Tattoo & Piercing Aftercare
Proper aftercare helps protect your new tattoo or piercing while it heals. Follow these general care guidelines along with any specific instructions provided by your artist or piercer.
Tattoo Care
How Do I Care for a New Tattoo?
- Keep the initial bandage or protective covering on for the amount of time recommended by your tattoo artist.
- Wash your hands before touching the tattoo.
- Gently clean the tattoo using lukewarm water and a mild, fragrance-free cleanser.
- Pat the area dry with a clean disposable paper towel or allow it to air dry.
- Apply only a thin layer of the aftercare product recommended by your artist.
- Keep the tattoo clean and avoid unnecessary touching.
- Do not scratch, pick, or peel flaking or scabbing skin.
- Avoid soaking the tattoo in pools, hot tubs, baths, lakes, or other bodies of water while it heals.
- Avoid excessive sun exposure during healing. After healing, use appropriate sun protection to help preserve the tattoo.
- Wear clean, loose-fitting clothing when possible to minimize friction.
What Should I Avoid While Healing?
- Picking or scratching
- Swimming or soaking
- Heavy friction
- Excessive sun exposure
- Unapproved or heavily fragranced products
Piercing Care
How Do I Care for a New Piercing?
- Wash your hands thoroughly before touching or cleaning the piercing.
- Avoid unnecessary touching, twisting, spinning, or removing the jewelry during healing.
- Clean the area gently with sterile saline wound wash according to your piercer’s instructions.
- Allow the piercing to drain and dry naturally, or gently pat around it with clean disposable material.
- Keep cosmetics, lotions, sprays, and other potentially irritating products away from the healing piercing.
- Avoid pools, hot tubs, lakes, and other potentially contaminated water during the initial healing period.
- Reduce pressure and friction around the piercing.
- Keep bedding, clothing, phones, headphones, and other objects that contact the area clean where relevant.
- Do not change jewelry prematurely unless instructed by a professional piercer.
What Should I Avoid While Healing?
- Touching with unwashed hands
- Rotating or playing with jewelry
- Harsh cleaners
- Alcohol or hydrogen peroxide unless directed by an appropriate healthcare professional
- Unnecessary jewelry removal
- Excessive pressure or friction
Important Healing Notice
Healing Is Different for Everyone
Healing time varies depending on the placement, procedure, individual, and aftercare routine. Always follow the specific instructions given by your New Wave artist or piercer.
If you experience symptoms that concern you — especially severe or worsening pain, significant swelling, spreading redness, unusual discharge, fever, or other signs of possible infection — contact an appropriate healthcare professional.
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