Aftercare
Good aftercare is the difference between a piece that heals cleanly and one that doesn't. Everything below is the same advice we give in studio, written down so you can come back to it whenever you need. Find your treatment, follow the steps, and if anything doesn't look right, get in touch — we would always rather hear from you early.
Aftercare products in studio
We keep a small, curated range of aftercare on the counter, so you can pick up what you need on the day rather than hunting for it on the way home. It's deliberately short. We would rather stock a handful of things we know work than fill a shelf with options that leave you standing there guessing — everything here is what we use ourselves and what we hand to our own friends and family.
Caring for your new tattoo
Most tattoos heal on the surface in two to four weeks. Keep it clean, keep it lightly moisturised, and leave it alone.
First steps
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Leave your dressing on for 2–4 hours, or as advised by your artist.
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Wash your tattoo gently with lukewarm water and fragrance-free soap.
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Pat dry with a clean towel or kitchen roll — do not rub.
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Apply a very thin layer of aftercare balm or recommended moisturiser.
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Repeat cleaning and moisturising 2–3 times daily.
Healing (2–4 weeks)
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Keep your tattoo clean and lightly moisturised.
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Do not pick, scratch or peel any scabs or flaking skin.
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Avoid tight clothing that may rub the area.
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Do not soak your tattoo in baths, pools, hot tubs or the sea.
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Avoid direct sunlight and sunbeds until fully healed.
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Avoid excessive sweating and strenuous exercise for the first few days.
What's normal
Mild redness · Slight swelling · Tenderness · Light scabbing or flaking · Mild itching during healing
Please seek advice if you notice
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Increasing redness or swelling after a few days
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Yellow, green or foul-smelling discharge
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Severe pain, excessive heat or spreading redness
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Fever or feeling generally unwell
For any concerns, please contact your artist.
Caring for your new piercing
Piercings heal at very different rates depending on placement — anything from a few weeks to well over a year. Your piercer will tell you what to expect for yours. Until then, the rules are the same: clean twice a day, and leave the jewellery in.
First steps
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Wash your hands before touching your piercing.
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Leave your jewellery in place.
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Clean twice daily with sterile saline solution.
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Gently remove any softened crusts after soaking, if they come away easily.
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Pat dry with clean gauze or kitchen roll.
Healing (varies by piercing)
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Clean twice daily only — overcleaning can irritate the piercing.
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Do not twist or rotate the jewellery.
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Avoid touching unless cleaning.
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Avoid swimming, hot tubs and dirty water during early healing.
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Keep cosmetics, creams and hair products away from the area where possible.
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Sleep carefully to avoid pressure on the piercing.
What's normal
Mild redness · Slight swelling · Tenderness · Clear or pale yellow fluid that dries into crusts
Please seek advice if you notice
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Excessive swelling or redness that worsens
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Thick yellow, green or foul-smelling discharge
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Severe pain, excessive heat or spreading redness
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Jewellery embedding into the skin
For any concerns, please contact your piercer.
Laser tattoo removal aftercare
Thank you for choosing laser tattoo removal treatment. Proper aftercare is essential to ensure the best possible results and reduce the risk of complications.
Immediately after treatment
It is normal to experience redness, swelling, tenderness, whitening or "frosting" of the skin, and mild itching during healing. These reactions are temporary and should settle within a few days.
The first 24 hours
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Leave any dressing in place for 2–24 hours, as advised by your practitioner.
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Keep the treated area clean and dry.
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Avoid touching the area unnecessarily.
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Apply a cool pack wrapped in a clean cloth for 10–15 minutes at a time if needed for comfort.
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Avoid hot baths, showers, saunas, steam rooms and swimming.
Healing period
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Wash the area gently with mild soap and water.
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Pat dry with a clean towel.
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Wear loose-fitting clothing to avoid friction.
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Do not scratch, pick or rub the treated area.
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Allow any scabs or blisters to heal naturally.
Blisters and scabbing
Blistering and scabbing can occur and are a normal part of the healing process.
If blisters develop:
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Do not burst or pick them.
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Keep the area clean and protected.
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Allow them to heal naturally.
Picking at scabs or blisters may increase the risk of infection and scarring.
Aftercare products
Topical moisturisers, aloe vera gel, hydrocortisone cream and other aftercare products should only be applied once the treated area is dry, intact, and showing signs of normal healing. Do not apply creams or lotions to broken skin, open blisters, or areas that are actively weeping or producing exudate.
A thin layer of a gentle, fragrance-free moisturiser or soothing product may be applied as advised by your practitioner.
Suitable products include:
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100% Aloe Vera Gel
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E45 Cream
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Cetraben Cream
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Aveeno Daily Moisturising Lotion
If itching occurs during healing
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An over-the-counter antihistamine may help relieve symptoms.
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A mild hydrocortisone itch relief cream may be used if recommended by a pharmacist or healthcare professional, and if the skin is intact.
Do not apply perfumed products, exfoliants, fake tan, or active skincare products to the treated area until it has fully healed.
Cooling the area
A cool pack wrapped in a clean cloth may be applied to the treated area for 10–15 minutes at a time to reduce discomfort, redness and swelling.
Do not apply ice directly to the skin, as this may cause skin damage. Always wrap cold packs or ice packs in a clean cloth before use.
Sun exposure
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Avoid direct sun exposure on the treated area.
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Once the skin has healed, apply SPF 50 sunscreen whenever the area may be exposed to sunlight.
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Avoid sunbeds throughout your course of treatments.
Activities to avoid
For at least 48 hours after treatment:
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Swimming pools
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Hot tubs and jacuzzis
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Saunas and steam rooms
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Intense exercise causing excessive sweating
When to seek advice
Please contact your practitioner if you experience excessive swelling, increasing redness after the first few days, pus or discharge, severe pain, signs of infection, or have any concerns at all about how the area is healing.
Important information
Multiple treatments are required to achieve tattoo fading or removal. Healing continues for several weeks after treatment, and results vary depending on tattoo age, colour, depth, location, and your individual immune response.
A minimum of 6–8 weeks should be left between laser tattoo removal sessions. This allows the skin sufficient time to heal, and gives your body's immune system time to clear fragmented ink particles from the treated area. In some cases, longer intervals may be recommended depending on healing, tattoo characteristics, and individual response to treatment.