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The complete aftercare guideEverything in one place, from the moment you leave the studio to fully healed.AftercareHealing basics
Healing timelineWhat happens on each day of healing, from the first wrap to fully settled skin.AftercareHealing basics
How to wash a new tattooThe right way to clean a fresh tattoo without damaging the healing skin.AftercareHealing basics
Patchwork and sticker tattoo aftercareCaring for a growing collection of small tattoos, without one new piece wrecking the ones underneath.AftercareHealing basics
ShoweringWater temperature, pressure and duration, and why baths are a hard no.AftercareHealing basics
Using and removing second skinHow breathable film bandages work, how long to leave them on, and how to take them off.AftercareHealing basics
Bepanthen for tattoosAn honest look at whether the nappy-rash cream studios recommend is the right choice.AftercareProducts & ingredients
Tattoo balm explainedWhat balms actually do, what goes in them, and when to use one.AftercareProducts & ingredients
Vaseline for tattoosWhether petroleum jelly belongs anywhere near a healing tattoo.AftercareProducts & ingredients
Why fragrance-free matters for tattoo aftercareWhat the research actually says about fragrance and healing skin, and why unscented isn't the same claim.AftercareProducts & ingredients
Hand tattoosWhy hands heal differently, and what to do about it.AftercareBy placement
Back tattoosHow to heal a tattoo you cannot see or easily reach.AftercareBy placement
Sternum tattoosOne of the most painful placements, and one of the fussiest to heal.AftercareBy placement
Eyebrow and cosmetic tattoosCosmetic tattooing heals differently to body work. Here's what changes.AftercareBy placement
Rib tattoo aftercareBreathing, clothing and sleep position all work against a rib piece more than most placements.AftercareBy placement
Collarbone tattoo aftercareThin skin in a high-contact spot for jewellery and straps.AftercareBy placement
Behind-the-ear tattoo aftercareSmall, but hair, glasses and headphones all make more contact than you'd expect.AftercareBy placement
Gym and exerciseWhen you can train again, what to avoid, and how sweat and friction affect a fresh tattoo.AftercareTraining & lifestyle
Healing troubleshootingPeeling, cloudy, itchy, raised or patchy. What each one means and when it's a problem.AftercareProblems
Aftercare mistakes that cost people inkThe avoidable errors that turn a good tattoo into a touch-up appointment.AftercareProblems
Pitting edema after a tattooWhy swelling that leaves a dent when pressed happens, mostly on legs and ankles, and how to tell it apart from infection.AftercareProblems
Are tattoo inks safe in Australia?What the research actually says about tattoo ink safety and regulation in Australia.AftercareSafety
Laser tattoo removal aftercareHow healing after laser removal actually works, and why it's not the same as tattoo aftercare.AftercareTattoo removal
Traditional (American traditional)Bold black outlines, a tight colour palette, and the maritime flash that built Western tattooing.StylesTraditional & bold
BlackworkSolid black ink, high contrast and negative space, from tribal roots to modern geometric work.StylesBlack & grey
Fine lineDelicate single-needle work: what it suits, how it ages, and the care it needs to last.StylesFine line & detail
RealismPhotographic portraits and scenes built from pure shading, in black and grey or full colour.StylesRealism & illustrative
Neo-traditionalTraditional's richer descendant: bold outlines, a wide palette, and illustrative depth.StylesTraditional & bold
DotworkImages built from thousands of stippled dots, the natural partner to geometric work.StylesBlack & grey
GeometricPrecise lines and symmetry drawn from sacred geometry, often shaded with dotwork.StylesBlack & grey
Lettering and scriptFrom flowing script to heavy blackletter, and how to keep text legible for the long haul.StylesFine line & detail
Japanese tattoos (Irezumi)Full sleeves and backpieces built from dragons, koi and waves, under centuries-old compositional rules.StylesCultural & heritage
TribalBold black shapes that wrap and flow with the body, rooted in Polynesian and Bornean tattooing.StylesCultural & heritage
WatercolourSoft colour washes and drips built to look like paint, plus an honest look at how well it ages.StylesRealism & illustrative