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Caring For a Tattoo: Immediate & Long-Term Aftercare

Learn how to properly care for your fresh or coloured tattoo with simple and effective expert aftercare tips.

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Caring For a Tattoo: Immediate & Long-Term Aftercare

Getting a tattoo is an exciting moment, but looking after your skin afterwards is just as important. Whether it’s your first tattoo or your fifth, caring for it properly helps it heal well and keeps it looking great for years to come. 

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to care for your tattoo, from what to do in the first few days to how to protect your skin long-term. With the right steps and a little patience, you can help your tattoo heal smoothly and stay vibrant.
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What is Tattoo Care?

Tattoo care refers to the essential steps you take for caring for a tattoo - keeping it clean, moisturised, and protected to help the skin heal and preserve the artwork. Knowing how to care for a tattoo ensures your ink stays vibrant and avoids complications such as infections, scabbing, and fading.  

It’s all about giving your skin the attention it needs during every stage of the healing process. Everyone’s skin is different, so healing times can vary. But by following simple steps, you’ll give your skin the best chance to recover well and your tattoo the best chance to look its best. 

It's important to note there are several ways to help heal a tattoo, which will vary depending on the type of tattoo you have. The NIVEA guide is applicable to most, but advice can vary from person to person and tattoo to tattoo. Following your tattoo artist’s instructions is always the best place to start.
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Why Tattoo Aftercare Matters

Why Tattoo Care Is Important?

When asking, “How do I care for my tattoo?”, the answer begins with understanding why it matters. A tattoo is a type of controlled skin trauma, and without proper after care, you risk disrupting healing and damaging the design. Effective tattoo care promotes fast recovery, prevents long-term skin issues, and maintains the clarity and colour of your ink. Good tattoo care helps your skin heal properly, which means:

  • Less chance of scabbing or scarring 
  • Brighter, longer-lasting colours 
  • A smoother, more even finish

How to Take Care of a Tattoo?

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Tattoo Care: Day 1

The first day after getting a tattoo is all about giving your skin time to begin healing. Your tattoo artist will usually apply a second skin or wrap over the area. This helps protect it from bacteria and stops it rubbing against clothes. 

Here’s what you should do in those first 24 hours: 

  • Keep the second skin on for as long as your artist recommends (usually a few hours but it can be up to 24 hours or beyond). Advice on this will vary depending on your artist and the tattoo, so be sure to follow their guide.  
  • Wash your hands before touching your tattoo. 
  • Gently clean the area with warm water and a mild soap once the wrap comes off. 
  • Pat-it-dry with a clean towel or let it air dry. 

Once you’ve cleaned and dried your tattoo, it’s important to keep the area hydrated with a product that supports your skin’s healing process. A healing ointment with Provitamin B5 or raw natural ingredients like Coconut Oil or Cocoa Butter are often recommended but always consult your artist first.

Tattoo Care: Days 2-3

The first few days after getting a tattoo are key to helping your skin heal well. It’s normal to see a little redness, swelling or fluid in this stage - your body is working hard to repair the area. However, if the redness spreads, pain intensifies, the fluid becomes yellow/green, or you're experiencing fever, it may be a sign of infection and it’s important to get it checked by a doctor.

Here’s how to support that process:

  • Clean your tattoo twice a day with warm water and a gentle soap. Soaps and shower gels should be pH neutral, fragrance free and hypoallergenic. Depending on your artist, they may recommend re-applying a covering after every wash.
  • Apply a small amount of aftercare cream to keep the area moisturised.  
  • Avoid scratching or picking, even if it starts to itch, it’s best to leave it alone. 
  • Stay out of swimming pools, hot tubs, and baths, and avoid sun exposure, which can irritate the healing skin. Direct sunlight should be avoided throughout the whole healing process, to ensure proper healing.

This is a time to be gentle with your skin. A little extra care now can help prevent infection, reduce scabbing, and make sure your tattoo heals evenly and clearly. To help your skin feel calm and supported during these early healing days, reach for a moisturiser that’s gentle, restorative, and designed to reinforce the skin barrier.

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Tattoo Care: Days 4-14

After the first few days, your tattoo may start to feel dry or itchy as the skin continues to heal. This is completely normal — it’s a sign that your skin is repairing itself. During this stage, it’s important to keep the area clean, calm, and well-moisturised.

Here’s how to support the healing process:

  • Continue washing gently with mild soap and warm water.
  • Pat dry, don’t rub, and avoid using rough towels.
  • Keep moisturising regularly and avoid anything that might disturb your skin like scratching, picking, or sun exposure.

Tattoo Care: Days 14+ and Long-Term Care

Once your tattoo is completely healed, it's crucial to understand how to care for it long-term. This is important because thorough skin maintenance helps to keep tattoos looking sharp and vibrant. Ongoing habits like moisturising and sun protection help prevent fading and preserve the quality of the artwork over time, whilst shaving the area (particularly on the legs or forearms) can help prevent body hair distort the visual clarity or obstruct the art.
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Tattoo Care at a Glance

Facts Overview

Tattoo care supports skin healing:  
Looking after your tattoo properly helps protect against infection, reduce irritation, and encourage smooth skin recovery. 

Hydration maintains your tattoo’s appearance: 
Moisturising regularly keeps skin soft and helps preserve colour vibrancy as your tattoo heals. 

Sun protection helps prevent tattoo fading: 
New tattoos are sensitive to UV exposure. Once healed, daily SPF helps keep colours bold and lines sharp. 

Gentle care reduces long-term damage: 
Avoiding harsh products, scratching, or excess moisture supports even healing and long-lasting results.

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Sun Protection for Tattoo Longevity

Ongoing tattoo care advice is to avoid direct sunlight, as this can cause your tattoo to fade. Shielding your tattoo from the sun helps preserve its vibrancy and overall detail for the long term. Wearing long, loose clothing is advised to help protect your tattoo. 

For when you can’t cover your tattoo from the sun, the NIVEA sunscreen range is designed to offer reliable UVA and UVB protection, helping to reduce the impact of sun damage on your skin, and your tattoo. With a wide variety of options for different needs, from water-resistance to lightweight everyday choices, discover the sunscreen that suits you. 

Aim to use a high level of SPF to help shield your tattoo from the suns UV rays. The NIVEA Protect & Moisture Lotion SPF50+ works beyond UV filters, to provide immediate protection by helping the skin to form a second line of protection. Enriched with Vitamin C and Hyaluron, it also helps to moisturise the skin for up to 48 hours, for soft skin and a vibrant tattoo.
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NIVEA Protect & Moisture Sun Lotion spf50+
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Moisturising to promote healthy - looking skin and help your tattoo pop

To keep your tattoo looking as vibrant and as sharp as possible, skin hydration is also advised long-term. Moisturising regularly keeps your skin soft and comfortable whilst helping your tattoo appear more fresh, distinctive and vibrant. Opt for products that are gentle enough for everyday use and won’t clog pores or cause irritation.  

The NIVEA Rich Nourishing Body Lotion provides clinically proven 72-hour moisture to transform dry, rough skin. Enriched with Pure Hyaluron, Almond Oil, and Deep Nourish Serum, it delivers intensive hydration and care. Its non-greasy, quick-absorbing formula helps maintain softness and suppleness on tattooed skin, supporting overall skin health and appearance.

Combine Moisturising and SPF

For easy daily care of tattooed skin in the long term, combining both sunscreens with effective SPF and a nourishing daily moisturiser kills two birds with one stone. The combination of the two makes it easier to help keep your tattoos looking vibrant and protected from the sun. 

The NIVEA Soft Daily SPF15 Cream combines daily hydration with a lightweight formula for easy, everyday application. Formulated with SPF 15 to provide your skin with reliable basic protection against UV rays, helping to preserve your tattoo, it is suitable for use on the face, body and hands. Rich in vitamin E and Jojoba Oil, with regular use it also helps maintain the skin's long-term health and healthy appearance by preventing dry patches and dullness. Prevents dryness, dullness and sun spots. 

However, in case of direct or prolonged exposure to the sun, it is necessary to use a sunscreen with a higher SPF to protect the tattooed skin. Don't forget to reapply regularly throughout the day.
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NIVEA Soft Daily UV SPF15

Coloured Tattoo Care

Coloured tattoos need a bit more attention to keep their shades bright and pigmented as they heal. Reassuringly, most of the aftercare is the same as with black or grey tattoos - gentle cleaning, moisturising, and protecting your skin.

Here are 4 tips for caring for coloured tattoos:

  1. Avoid direct sunlight as much as possible while your tattoo heals. UV rays can fade colours, especially bright and pastel shades as these are more prone to pigment breakdown during the healing process.
  2. Use sunscreen once your tattoo is fully healed to protect the colours from fading over time.
  3. Keep your skin well moisturised to prevent dryness, which can make colours look dull or patchy.
  4. Be patient during healing, coloured tattoos may peel or flake a little more visibly, but don’t pick at flakes or scabs. Let your skin do its job naturally.

Once healed, applying a broad-spectrum SPF daily is one of the best ways to help preserve the colour and vibrancy of your tattoo. Opt for SPF products that are gentle on skin but tough on UV rays, helping preserve ink vibrancy long term.

Ingredients for Tattoo Care from Day One and After Healing

When choosing skincare products for tattoo care, the ingredients matter just as much as the formula. Newly tattooed skin is delicate and vulnerable, so it’s important to use products that hydrate deeply, soothe irritation, and help support the skin’s natural barrier. Whereas long-term care needs more focus on sun protection and reliable nourishment.

Ingredients For Immediate Tattoo Care:

Aloe Vera - Aloe Vera is ideal for immediate tattoo care because it helps to soothe and nourish the skin, helping reduce redness and discomfort. Its gentle hydration supports healthy skin, keeping the tattoo vibrant and well-maintained.

Provitamin B5 (Panthenol) - A key ingredient in skin regeneration, Provitamin B5 helps to calm irritation and support the repair process, making it ideal for dry, tight, or sensitive tattooed areas.

Ingredients For Long-Term Tattoo Care:

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Jojoba Oil

A lightweight, natural oil that’s similar to the skin’s own sebum. Jojoba Oil deeply moisturises the skin without clogging pores, making it a gentle option for fully healed tattoos. These properties also help to maintain skin elasticity, keeping tattoos looking healthy and sharp.

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Vitamin E

With antioxidant properties, Vitamin E helps to support skin repair and protect it from external stressors. It aids in overall skin health, keeping it smooth and supple, which can prevent fading and maintain tattoo vibrancy.

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SPF

This is essential for long-term tattoo care because it shields the skin from harmful UV rays that can cause fading and blur fine details. Regular use of broad-spectrum SPF helps preserve the tattoo’s colour and sharpness while maintaining healthy, protected skin over time.

5 things to Avoid When Caring for a Tattoo

Taking care of a new tattoo means avoiding a few common mistakes that can slow healing or affect how it looks:
  1. Avoid picking or scratching scabs or flakes. It might be tempting, but this can cause scarring or patchy colour.
  2. Avoid soaking your tattoo in water — no swimming, baths, or hot tubs until it’s fully healed.
  3. Avoid exposing your tattoo to direct sunlight before it’s healed, as this can cause irritation and fading.
  4. Avoid tight or rough clothing that can rub against your tattoo and cause irritation.
  5. Avoid using scented or harsh products on your tattoo as these can dry out your skin and slow healing.


Summary

Tattoo care is essential for proper healing, preventing infection, and keeping your ink vibrant. Knowing how to take care of a tattoo means following a gentle routine and using the right products.  

A good after care cream for tattoos helps soothe and hydrate healing skin. It’s also vital to know what to do after a tattoo, and what to avoid, such as direct sun, swimming, and harsh products.  

Fresh tattoo care protects your skin during its most sensitive stage, while long-term coloured tattoo care ensures your design stays bright and bold. Remember, healing takes time - so be patient, stay consistent, and treat your tattooed skin with care.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long after a tattoo can I shower?

You can usually shower as soon as the bandage or wrap comes off - typically after a few hours or as your tattoo artist advises.

How to shower with a tattoo?

When showering, use lukewarm water and a gentle, fragrance-free soap to clean the tattoo carefully. Avoid soaking the tattooed area or using very hot water, and gently pat it dry with a clean towel. Keep showers short while your tattoo is healing.

What slows tattoo healing?

Several things can slow down healing, such as picking or scratching scabs, exposing your tattoo to direct sunlight or water (like swimming), and using harsh or fragranced skincare products. Wearing tight or rough clothing that rubs the area can also cause irritation. Following gentle aftercare and giving your skin time to rest helps speed up healing.

How to tell if a tattoo is over moisturised?

If your tattoo looks shiny, feels sticky, or has a white, greasy film on the skin, it might be over-moisturised. Overusing creams can sometimes clog pores and slow healing. Use a thin layer of moisturiser and apply only as needed to keep your skin soft but not overly wet. 

Should I let my tattoo dry out or keep it moist?

Whilst it is possible to let your tattoo dry heal, it is more likely to cause cracking and itching, while keeping it gently hydrated helps the skin repair smoothly. Using a suitable, fragrance-free cream supports healing without smothering the skin.

How do you protect a new tattoo while sleeping?

To protect your tattoo while sleeping, try to avoid lying directly on the tattooed area. Use clean, soft bedding and wear loose clothing to prevent rubbing or irritation. If needed, you can cover the tattoo with a clean, breathable cloth or non-stick dressing, but it’s usually best to let it breathe once the initial bandage is removed.

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