Made with Kleap
— Aftercare

Look after
the ink.

The first month is when your tattoo sets. After that, it's on you — keep it out of the sun, keep it moisturised, and it'll hold for decades. A day-by-day guide from the artists below.

Phase 1
Day 0

Leave the dressing on

We send you home in a medical-grade adhesive film. Leave it on for 3 to 5 days — through showers, through sleep, through everything. It's waterproof and breathable.

Phase 2
Day 1–2

Ignore it

The tattoo will look red, slightly raised, and feel warm. This is normal. Don't touch it, don't show it off, don't sunbathe.

Phase 3
Day 3–5

Remove the film

Peel slowly under warm water, like removing a plaster. The tattoo underneath may look shiny or wet — that's the plasma. Pat dry with a clean paper towel. Never a bath towel.

Phase 4
Day 5–14

Wash and moisturise

Wash gently with unscented soap twice a day. Apply a thin layer of aftercare balm (we recommend Hustle Butter or a plain, unscented tattoo aftercare cream). Less is more — a thin sheen, not a thick layer.

Phase 5
Day 14–30

Let it settle

Itching is normal. Flaking is normal. Do NOT pick, scratch, or peel. Let the skin come away on its own. Avoid tight clothing over the piece during this time.

Phase 6
Day 30+

SPF forever

Black holds for decades. Colour fades under UV. Use SPF 50+ on the tattoo whenever it's exposed to sun, including through a t-shirt. This is the single biggest thing you can do to keep it sharp.

— Hard no's

Don't.

  • × No soaking — baths, swimming, hot tubs, saunas for 4 weeks
  • × No sun exposure for 4 weeks, then SPF forever
  • × No picking, scratching, or peeling flaking skin
  • × No tight clothing over a healing tattoo
  • × No second-skin reapplication unless we showed you how
  • × No perfumed products — soap, lotion, or otherwise
When to call us

Healing vs infection.

Redness, swelling and warmth for the first 3–5 days is normal. A tattoo that becomes intensely red, hot, painful, swollen, or starts weeping yellow/green fluid after day 5 needs medical attention. Call the studio first — we can usually tell over a photo whether it's normal healing or something a doctor needs to see.

Call the studio: +44 20 7946 0958

Take it with you.

A printable PDF version of this guide — useful for your bathroom mirror during the first two weeks.

Download PDF