The full index

All aftercare guides

Every aftercare guide on the site, in one list. Search it, or filter by what you're actually dealing with.

The complete aftercare guideEverything in one place, from the moment you leave the studio to fully healed.Healing basics
Healing timelineWhat happens on each day of healing, from the first wrap to fully settled skin.Healing basics
How to wash a new tattooThe right way to clean a fresh tattoo without damaging the healing skin.Healing basics
ShoweringWater temperature, pressure and duration, and why baths are a hard no.Healing basics
Using and removing second skinHow breathable film bandages work, how long to leave them on, and how to take them off.Healing basics
Bepanthen for tattoosAn honest look at whether the nappy-rash cream studios recommend is the right choice.Products & ingredients
Tattoo balm explainedWhat balms actually do, what goes in them, and when to use one.Products & ingredients
Vaseline for tattoosWhether petroleum jelly belongs anywhere near a healing tattoo.Products & ingredients
Hand tattoosWhy hands heal differently, and what to do about it.By placement
Back tattoosHow to heal a tattoo you cannot see or easily reach.By placement
Sternum tattoosOne of the most painful placements, and one of the fussiest to heal.By placement
Eyebrow and cosmetic tattoosCosmetic tattooing heals differently to body work. Here's what changes.By placement
Gym and exerciseWhen you can train again, what to avoid, and how sweat and friction affect a fresh tattoo.Training & lifestyle
Healing troubleshootingPeeling, cloudy, itchy, raised or patchy. What each one means and when it's a problem.Problems
Aftercare mistakes that cost people inkThe avoidable errors that turn a good tattoo into a touch-up appointment.Problems
Are tattoo inks safe in Australia?What the research actually says about tattoo ink safety and regulation in Australia.Safety

Looking for something else? Browse every guide on the site.