To ensure that your tattoo looks as beautiful down the road as the day you got it done, proper aftercare is a must. Your new ink is an open wound that needs to heal–and the final outcome of your tattoo depends on a few basic rules.

Please note that every artist has their own approach to aftercare.

To ensure your tattoo heals properly, please follow your artist's personal recommendation. These are our general guidelines, which can serve as a handy reference if you need a reminder—but we suggest contacting your artist directly if you need help.