Aftercare

If you’ve been in the industry for any length of time, you know: January is busy. New year, new me. Fresh starts. That tattoo they’ve been thinking about all year finally feels like it’s time. Your booking calendar is probably already filling up. Here’s how to make the most of the January rush while setting your clients up for success. Why January Brings New Ink The psychology is simple. People use the new year as a mental reset point. That sleeve they’ve been planning? This is the year. The memorial piece they’ve been putting off? Time to honor that commitment. ...

Your new tattoo is an investment—in art, in money, and in the aftercare journey ahead. The products you choose for aftercare can make the difference between a comfortable aftercare experience and one with excessive dryness, irritation, or discomfort. Let’s talk about why natural matters. The Problem with Petroleum Walk into most tattoo shops, and you’ll hear recommendations for Aquaphor, A&D ointment, or Vaseline. These petroleum-based products have been aftercare standards for years. ...

You just got a beautiful new tattoo. You followed your artist’s instructions, you’re using quality aftercare, but now you’re looking at your healing tattoo and wondering: Is this normal? Let’s walk through what normal healing looks like—and when you should be concerned. Days 1-3: The Immediate Aftermath What’s Normal: Redness and Swelling Your tattoo area will be red and may be slightly swollen. This is inflammation—your body’s natural response to the controlled trauma of tattooing. Think of it like a skinned knee or a minor burn. ...

You invested money in your tattoo. Your artist invested skill and time. Now it’s healing, and you’re determined to do everything right. But sometimes “doing everything right” means avoiding common mistakes that can ruin perfectly good ink. Let’s talk about the aftercare mistakes we see most often—and how to avoid them. Mistake #1: Using Too Much Product The Mistake: You think more is better. You’re slathering on thick layers of aftercare balm, keeping your tattoo constantly goopy and shiny. ...

When you get a tattoo, your artist isn’t just adding color to your skin. They’re triggering a complex biological process that determines whether your tattoo integrates beautifully or ends up faded, patchy, or damaged. Let’s dive into what’s actually happening beneath the surface when your body integrates that ink. What Is a Tattoo, Biologically? A tattoo is thousands of controlled puncture wounds carrying foreign particles (ink) into your dermis—the layer of skin beneath the epidermis. ...