Aftercare Guide · La Maison Tattoo

After your appointment

How to care for
your tattoo.

Healing is half the work. If your artist gave you instructions for your tattoo, follow their instructions first.

01

Removing your bandage

Second skin & cling wrap

1

Soften it

Second skin stays on 2 to 3 days, then comes off in a warm shower – the water helps to loosen the adhesive. If you have cling wrap, remove it as soon as you get home and proceed to next steps.

2

Peel it back on itself

Fold the edge over and slowly pull it back flat against your skin – never straight up.

3

Wash, dry, moisturize

Unscented soap, pat dry with a clean paper towel, then apply a thin breathable layer of balm. Repeat these cleaning steps twice a day from here.

02

Healing timeline

Find where you are

Day 0Tattoo day

Covered with second skin, or wrapped in cling film. It's an open wound underneath.

Loose clothingDrink waterFresh sheets
Days 1–3Second skin on

Ink may appear fuzzy or pool under the second skin – that's plasma and ink, and it's totally normal.

Leave it aloneCheck the edges daily
Day 3Bandage off

The second skin comes off in a warm shower – peel it back on itself, nice and slow.

Wash twice dailyPat dryApply thin balm
Days 3–7Peeling

Flaking, tightness and itching. Colour may look temporarily dull under the shedding layer.

Wash morning & nightLet flakes shed naturally
Week 2Surface closed

Closed over on the surface. Deeper layers are still repairing, so it isn't fully healed yet.

Moisturize dailyExercise again
Weeks 2–3Healed

Healed to the eye. Resume all activities as normal, including swimming. You'll want to start using sunscreen from here on out.

SunscreenResume activitiesKeep moisturizing
Month 1+Touch-up window

Losing a little ink in the heal is common. Most of our artists offer one free touch-up once healed.

Message your artist
03

Washing

Morning and night, in three moves

1

Wash

Clean hands, mild unscented soap, lukewarm water.

2

Dry

Pat gently with a clean paper towel, or let it air dry.

3

Moisturize

A thin, breathable layer. Sheer beats thick – it needs to breathe.

Soap
Dr. Bronner's unscented · Cetaphil
Moisturizer
Hustle Butter · Aquaphor · unscented Lubriderm
Never
Vaseline · Polysporin · scented soaps · bath towels
04

Touch-ups

Once it has healed

Losing a little ink is normal

Especially on high-movement areas like hands, feet and elbows.

Wait at least a month

Artists offer one free touch-up once the tattoo has healed, to perfect any areas that lost a little ink during healing. Message your artist to book in.

Sunscreen, from here on

Sun is the main cause of fading and blurring. A high factor SPF whenever it's exposed keeps the line work crisp.

Before any laser treatment

Tell the technician about your tattoos, including for hair removal, so they can work around them.

If something doesn't look right

Some redness on a fresh tattoo is normal, and when the bandage comes off. Redness that appears only around the area of the second skin, often itchy, may indicate a reaction to the adhesive rather than the tattoo. If this happens – take the bandage off, wash gently and let the skin breathe. It should settle within a day.

See a doctor if it doesn't settle, keeps spreading, or you notice any of these symptoms:

  • Hot to the touch
  • Tingling or burning
  • Pain increasing
  • Swelling building
  • Yellow/Milky Discharge
  • Fever

While rare, this may be a sign of infection. Please message us if you're unsure.