1. No alcohol for 3–7 days.
Avoid drinking beer or alcohol to prevent pain, swelling, and fading of your new tattoo.
2. Watch what you eat.
For the first 3–7 days, avoid shrimp, seafood, eggs, chicken skin, sticky rice, and heavily flavored foods.
These can trigger allergic reactions or cause uneven healing.
3. Keep it chemical-free.
Don’t let soap, shampoo, shower gel, perfume, or any cosmetics touch your tattoo. Even a small amount can blur the lines, cause color loss, or worst case scenario - lead to infection.
4. Skip the random skin treatment creams.
Only use ointments specifically made for tattoo aftercare. Regular skincare products can mess with the healing process.
5. Handle water carefully.
After the first 1–3 hours post-tattoo, you can slightly rinse or use a clean cloth to gently pat the tattoo with lukewarm water to clean off excess ink and discharge, do not use soap or chemicals. After that, avoid soaking, splashing, or showering on the tattoo area until the scabs fall off and it is fully heal, which typically take around 2 to 15 days. Keep the tattoo dry, never rub, and keep it chemical-free.
6. Stay away from pools, lakes, and the sea.
Chlorinated and natural waters are loaded with chemicals and bacteria that can easily infect your healing tattoo.
7. Take it easy.
Skip heavy workouts, sports, and activities like soccer or weightlifting for at least 10–15 days. Movement can cause cracks or slow healing.
8. Don’t pick or scratch.
A scab will form during the first few days — how thick it is depends on your skin and the tattoo. Itching is normal as it peels, but don't scratch or pick. Let it heal naturally. It’s also normal for the tattoo to look dull and wrinkled during this phase.
Final note:
Healing usually takes around 10 to 15 days but can vary depending on your skin. Once the scabs are gone and the skin tightens back to normal, your tattoo’s colors will fully settle and look vibrant.
Save this pic so you don’t have to memorize all the steps!
