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    • Meet Marcos
    • Marcos Portfolio
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    • Aftercare
  • Home
  • Meet Marcos
  • Marcos Portfolio
  • Marcos Video Gallery
  • Aftercare

Tattoo Aftercare Guide

Your artist did 50% of the work. The other 50% is up to you. Follow these instructions strictly to ensure your tattoo heals vibrant, crisp, and safe from infection.

The First Clean

Leave your wrap or second-skin bandage on for the exact amount of time your artist recommended (usually 2–4 hours for standard wrap, or 2–5 days for protective film). When removing it, gently wash the tattoo with your bare hands using lukewarm water and fragrance-free, antibacterial soap (like Dial Gold). Pat dry with a clean paper towel. Do not rub.

Stay Clean & Dry

For the first few days, wash your tattoo 2–3 times a day. Always wash your hands before touching it. Let the tattoo air-dry completely for 15 minutes after washing before applying any product.

Light Moisture

After 2–3 days, your tattoo will begin to feel dry and tight. Apply a very thin layer of fragrance-free lotion (like Lubriderm or Aveeno) or a dedicated tattoo aftercare ointment. Rub it in completely—if it looks shiny or greasy, you applied too much. Blot off the excess.

The Peeling Phase

Around day 4 to 7, your tattoo will begin to flake, peel, and itch like a sunburn. This is completely normal. Do not pick, scratch, or peel the skin. Let it fall off naturally to avoid pulling ink out of your design.

The "Golden Rules" (What NOT to Do)

🛑 Crucial Restrictions (Next 2–3 Weeks)

  • NO Swimming or Soaking: No baths, hot tubs, pools, or ocean water. Short, regular showers only. Submerging a fresh tattoo can ruin the ink and cause severe infection.
  • NO Direct Sunlight: Keep your fresh tattoo out of the sun. Do NOT apply sunscreen to an unhealed tattoo. Once fully healed, always use SPF 30+ to keep it from fading.
  • NO Picking or Scratching: Scratching a peeling tattoo will create blank spots in your line work. If it itches intensely, gently slap it with clean hands.
  • NO Tight Clothing: Avoid tight fabrics that rub against the tattoo. Wear loose, breathable clothing over the area.

Frequently Asked Questions

Please reach us at (916) 664-3993 if you cannot find an answer to your question.

Avoid heavy sweating and intense workouts for at least the first 48–72 hours. If your tattoo is over a joint, avoid exercises that stretch that specific area of skin until it is fully peeled.


The surface of the skin usually heals in 2 to 3 weeks, but the deeper layers take up to 4 to 6 weeks to fully lock in. Keep moisturizing daily even after it stops peeling.


Mild redness and swelling are normal for the first few days. However, if you experience extreme redness spreading away from the tattoo, prolonged throbbing pain, oozing yellow pus, or a fever, contact a doctor immediately.


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