dry.

      Continue washing and moisturising morning and night for 2-3 weeks, or until the tattoo is no longer dry, flaking, or shiny/silvery/milky.

  • If your tattoo was covered with an absorbent pad (Tattoo Armour) you must remove it within 6-8 hours and proceed to step 1, otherwise begin step 1 as soon as you get home.

    1. Wash the tattoo morning and night. Begin by washing your hands thoroughly and use your hands to clean the tattoo with warm soapy water, using the foam wash or gentle unscented pH balanced liquid soap, being sure to remove all weep (blood, plasma, ink).

      Rinse thoroughly with cool water to remove all soap residue and pat dry with clean disposable paper towel - do not rub the tattoo or you may cause irritation.

      Weeping is normal in the first few days, especially for larger and heavily saturated tattoos (solid black or colour) or sensitive areas (elbows, knees, etc). Wash the weep off as soon as possible, letting it dry on the surface may cause irritation or excessive scabbing.

    2. Repeat step 1 until the point where, after washing and drying and waiting ~10 minutes your tattoo starts to feel uncomfortably tight and dry and there's no weeping, soreness, or redness (usually around day 3-4, although may be later for heavily saturated tattoos or sensitive areas). Once it’s at this point you may start to apply a very thin layer of moisturiser. Repeat during the day only if the tattoo feels uncomfortably tight or dry.

      Please send a clear photo around day 3-4 so I can monitor how it's healing and make sure you’re not introducing moisturiser too early.

      Note: if redness or weeping occurs after starting moisturiser, stop using it and go back to only step 1 for a few more days, as it usually means moisturiser was applied too early or too much.

    3. Repeat steps 1-2 for the next 2-4 weeks, or until the tattoo is no longer dry, flaking, or shiny/silvery/milky. Please send clear photos around 1-2 weeks, and 4-6 weeks so I can assess whether anything needs to be touched up.

General Requirements

  • Don't touch it - only touch your tattoo to wash, dry, and apply moisturiser, and only ever with clean hands.

  • Rinse thoroughly - leaving shampoo, conditioner, or other soap residue on the tattoo commonly leads to irritation and excessive scabbing.

  • Moisturise sparingly - applying too early (while the tattoo is still weeping, sore, or red) or over-moisturising (applying too much, too often, or using an occlusive) will smother the tattoo and likely cause a complicated heal. Less is always more - the product should be absorbed within 5-10 minutes. A slight sheen is fine, but you shouldn't be able to see product on the surface. Using too much moisturiser can cause more harm than using too little.

  • Avoid irritants - do not use any soap, moisturiser, or other products with fragrance, exfoliants, perfumes, essential oils, makeup, tanning products, sunscreen, etc.

  • No submerging or soaking - no baths, swimming, spas, creeks, oceans, other bodies of water, or standing under the shower stream for prolonged periods.

  • No picking or scratching - do not pick, scratch, peel, or exfoliate any flakes or scabs. Let them fall off naturally and in their own time. If it's unbearably itchy you can take an antihistamine or gently slap the tattoo (you'll feel silly, but the sting will take the itch away).

  • Clothing - let your tattoo breathe as much as possible and wear loose clothing to avoid friction and irritation.

  • Activities - avoid all sports, exercise, and sweating for at least the first 3-4 days, possibly longer for larger tattoos and sensitive areas, to reduce the risk of injury (scrapes, cuts, graze, etc) and infection. Resume only when your tattoo is:

    • No longer weeping, swollen, sore, and/or red.

    • Not at risk of coming into contact with any person, equipment, or surface (especially floors).

    • For bends and creases (wrist, elbow, knee), no longer flaking or scabbing.

  • Animals and other people - don't let any other person (child or adult) or animal (domestic or otherwise) touch your tattoo or anything that comes into contact with your tattoo (bedding, clothing, etc).

  • Environment and hygiene - anything that touches your tattoo in any capacity must be clean. Avoid anything that poses a risk of bacteria or injury for at least 2 weeks (longer if there are remaining scabs). This includes your hands, fabrics and items (clothing, bedding, bag straps, loofahs and washcloths, shoes, etc), surfaces (floors, etc), environments and activities (dust, dishwater, gardening, cleaning, moving, renovations, fishing, etc).

  • Sun exposure - you must avoid all sun exposure for the first 4 weeks. You cannot use sunscreen on a healing tattoo, and UV exposure breaks down the chemical bonds in tattoo ink. After 4 weeks, resume the use of SPF50+ to protect your tattoo whenever exposed to sunlight, and reapply as instructed (usually every 2 hours, and after swimming or sweating). 

If unsure whether something is safe, assume it isn’t and contact me first.

Healing Stages

Days 1-4:
Redness, aching, heat, swelling, bruising, and weeping (blood, plasma, ink) are all normal. Your tattoo is an open wound - larger areas, saturated areas, and sensitive areas or skin types may experience these symptoms more. You may take ibuprofen, elevate the area, and apply ice packs (wrapped in clean paper towel) for short periods to reduce swelling.

Days 5-14:
Your tattoo should be drying out or may already be dry. Flaking and some scabbing will occur. Don't pick or scratch at it.

Days 14+:
Flaking should subside, and any remaining scabs will fall off naturally. Itching and tenderness may persist for a few more weeks - although the epidermis (surface) looks healed by 2-4 weeks, the dermis (deeper layers) can take 8-12 weeks to fully heal.

Normal activities and the use of sunscreen may resume once all flakiness and shininess has subsided and skin looks normal again (around 4 weeks). If you're not sure, send me a clear photo.

Allergic Reactions and Infection

Signs of allergic reactions may include persistent stinging/burning, redness, swelling, itching, rash, bumps, blisters or scaly patches, and/or weeping fluid. Ink allergies are usually localised to the specific colour (most commonly red), although allergies may occur from soap, moisturiser, and other products.

Signs of infection may include a rash or bumps in the tattooed area, pus or discoloured fluid (not plasma, the clear liquid that weeps in the first few days to help your tattoo heal), fever or chills, and/or  redness, warmth, swelling, or pain that gets worse over time.

Note: bumps, redness, and irritation after the initial few days may look like an infection but are usually irritation caused by washing too often (or not enough), leaving weep or soap residue on the tattoo, or over-moisturising (too early, too often, or with an occlusive). If you experience these symptoms without pus, increasing pain/warmth/redness/swelling, and/or fever/chills then continue washing twice daily, stop using moisturiser for a few days, and send me a clear photo. If the symptoms get noticeable worse and/or you experience the other symptoms seek medical attention immediately.

An infection is usually incredibly obvious. If you are concerned about anything at any point in the healing process please send me clear photos so I can assess it and let you know whether anything needs to change (more/less washing, more/less moisturiser) or if you need to seek medical attention.

Touch Ups

Some tattoos may need a touch up, others may not. Tattoos on joints (elbows, knees, etc) and high-risk, high-use areas (hands, feet, etc) are more likely to need a touch up because of the nature of the skin in these areas and their use in the healing process. It's important to keep these areas clean and dry and limit their use during the first 2-4 weeks.

One complimentary touch up is available 1-6 months after your appointment. For multi-session pieces, it may occur at the next appointment or in one final appointment at my discretion.

What it covers:

  • Linework that is meant to be solid but has gaps or sections that have dropped out.

  • Shading or colour that is meant to be saturated but has healed patchy, dropped out, or lighter than expected.

What it does not cover:

  • Failure to follow the aftercare instructions, resulting in injury, infection, scarring, or other healing complications.

  • The use of numbing cream during the tattoo appointment.

  • Changes from the original design (e.g. changing colours, adding elements).

  • Requests before 1 month or after 6 months.

Please send clear, high-quality photos (or email me to arrange a time to check it in person) within 4-6 weeks of your appointment to schedule a complimentary touch up before it expires.

I am always happy to touch up or rework my tattoos after 6 months, and if there's a cost to do so I will let you know.

The Science of Longevity

All tattoos will blur, spread, and fade over time. This is inevitable and cannot be prevented entirely because it's a result of how tattoo ink heals in skin, how skin ages, and how sun exposure negatively affects both factors.

Tattoo ink is a foreign substance deposited into your body. Your immune system responds by attempting to remove it using white blood cells called macrophages, which trap ink particles and try to break them down.

During the initial healing process, you lose around 20-30% of the vibrancy as the smallest ink particles are carried away through the lymph system. The larger ink particles remain trapped inside macrophages and stay in the skin, and that's what appears as the visible tattoo after the healing process is complete.

Skin cells constantly regenerate, so as older macrophages die, the trapped ink particles get released and the cycle repeats - smaller particles are removed through the lymph system, larger particles are trapped within new macrophages. The process repeats throughout your life, which is why tattoos gradually blur, spread, and fade - and why a fresh tattoo looks different to 1 year, 10 years, and 30 years.

Sun (UV) exposure accelerates the process. UV light breaks down the chemical bonds in tattoo ink and damages the skin, increasing cell turnover. Faster cell turnover means more ink is broken down and removed, which leads to quicker blurring and fading. Laser tattoo removal works similarly by breaking down the ink particles into smaller sizes for the lymph system to remove.

While you cannot stop the natural aging process or cell turnover, you can slow the visible aging of tattoos by:

  • Avoiding sun exposure wherever possible.

  • Using SPF50+ daily (only once fully healed) and reapplying every 2 hours or after sweating and swimming.

  • Moisturising your skin daily.

  • Exfoliating regularly (only once fully healed).

  • Supporting overall skin health through hydration, nutrition, exercise, regular blood work, and early management of health conditions.

Ultimately, healthy skin leads to better tattoos - both in the initial application, and in the long term.