Aftercare,
so it heals clean

You leave the studio with a protective film over the tattoo. Leave it on for as long as I tell you, usually 12 to 24 hours. It keeps bacteria out and lets the skin start healing without rubbing on anything.

• Don't lift the edge to peek underneath.
• Keep it dry in the shower. If water sneaks in, pat it dry, gently.
• Skip tight clothing, the gym, pets, and any bedsheets that aren't clean.

When it's time to take the film off: wash your hands first, peel it back slowly in the shower, then clean the area with a fragrance-free soap and lukewarm water.

For the next week to ten days, wash the tattoo two or three times a day with unscented soap. Pat it dry with a clean paper towel, or let it air dry, then smooth on a very thin layer of balm.

• Use a fragrance-free, alcohol-free moisturizer or tattoo balm.
• A thick layer won't heal it faster. It just clogs the skin.
• Let it breathe. Loose cotton clothing is your friend here.

Around now it starts to flake and peel. That's exactly what should happen. Don't pick, scratch, or rub the flakes off. Let them fall on their own so the ink stays where it belongs.

Fine lines and dotwork can look dull or a little cloudy while the skin is still shedding. That's not the final result. Once the peeling stops and the skin settles, the lines come back sharp.

• No pools, hot tubs, saunas, or ocean for at least two weeks.
• No direct sun or tanning. UV fades the ink and irritates healing skin.
• No heavy sweating or friction over the area the first week.
• Don't shave, wax, or exfoliate there until it's fully healed.

When the peeling is done, keep moisturizing for another two to four weeks. After that, sunscreen becomes the most important habit. A daily SPF 30 or higher keeps the lines crisp and the grey tones soft for years.

• Moisturize regularly, especially in dry weather.
• Sunscreen every time the tattoo sees daylight.
• Fine line work ages best when it's kept out of the sun.