HEALED FIRST® AFTERCARE PROTOCOL
A tattoo is an open wound — how it heals matters as much as how it was tattooed.
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Everything at a glance
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Full details on each step → keep reading below
02 / FIRST DAY
Your tattoo will be covered with a sterile, non-adherent pad. Keep it on for 3–4 hours after your appointment. If you’re going to sleep soon after, keep it on overnight to prevent sticking to bedding.
When you remove the pad:
03 / PRODUCT
A specific tattoo aftercare cream will be recommended after your session, chosen based on your skin and the tattoo.
Apply a very thin layer 3–4 times per day. If the cream sits on the surface, looks white, or feels slippery after a minute — you’ve used too much.
04 — VERY IMPORTANT
Healing issues are often caused not by lack of cream, but by irritation or allergy/sensitivity to a product. Reactions can be very individual — one person may tolerate a cream well, while another may react to it. Some reactions appear only after repeated use (anywhere from 1 day to 2 weeks).
If you notice any of the following after applying cream:
Stop using the cream immediately and switch to a gentle alternative. Contact me to discuss the alternative.
If symptoms persist or worsen or you are unsure, contact me and/or consult a pharmacist or doctor.
05 / HEALING PERIOD — DAYS 1–14
Do not scratch or pick scabs. If itching occurs, gently tap the area — never scratch. Mild redness, dryness, itching, and light peeling are normal during healing.
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If redness spreads, swelling increases, the area becomes increasingly hot or painful, you notice pus, or you feel unwell —
seek medical advice promptly and let me know.
The first 24–48 hours are the most important.
Mild warmth is normal, but if the tattoo stays hot beyond this period, please contact me.
If possible, include a clear photo in natural light and a short note describing what you’re noticing.
07 / FOLLOW-UP
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4–6 weeks after your session
Once your tattoo has fully settled, I’ll review how it healed — line quality, contrast, how the design lives on the skin.
This is when the first healed photo is taken. A tattoo isn’t complete until the healed result is reviewed.
If any touch-ups are needed, they’re included in your project.
INCLUDED IN YOUR PROJECT
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Within 24 months
As part of the Healed First® standard, one healed check-in is included within 24 months of your session.
I’ll evaluate how the tattoo has aged — how it lives with the body, how the lines and contrast have held. If a minor touch-up is needed due to natural healing, it’s completed during this visit.
Not covered: sun damage, trauma, or changes unrelated to healing. Subject to availability.
HEALED FIRST® STANDARD
If healing-related adjustments are needed, they’re evaluated and addressed during your check-ins.
Changes caused by sun exposure, improper aftercare, or natural aging are not covered.
Once fully healed, protect your tattoo from sun exposure using SPF. UV is the primary reason tattoos fade over time.
Your tattoo will age the way it is treated.
Good tattoo aftercare protects the work we’ve both invested in. If anything feels off during healing, I’m here.
HEALED FIRST® AFTERCARE PROTOCOL
