How much?
A pea sized amount is enough for an area the size of your palm. Your skin should not look shiny or feel sticky afterwards.
Aftercare guide
Tattoo aftercare step by step
How your new tattoo heals beautifully: explained simply, day by day, from our studio in Schlanders in Val Venosta, South Tyrol.
In short
The essentials in 30 seconds
- Keep it clean: wash it gently 2 or 3 times a day with lukewarm water and a mild, fragrance free soap.
- Moisturise thinly: just enough that your skin does not look shiny.
- Do not scratch and do not pick at scabs, even when it itches.
- No sun, no bathing, no sauna until the skin has fully closed, usually after about 4 weeks.
- After that, always sunscreen with SPF 50, so your tattoo stays crisp for years.
Every skin and every tattoo is different. If your artist recommends something else, for example a breathable healing film, follow their instructions.
Timeline
How your tattoo heals, day by day
These times are guidelines. Size, placement, technique and your skin decide how fast it goes.
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The first hours
Keep the cover on, then wash gently
- Leave the cover on for as long as your artist tells you. Regular wrap usually comes off after a few hours, a breathable healing film often stays on for several days.
- Wash your hands thoroughly before taking it off.
- Then wash, pat dry and apply a very thin layer of cream, as described below under Removing the wrap and washing.
- A little plasma, blood and excess ink on the first day are completely normal.
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Days 1 to 3
Keep it clean and moisturise thinly
- Wash 2 or 3 times a day, pat dry and apply a thin layer of cream.
- Redness, slight swelling, warmth and a tight feeling are normal and ease off day by day.
- Wear loose, clean clothes and use fresh bed linen.
- Drink plenty of water, sleep well and skip alcohol for the first few days.
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Weeks 1 and 2
It peels and itches: do not scratch
- The skin peels like after a sunburn, and thin scabs may form in places.
- Your tattoo may now look dull or milky. Do not worry, the colour comes back.
- If it itches, tap it lightly with the flat of your hand or cool it briefly. Never scratch and never pick at scabs.
- A quick shower is fine, bathing, swimming and saunas are not yet.
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Weeks 3 and 4
The surface closes
- The last flakes fall off, the skin becomes smooth again and the tattoo shines.
- Moisturise once or twice a day to keep the skin supple.
- Once everything is closed, with no scabs and no shiny patches, you can usually swim, use the sauna and train fully again.
- Has any area healed unevenly? Send us a photo and we will take a look.
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After that, for life
Protect and care
- Below the surface the skin keeps healing for a few more weeks and is often fully healed after about 3 months.
- Sunscreen with SPF 50 on your tattoo, especially in the mountains, by the water and in the snow.
- Moisturise regularly: well cared for skin makes lines and colours look clearer.
Step by step
Removing the wrap and washing
How to do it right the first time and the same way every day after.
Wash your hands
Wash your hands thoroughly with soap. A fresh tattoo is an open wound, so clean hands are the most important rule.
Peel the wrap slowly
Remove the wrap carefully, ideally under lukewarm water in the shower. Peel a healing film low and slowly, in the direction of hair growth.
Wash lukewarm
Wash gently with your fingertips, lukewarm water and a mild, fragrance free soap. No flannel, no sponge, no brush.
Rinse well
Rinse off all soap, plasma, blood and excess ink. Do not aim a hard jet of water directly at the tattoo.
Pat dry
Only pat with clean kitchen paper or a clean towel, never rub. Then let it air dry for a few minutes.
A very thin layer of cream
Gently spread a small amount of aftercare cream until it has soaked in. Done.
Kitchen paper is the most hygienic option. If you use a towel, keep one just for your tattoo and change it every day.
Moisturising
Thin is the secret
The right amount matters more than the brand. Too much cream softens the skin and slows down healing.
How often?
In the first two weeks usually 2 or 3 times a day, always after washing. If the skin feels tight, a little more often is fine, but always thinly.
What with?
A mild aftercare product without fragrance and without alcohol, ideally from a tube rather than an open jar. Ask us what we recommend.
How?
Work it in gently with freshly washed hands, no rubbing. Used too much? Dab off the rest with kitchen paper.
What to avoid
What your fresh tattoo does not like
Until the skin has fully closed, usually about 4 weeks:
Sun and tanning beds
UV rays irritate fresh skin and fade the ink. Cover the tattoo loosely, no tanning beds. Sunscreen only on healed skin.
Pools, lakes and the sea
Chlorine, salt and germs in the water can irritate and infect the wound. Lake Reschen and Lake Kaltern will have to wait too.
Sauna, steam room, bathtub
Heat and long soaking soften the skin and scabs come off too early. A quick shower is no problem.
Scratching and picking
This pulls ink out of the skin and can leave light patches and scars. Tap or cool it instead.
Tight clothes and friction
Tight trousers, belts, backpack straps, ski boots and watch straps rub on the wound. Choose loose cotton clothes.
Dirt, soil and animals
Garden, barn and workshop only with the tattoo covered, then wash. Keep pets out of your bed for the first nights.
Hard workouts
Lots of sweat, stretching and friction stress the wound. Take it easy for the first days, more under Sport.
Shaving and cosmetics
Do not shave over the fresh tattoo. No perfume, deodorant, make-up or self tanner on the area.
Sleeping
The first nights
At night your skin does the work. You just make sure nothing rubs.
Fresh bed linen
Put on fresh bed linen before the first night. An old, dark cotton T-shirt catches plasma and excess ink.
Do not lie on it
If you can, avoid sleeping directly on the tattoo. For legs or feet it helps to raise the area a little, which reduces swelling.
Stuck? Do not pull
If the tattoo sticks to the fabric in the morning, do not pull. Wet it with lukewarm water until it comes off by itself, then wash as usual.
Some artists give you a fresh cover for the first night. Only do this if your artist recommends it.
Sport
Sport and exercise
Moving is fine. Friction, heavy sweating and dirt have to wait a little.
The first 2 days
Take it easy. A walk is no problem, intense training and heavy lifting can wait.
From about one week
Light exercise where nothing rubs the tattoo and the skin is not stretched a lot. Shower straight afterwards. At the gym, wipe down equipment and mats first.
Mountains, bikes and slopes
Hiking on the Sonnenberg, biking or skiing at Watles: think of backpack straps, ski boots and the strong sun at altitude. Cover the tattoo loosely.
Swimming and contact sports
Only once the tattoo has fully closed, usually after about 4 weeks. Large pieces can take longer.
Normal or a warning sign?
When to see a doctor
A fresh tattoo is a wound. Much of what looks unusual is part of healing. This list helps you tell the difference.
This is normal
- Redness, slight swelling and warmth in the first 2 to 3 days that ease off every day
- A little plasma, blood and excess ink on the first day
- A tight feeling and mild pain, like a sunburn
- Itching, flaking and peeling from around day four
- Thin scabs and a milky, dull sheen in weeks 1 to 3
Warning signs
- Redness that spreads or gets worse instead of better after day 3
- Red streaks leading away from the tattoo
- Pus (yellowish or greenish) or an unpleasant smell
- Fever, chills or generally feeling unwell
- Strong or increasing pain and heavy swelling after day 3
- Blisters, pustules, a rash or strong itching with swelling, even weeks later (possibly an allergy)
In that case please see a doctor and do not wait. With fever or red streaks, go straight away. In an emergency call 112. Feel free to let us know too, so we know how you are doing.
Sun protection
South Tyrolean sun: keep your tattoo beautiful
UV rays blur lines and fade colours. In the mountains they are especially strong: UV radiation rises by about 10 percent with every 1000 metres of altitude, and fresh snow reflects up to 80 percent.
SPF 50 on your tattoo
On healed tattoos always use high protection with UVA and UVB filters. Apply generously before you go out in the sun.
Reapply
About every 2 hours and after swimming or sweating. Water resistant does not mean it lasts forever.
In winter too
On the slopes and on ski tours the sun on snow is especially strong. Whatever is exposed needs protection.
Clothes and shade
A light shirt or a scarf protects reliably. Between 11 am and 3 pm, shade is best.
Read more in the guide Skin care and sun.
Skin care
Care for tattoos that have already healed
Even after years, a little care pays off. Healthy, well moisturised skin makes lines look clearer and colours richer.
Moisturise daily
After showering, a mild body lotion. Your skin will thank you, especially with dry mountain air and heating in winter.
Gentle exfoliation
A mild scrub now and then removes dry flakes. Only on fully healed skin and without hard scrubbing.
Drink enough
Enough water throughout the day is good for all your skin, your tattoo included.
Touch ups
Over the years lines soften and colours get lighter. A touch up can make a big difference. Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly what makes sense.
Share and save
The 10 golden rules of tattoo aftercare
Everything important on one card. Send it to anyone who has just been tattooed.
The 10 golden rulesof tattoo aftercare · Herzstickl
- 1Wash your hands before every touch.
- 2Keep the cover on as long as your artist says.
- 3Wash gently 2 or 3 times a day and pat dry.
- 4Moisturise very thinly: less is more.
- 5Do not scratch, do not pick at scabs.
- 6No sun and no tanning beds until it has healed.
- 7About 4 weeks without pools, lakes or saunas.
- 8Loose, clean clothes and fresh bed linen.
- 9See a doctor if you notice warning signs.
- 10After that, SPF 50 on your tattoo for life.
herzstickl.com/ratgeber/tattoo-pflege/
Frequently asked questions
Questions about tattoo aftercare
How long does a tattoo take to heal?
The surface usually closes within 2 to 4 weeks. Underneath, the skin keeps working and is often fully healed after about 3 months. Large pieces, lots of colour or areas that move a lot take longer.
Can I shower with a fresh tattoo?
Yes. A short, lukewarm shower is fine from the first day, once the cover is off. Do not let the jet hit the tattoo directly and keep shampoo and shower gel away from it as far as possible. A bath in the tub waits until everything has healed.
When can I go swimming again?
Only once the tattoo has fully closed: no scabs, no shiny or open patches. That is usually the case after about 4 weeks. If in doubt, ask us.
When can I go in the sun?
Avoid direct sun and tanning beds until the tattoo has healed. If you have to be outside, cover it loosely with clothing. After that, always protect it with SPF 50.
Which cream should I use?
A mild aftercare cream without fragrance and without alcohol. Applying it thinly matters more than the brand. We are happy to tell you in the studio what we recommend.
My tattoo looks milky and is peeling. Is that normal?
Yes, that is part of healing. New skin forms under the flakes and looks like a veil at first. After a few weeks your tattoo is clear again.
Can I drink alcohol?
Better not on the day before your appointment and for the first few days after. Alcohol can increase bleeding and puts strain on a body that is busy healing.
What do I do if the tattoo sticks to my sheets?
Do not pull it off. Wet the area with lukewarm water until the fabric comes away by itself. Then wash and moisturise thinly as usual.
When can I use the sauna?
Same as swimming: only once the tattoo has fully closed, usually after about 4 weeks.
Do I need a touch up?
Usually not. Sometimes small areas heal unevenly, because of the skin, the placement or the aftercare. Send us a photo after healing and we will decide together whether a touch up makes sense.
Tattoos in Val Venosta
Tattoo aftercare in South Tyrol: what is different here
Here in Val Venosta (Vinschgau) the sun shines on many days of the year and the air is often dry. For a fresh tattoo that means: cover it well when you are outdoors and moisturise regularly, but always thinly. In summer, Lake Reschen, Lake Haider and Lake Kaltern are tempting. Ideally plan your tattoo so there is no beach or lake holiday in the first four weeks.
In winter we head for the slopes: ski boots, backpack straps and tight base layers rub on calves, shins or shoulders, and the sun on the snow is strong. That is why late autumn and spring are a great time for a new tattoo.
Do you have questions about your tattoo or are you unsure whether something is normal? Message us on WhatsApp and send a photo. We are here for you in Schlanders and Kaltern.
This guide gives general aftercare advice and does not replace medical advice. Your artist’s instructions always come first.