Healing is half the tattoo

Tattoo Aftercare

A tattoo is a wound before it is artwork. Follow this and your piece will heal crisp, saturated and true to the day it was drawn — Brisbane heat, sweat and sun included.

The short version

· Wash twice daily with clean hands and fragrance-free soap.
· Pat dry with paper towel — never a shared bath towel.
· Apply the thinnest layer of aftercare balm; the skin must breathe.
· No soaking, no sun, no scratching for two full weeks.
· Sunscreen for life once healed.

The Healing Timeline

Day 1 — the first night

Leave the wrap on for the time you were told at the studio (usually 2–4 hours for cling film, up to 3 days for a second-skin patch). When it comes off, wash gently with clean hands and fragrance-free soap, pat dry with paper towel, and leave it bare to breathe.

Days 2–4 — weeping and tightness

Wash twice a day and apply the thinnest possible layer of aftercare balm — enough to sheen, not to shine. Plasma and ink will lift onto your sheets; that is normal. Sleep in clean cotton, not on the fresh tattoo where you can help it.

Days 5–14 — peeling and itch

The tattoo will flake like sunburn and itch badly. Do not scratch, pick or peel — slap it lightly through clothing if you must. Keep moisturising lightly. Colour may look cloudy or dull; that layer is dead skin and it will clear.

Weeks 3–6 — settling

The surface is closed but the deeper skin is still healing. Keep it out of direct Queensland sun, and moisturise daily. Once fully healed, sunscreen every single time it is exposed — UV is what fades a tattoo faster than anything else.

What to avoid

· Swimming pools, spas, the ocean and baths until fully healed (showers are fine)
· Direct sun and solariums on a fresh tattoo — no sunscreen on broken skin either
· Gym sessions that stretch, sweat on or rub the area for the first few days
· Thick petroleum ointments, scented lotions and anything with alcohol
· Tight clothing, pet hair and dirty bedding over the tattoo
· Picking, scratching, shaving or re-wrapping the area yourself

Recommended aftercare products

Dr. Pickles is the aftercare balm used at the studio. If you cannot source it, the products below are suitable substitutes. Everyone's skin reacts differently, so if a product stings, itches or causes a rash, stop using it and switch to something simpler like plain sorbolene or just clean, dry care.

Dr. Pickles Tattoo Balm

Studio recommended

This is the aftercare used at the studio. It is formulated specifically for healing tattoos — apply a thin layer after each wash to keep the skin nourished without clogging pores.

Bepanthen Nappy Care Ointment

A widely available substitute if you cannot get Dr. Pickles. Use the thinnest possible layer and stop if you notice redness or irritation around the tattoo.

Hustle Butter Deluxe

A vegan, petroleum-free balm used by a lot of professional studios. A good alternative for moisturising the tattoo during the day without suffocating the skin.

Aquaphor Healing Ointment

Unscented and easy to find at chemists. Apply just enough to sheen — so the tattoo can still breathe — and only during the early healing stage.

Plain Sorbolene

The budget-friendly alternative. Make sure it is fragrance-free and alcohol-free. Best once the initial weeping stage has passed and the skin is peeling.

SPF 50+ sunscreen

Not for fresh skin — only once the tattoo is fully healed. UV fades ink faster than anything else. Use it every time the tattoo sees sun, for life.

The studio does not sell aftercare products directly. These are available at chemists, supermarkets and online. If you have sensitive skin or allergies, bring your usual fragrance-free moisturiser to the appointment and ask the artist if it is suitable.

When to contact the studio

Spreading redness, heat, swelling that worsens after day three, weeping pus, or a fever are not normal healing — call the studio on 0484 392 444 and seek medical advice. Minor patchiness after healing is common and is fixed free in a touch-up session; book it the same way you booked the tattoo.

Questions before your appointment? The first-timer FAQ covers pain, ID, deposits and what to bring.

Check Availability

Or call 0484 392 444 — Stallion Ink, Richlands.