Getting Inked? Here’s Exactly How to Care For Your Tattoos, According to the Pros
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission.
So you’ve thought long and hard (or not) about your next (or first!) tattoo design and found a pro artist to get the job done — now it’s time to ensure your ink looks as good as the day you got it. That’s why we’ve asked professional tattoo artists and dermatologists to explain exactly how to care for your tattoos, and why protecting your skin’s health matters.
More from Rolling Stone
Last Minute Deals: Here's What's Still Worth Buying This July 4th Weekend
Here's Where to Stream Every 'Mission: Impossible' Movie Online
These Sub-$1000 Electric Bikes Prove That E-Biking Can Be Affordable
Katrina Jackson, owner of Enigma Tattoo in Beverly Hills (who’s tattooed the likes of Idris Elba, Faith Evans, and Young MA), stresses the importance of choosing a professional shop. “If the client’s tattoo is done properly and professionally, you shouldn’t experience too many issues during the healing process,” the L.A.-based artist says. “We keep our tattoo shop extremely clean and our artists follow safe procedures to avoid infections.”
Koral Ladna, a Professional Team Artist for Mad Rabbit, says that while post-needle care is key, first and foremost, it’s crucial to listen to your artist’s recommendations. While you should always get tatted in a professional and sterile environment, “You have to be patient and trust the process. The two most important things to remember during tattoo aftercare is to always keep your tattoo clean and balanced in hydration”, the New York-based artist tells Rolling Stone.
But where you go matters almost just as much as how you care for your skin afterwards. Read on for more tattoo care instructions, the issues to look out for, and the best tattoo after-care products recommended by each of our experts.
In This Article
The Best Tattoo Aftercare Products
How to Care for Your Tattoos
Issues to Look for After Getting a Tattoo
The Best Tattoo After-Care Products
If you just got a tattoo (or want to revive your existing ones) here’s what the experts recommend picking up.
BEST OVERALL: Mad Rabbit Tattoo Soothing Gel
BEST LOTION: After Inked Tattoo Lotion
BEST HEALING OINTMENT: Aquaphor Healing Ointment
BEST HEALING PADS: Spenco 2nd Skin Moist Burn Pads
BEST TATTOO FILM: Sorry Mom Tattoo Film
BEST TATTOO BALM: Viking Revolution Tattoo Balm
1. Mad Rabbit Tattoo Soothing Gel
“After the second day or so, I tell my clients to get a fragrance-free lotion or gel and apply a couple of times a day. A lot of people think you have to over-saturate the tattoo with a ton of heavy ointment, but this only causes the tattoo to heal lighter,” Jackson tells Rolling Stone.
Designed for new tattoo recovery and extremely dry skin, with hydrating and anti-inflammatory ingredients like aloe vera, chamomile, and bisabolol, this gel is helps to lock in moisture while repairing the epidermis.
Mad Rabbit Repair Tattoo Soothing Gel
2. After Inked Tattoo Lotion
This tattoo after-care lotion contains grapeseed oil, shea butter, vitamin E-rich jojoba, and beeswax to help keep the skin nourished and hydrated. It’s also dermatologist-tested and safe for daily use. A little bit of this goes a long way towards helping your tattoos look healthier, and prevent colors from fading.
After Inked Tattoo Moisturizer & Aftercare Lotion – MADE IN USA – Vegan Tattoo Aftercare Cream Enriched with Grape Seed Oil, Tattoo Balm, Tattoo Kit Essentials – 3 Fluid Ounce Tube (1-Pack)
Another top recommendation from Jackson, this dermatologist-developed brand’s unscented daily lotion is packed with vitamin B5 to keep normal to dry skin moisturized, soft, and smooth.
Lubriderm Daily Moisture Hydrating Unscented Body Lotion with Pro-Vitamin B5 for Normal-to-Dry Skin for Healthy-Looking Skin, Non-Greasy and Fragrance-Free Lotion, 24 fl. oz
3. Aquaphor Healing Ointment
A top pick of Jackson, Aquaphor’s light ointment is ideal for reducing any itchiness, avoiding any scabbing, and keeping the tattoo moisturized.
“I only recommend a light ointment, such as Aquaphor, after a couple of weeks of healing if the tattoo is scabbed up or shiny,” Jackson says. “Tattoos with a lot of color might take a bit longer to heal, just because the tattoo process is a bit more harsh. If your tattoo starts to develop a hard scab, then you want to apply [this] to the area that has scabbed.” She also recommends using the product on peeling skin.
Aquaphor Healing Ointment – Dry Skin Moisturizer – Hands, Heels, Elbows, Lips – 7 oz. Tube
4. Spenco 2nd Skin Moist Burn Pads
While Sang Bleu creative director and tattoo studio founder Maxime Plescia-Büchi (who’s inked likes of Kanye West and FKA Twigs) still uses “the old-school Saran plastic wrap,” he prefers to use 2nd Skin’s products — which are designed for burns, bites, and scrapes — whenever he can.
“It completely does the job absolutely perfectly. As far as tattoo after-care, [it] has completely changed the game,” he explains. “It helps avoid coagulation, which can make the tattoo pigment fall out. The key is to remove the plasma when it’s produced by the skin.”
Spenco 2nd Skin Moist Burn Pads, Small (1.5 x 2 Inches), 6-Count
5. Sorry Mom Tattoo Film
Hawaro Juul Petersen and Rasmus Cort Hansen, co-owners of Denmark- and L.A.-based tattoo studio Iron & Ink, created their dermatologist-tested brand, Sorry Mom, specifically to address the lack of tattoo care products for artists and clients. The line includes everything from stencil transferring solution, to lotions and balms that are safe for all skin types, including their Tattoo Film.
“The film is a transparent, breathable barrier that protects and helps the healing process the first 24 to 48 hours after getting tattooed,” says Petersen. The waterproof and easy-to-apply wrap comes in 6-inch by 6-inch sheets (pack of five) or in larger sheets measuring 6.5-feet by six inches or 33-feet by six inches.
Sorry Mom Tattoo Aftercare Bandage (40ft x 6in) Clear Tattoo Bandages Waterproof, Adhesive Tattoo Wrap Bandage – Tattoo Healing Wrap – Tattoo Film Protection – Second Skin Tattoo Waterproof Bandage
6. Viking Revolution Tattoo Balm
Designed to protect the skin from itching and irritation, this dermatologically-tested balm features an anti-bacterial formula that helps with protecting and healing the tattoo. If you’re looking for something a little more hands-free, we also love Mad Rabbit’s Tattoo Balm Stick for enhancing the color of and moisturizing our tattoos on the go.
Viking Revolution Tattoo Care Balm for Before, During & Post Tattoo – Safe, Natural Tattoo Aftercare Cream – Moisturizing Lotion to Promote Skin Healing (2oz, 1 Pack)
How to Care for Your Tattoos and What to Look For
Dr. Elliot Love, a board certified dermatologist, fellowship trained skin cancer and reconstructive surgeon (Mohs Surgeon), and board member for Mad Rabbit Tattoo compares tattoo care to wound care. “Looking at a tattoo apart from its artistic distinction, it is simply a wound induced by repeated trauma to the skin (superficial dermis) which introduces a foreign substance. Understanding this should allow the individual receiving the tattoo to apply general wound care principles to their aftercare regimen,” he says. He treats tattoos the same way that a doctor might care for deep burns: “The two most important needs for healing skin is that it remains clean and moisturized.”
He adds that moisture is so important because the “health” of a tattoo is contained within its vibrancy. “When the skin is dry, the superficial layer reflects light which can make the tattoo look dull. Moisturized skin will allow the colors of the tattoo to shine through that top layer and appear vibrant and healthy. It is very important that the moisturizer contain all natural fragrance free ingredients because if the tattoo becomes allergic or irritated by what you are putting on it it may negatively affect it’s long-term appearance.”
Keep your ink covered: Tattoo artists will cover your body art with a film to keep it protected after you leave the shop. “My style in tattooing is very soft and smooth,” says Plescia-Büchi, “so when it comes to healing I always tell my clients that less is more. I wrap the tattoo when I finish, and I tell them to leave the clear plastic wrap on for no more than an hour.
Wash the tattoo with water and mild, fragrance-free soap: “I prefer liquid soaps because soap dishes are rarely cleaned. For my tattooed patients, I recommend Mad Rabbit Refresh body wash. Do not scrub the new tattoo with a washcloth or other abrasive material; scrubbing the new tattoo can cause superficial injury to the area and result in poor outcome,” says Love.
Keep your tattoo dry and clean: After you remove the wrap and rinse the tattoo, Love suggests that clients pat the area dry with a clean fabric or paper towel, then apply a “regenerative and protective” balm.
Avoid the sun and dirty situations, if possible: In addition to avoiding prolonged sun exposure, Plescia-Büchi always recommends a “common sense” approach: “Don’t rub dirt or work with very dirty clothes,” for example. “As long as you’re mindful, [your tattoo] will be okay.” Iron & Ink’s Hansen also advises against sunbathing, swimming, and exercising just to be on the safe side. “It’s important to avoid stressing the skin when healing a new tattoo,” he says.
Always wear sunscreen: Wearing SPF is always recommended, and it’s especially important to protect your tattoo by using sunblock. “Repeated and excessive sun exposure will cause the loss of tattoo pigment and result in fading. I prefer a physical mineral sunblock that contains titanium or zinc,” says Love.
Don’t irritate or scratch the skin: As your tattoo is healing, avoid scratching or rubbing your skin — that includes using any exfoliants. If you notice any flaking or scabbing, avoid picking at the skin as that could remove the ink or result in fading.
Issues to Look for After Getting a Tattoo
Soreness: After-procedure aches are common, says Jackson. “The tattoo will be sore for days, but the soreness will decline and so will the redness, so you should feel better over time.”
Scabs: “Scabbing peels a deeper layer of skin which may cause the pigment to fall out,” says Plescia-Büchi.
Itchiness or redness: “If you get very red, itchy, or warm you should seek help,” Jackson suggests.
Infections: If your tattoo does get an infection, it may be because “hygiene is not up to standard,” says Jackson. Plescia-Büchi also notes that body art can get “a superficial infection, [but] it’s not a deep cut in the fleshy layers of skin. There are different layers of skin, so unless you really get beyond the dermis itself, there’s a skin barrier that filters a lot of germs.” When in doubt, it’s best to get medical attention.
Oozing: “I’ve had clients whose tattoo could be healing perfectly fine, and once they start using a ton of ointment on it, they will notice the tattoo starts to ‘ooze’ to the surface of the skin, making the tattoo heal very light,” Jackson says. “This is why I recommend that ointment is not used until the tattoo is almost completely healed, after about two weeks or so.”
Peeling: “You want the tattoo to heal flat and smooth, [so look out for] peeling, similar to when a sunburn starts to peel,” says Jackson. If that’s the case, she suggests using a light ointment such as Aquaphor to keep the skin moisturized.
1. Eucerin Healing Lotion
"After the second day or so, I tell my clients to get a fragrance-free lotion like Eucerin or Lubriderm and apply a couple of times a day. A lot of people think you have to over saturate the tattoo with a ton of heavy ointment, but this only causes the tattoo to heal lighter," Jackson tells Rolling Stone.
Designed for sensitive and extremely dry skin, this scent-free lotion's thick formula helps to lock in moisture while protecting the epidermis.
Eucerin Healing Lotion
2. Viking Revolution Tattoo Balm
Designed to protect the skin from itching and irritation, this non-greasy balm features an anti-bacterial formula that helps with protecting and healing the tattoo.
The company says the balm helps to speed up your skin's recovery post-treatment, and can be used to hydrate and improve the appearance of your tattoos over time as well.
Viking Revolution Tattoo Balm
3. After Inked Tattoo Lotion
This tattoo after-care lotion contains grapeseed oil, shea butter, vitamin E-rich jojoba, and beeswax to help keep the skin nourished and hydrated. It's also dermatologist-tested and safe for daily use. A little bit of this goes a long way towards helping your tattoos look healthier, and prevent colors from fading.
After Inked Tattoo Lotion
Best of Rolling Stone
