• If you have ANY concerns during the healing process please do not hesitate to contact me!
  • • Remove any dressing approximately 1-2 hours after getting tattooed and wash gently in warm water. You may use a gentle soap if you want (ideally one you have used before and you know does not cause your skin any irritation). 
  • Pat dry with a clean disposable towel (or allow to air dry).
  • Approximately 24/48hrs after being tattooed begin with the aftercare (I will advise better at the appointment to suit each individual). 
  • Ensure your hands are thoroughly clean and dry. I recommend using a clean “instrument” or a disposable tool (such as a wooden depressor) to take out some aftercare each time so no bacteria gets into the remainder aftercare. Use just enough to cover the tattoo so there is a very thin layer. Please do not smother the tattoo in aftercare as your skin still needs to breathe. 
  • 24/48 hours after being tattooed if your skin feels a little tender or sore or some redness this is normal and will improve/ease after a day or two.
  • Signs of an infected tattoo include fever, pus, worsening pain, and increased redness.
  • Use the aftercare cream 2-3 times a day until the tattoo is fully healed. In some cases this could be as long as two weeks or sometimes as little as a few days. The tattoo is fully healed once all scabs have come away and your skin feels “normal” again. 
  • Please DO NOT use Bepanthen cream on your tattoo as it can drastically impair the detail and in some cases can cause a burning sensation and a rash – use ONLY recommended tattoo aftercare products.
  • Do not pick at your healing tattoo and do not allow anyone else to touch it (including pets) – it is an open wound! 
  • • Do not re-cover (unless I have advised you otherwise).
  • • Do not allow it to soak in water (I.e. baths, swimming, hot tubs etc) or to completely dry out (unless I have advised otherwise). 
  • Always try to reapply aftercare after washing and drying otherwise it could get too dry. Please avoid applying too much aftercare- 2-3 times a day is plenty! 
  • • Avoid the direct sun whilst it is healing (including sun-beds). Avoid using any other lotions or potions on the tattoo until you are sure it is fully healed – perfumes and deodorants included.
  • • Please try and avoid exercise whilst your tattoo is healing – please give your healing/fresh tattoo the best start. Sweat and/or too much movement will affect the healing ink and skin and can potentially cause irreversible damage also gym equipment is notoriously dirty and could cause infection. It’s only for a couple of weeks! 
  • Protect your tattoo forever! Always use a good high factor sun screen for longevity. UV light is one of the worst things to age/breakdown tattoos- especially with lots of detail. Only use sun screen on fully healed tattoos. 
  • • It is perfectly ok to keep using aftercare once your tattoo has healed if you want to, it certainly won’t cause any harm, but it is not “necessary”. Once a tattoo is freshly healed (I.e. once all scabs have come away) you can go back to using all skin care products/exercise etc as before as it has now healed.
  • • 24/48 hours after being tattooed if your skin feels a little tender/sore and/or some redness this is normal and will improve/ease after a day or two.

If you have ANY concerns during the healing process please do not hesitate to contact me!

Infection Warning & Safety Guide

Infections, although rare, can and do happen as your tattoo is technically an open wound and should be treated as such!

Signs of an infected tattoo include:

  • Fever or chills
  • Pus or oozing yellow fluid
  • Worsening pain
  • Skin that is hot to the touch
  • Increased redness and/or spreading swelling

IF YOU SUSPECT YOUR TATTOO MAY BE INFECTED, STOP USING AFTERCARE STRAIGHT AWAY AND SEEK MEDICAL ADVICE URGENTLY! Once you have seen a medical professional, please contact me as soon as possible to keep me informed.

Touch Ups

Sometimes touch ups on tattoos are required. These are much smaller appointments that are to just tidy up any bits that maybe didn’t heal well or missed during the procedure. It’s a perfectly normal part of the tattoo process, although not always required! Please only book a touch up if needed. After a touch up appointment I would recommend continuing with the same aftercare advice until fully healed.

If you suspect your tattoo might need a touch up it is best to wait about 4-6 weeks after your initial appointment.

Tattoo Touch-Up Policy

  • 6-Month Window: I want your tattoo to look its best! Free initial touch-ups are available if booked and completed within 6 months of your initial appointment date, allowing plenty of time for full healing and scheduling flexibility.
  • Aftercare & Neglect: Free touch-ups are available for natural ink drop-out, or any tiny spots I may have missed during the session. However, this does not apply if the tattoo was damaged during healing. Fading from picking scabs, scratching, or sun damage will require a minimum setup fee to repair the area.
  • High-Friction & Joint Placements: Certain body areas naturally experience intense wear and tear. For tattoos on high-friction or joint zones—including (but not limited to) hands, fingers, elbows, knees, and feet—I will provide an initial touch-up free of charge within the 6-month window to get it looking perfect. However, any subsequent touch-up sessions will require a minimum setup fee.
  • Cancellations & No-Shows: Your booking time is held specially for you! If you need to rearrange your free touch-up appointment, please give me at least 48 hours notice. Failing to show up or cancelling late May mean you lose the free touch-up option, and a minimum setup fee will apply to rebook.

You can contact me using the Touch Up Enquiry form and I’ll send you a link to book a free appointment at a convenient date and time. If you aren’t sure if the tattoo needs a touch up or not I’m always happy to check it once it’s healed, you can attach photos of the healed tattoo on the touch up form or I can arrange a small appointment to check over the healed tattoo. 

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