Aftercare guide
Tattoo and piercing aftercare, day by day. Scrub to the day you are on and follow the list.
Day by day.
Most tattoos close in two to three weeks and settle fully in four to six.
Wrap & rest
Your artist seals the piece in a breathable second-skin film. Leave it on for 24–72 hours, even if a little ink pools underneath.
- Keep the film on
- Sleep on clean sheets
- Drink water, skip alcohol
- Peel at the edges
- Swim or soak
Weep & wash
Remove the film in a warm shower. Wash with unscented soap and lukewarm water, pat dry, let it breathe.
- Wash twice a day
- Pat dry with paper towel
- Thin layer of balm
- Rub with a towel
- Cover with cling film
Flaking starts
Light flaking and a slightly cloudy look are normal. The ink is fine underneath, it just looks dull for now.
- Moisturise lightly
- Wear loose clothes
- Keep it out of the sun
- Pick or peel flakes
- Scratch, even gently
The itch
Peak itch week. Tap it, don't scratch it. A cool compress or a thin layer of balm takes the edge off.
- Tap or cool compress
- Keep washing daily
- Stay patient
- Scratch or slap
- Gym on the fresh area
Milky skin
The top layer has closed but a shiny, milky film sits over the ink. Colours will clear up over the next weeks.
- SPF 50 once closed
- Keep moisturising
- Book your check-up
- Sunbeds, ever
- Long baths or saunas
Settled
Fully healed on the surface. Come in for your free touch-up check around week six and send us a healed photo.
- Free touch-up check
- Daily SPF outdoors
- Tag the studio
- Skip sunscreen
- Ignore raised lines
What you’ll need.
Everything is in the small black bag you leave with. Restock at any pharmacy.
- Unscented liquid soapMild, no exfoliants
- Fragrance-free balmRice-grain amount only
- Second-skin filmApplied in the studio
- SPF 50 sunscreenOnce fully healed
Months, not days.
Piercings heal from the inside out. Lobes in weeks, cartilage in months.
Fresh
Your piercing is done with a single-use needle and implant-grade titanium. Mild swelling and tenderness are normal.
- Leave it alone
- Sleep on the other side
- Keep hair tied back
- Twist the jewellery
- Wear headphones over it
Clean & calm
Spray sterile saline twice a day. Let the shower run over it and dry with a clean paper towel or on cool hairdryer.
- Saline twice a day
- Clean pillowcase
- Hands off
- Alcohol or peroxide
- Pools and hot tubs
Crusties
Clear or yellowish crust around the jewellery is lymph, not infection. Soften with saline and wipe it away.
- Soften crust with saline
- Watch for snagging
- Stay hydrated
- Pick at crust
- Change the jewellery
Downsize
Once swelling is down we swap your long starter bar for a snug fitted post. This prevents irritation bumps.
- Book your downsize
- Keep cleaning
- Ask about upgrades
- Skip the downsize
- Sleep on it yet
Healing inside
It looks healed on the outside long before the channel is fully formed. Cartilage takes the longest.
- Gentle daily rinse
- Check the ball is tight
- Upgrade to gold if you like
- Remove it for long
- Force hoops too early
Style it
Fully healed. Time to build the curated ear you planned, with solid gold and titanium ends.
- Book a styling session
- Clean jewellery monthly
- Swap freely
- Buy cheap plated metal
- Let it close with no jewellery
When to call us.
Redness spreading after day three, heat, fever or green discharge are not normal. Call the studio or see a doctor.
Yes, a bit. Most people describe it as a hot scratch. Ribs, feet and hands hurt more, outer arms and thighs less. We break whenever you need.
Look at healed work in the style you want. Every artist lists their styles, and if you are unsure we will match you at the free consult.
Often, yes. Cover-ups and scar work start with a consult in person so the artist can see the skin and plan the design.
Wait until the skin has fully closed, usually three to four weeks. After that, SPF 50 forever keeps the lines crisp.
Flash walk-ins run on Fridays and Saturdays from 12:00. Custom work is always by appointment.