No. 07 Aftercare
How to take care of your new tattoo
Keep the wrap on for as long as Chris tells you, wash the tattoo gently with fragrance-free soap, apply a thin layer of unscented moisturizer, and keep it out of the sun, pools, baths and the gym for two weeks. Don't pick the flakes. Follow the specific instructions Chris gives you at your appointment; they override anything here.
This is general guidance, not medical advice. If something looks or feels wrong, contact the shop and, if it's getting worse, see a doctor.
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Step 1: Leave the wrap on as instructed
Chris wraps the fresh tattoo before you leave. Keep the wrap on for the time he gives you; it depends on the kind of wrap he used. Take it off with clean hands, and do not re-wrap the tattoo unless he told you to.
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Step 2: Wash it gently
Wash the tattoo with lukewarm water and a mild, fragrance-free soap, using clean fingertips rather than a cloth or sponge. Rinse well, then pat dry with a clean paper towel. Two or three washes a day through the first two weeks is plenty.
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Step 3: Moisturize, thinly
Once the skin is dry, apply a thin layer of unscented moisturizer. Thin means you can barely see it; a thick coat traps moisture and slows healing. Reapply when the tattoo feels tight or dry, and keep the tube clean.
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Step 4: Keep it out of water, sun and the gym for two weeks
No soaking: no baths, pools, hot tubs or ocean for two weeks. Quick showers are fine. Keep the tattoo out of direct sun, and once it has healed, use sunscreen to protect the color. Skip the gym and anything that gets the area sweaty or rubbed.
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Step 5: Do not pick, scratch or shave it
Peeling and itching are a normal part of the second week. Let the flakes fall off on their own; picking pulls ink out and leaves light spots. Pat the itch instead of scratching, wear loose clean clothing over the area, and do not shave over the tattoo until it is fully healed.
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Step 6: Know when to get help
Some redness, swelling and clear fluid are normal for the first few days. Redness or heat that spreads, swelling that gets worse after day three, pus, a fever or a rash are not. Contact the shop, and if it is getting worse, see a doctor.
How long does a tattoo take to heal?
About two to three weeks for the surface, and a couple of months for the deeper layers to fully settle. Expect tenderness and some redness for the first few days, then peeling and itching through the second week, then a dull, slightly cloudy look that clears as the skin finishes. Color and size change the timeline a little.
- Days 1 to 3
- Tender, red and a little swollen. It may weep clear fluid and some extra ink. Wash and moisturize as above.
- Days 4 to 14
- Peeling and itching. The tattoo looks dull and flaky while the top layer sheds. Do not pick.
- Weeks 3 to 4
- The surface has healed. Color looks settled, though the skin may still be shiny or slightly raised.
- Months 1 to 2
- The deeper layers finish. Dryness fades and the tattoo reads like part of your skin.
When should I contact the shop?
Contact Powerline Tattoo if the tattoo gets redder, hotter or more swollen after the third day, if you see pus or yellow crust, if you have a fever, or if a rash spreads beyond the tattoo. Call (401) 369-7771 or email info@powerlinetattoo.com. If it's getting worse quickly, see a doctor; an infection needs medical care, not a tattoo artist.
Questions about how the tattoo looks while it heals, like a light spot after peeling or a patch that looks faded, can wait until it's fully healed. Touch-ups are a conversation for after the first month; ask when you book what Chris's touch-up policy is.
No. 07 Appointment card
The next one starts here.
Healed tattoos are the best reference for the next piece. Send the idea and the placement through the booking form; Chris replies by email, and a deposit holds your date once the details are set.
- Your idea, in a sentence or two
- Placement and rough size
- Reference images
- Budget range
- Timing