Heal it well.

Days 1–4 · Second Skin

Live your life

I finish every session by applying Second Skin — a thin, breathable film you'll wear for 3–4 days. It acts as a protective barrier over the fresh tattoo and makes the first few days as comfortable as possible. For now, you can almost forget it's there.

You can shower — just keep it short. Second Skin is water-resistant, not waterproof.

While the film is on:

• Skip saunas, steam rooms, hot tubs and long hot baths.
• Don't swim — no pools, lakes, rivers, sea or ocean.
• Leave the film's edges alone — don't pick or peel them back.
• Try not to sleep on the tattooed side.

Remember a fresh tattoo is a wound — real trauma your body is healing from, so look after yourself first. You can train again the next day if you feel up to it, but don't push too hard, and get plenty of rest. If you do work out, watch the sweat under the film: if a lot collects, stop; if it keeps pooling, take the film off early and move straight to the routine below.

Day 3–4 · Taking off Second Skin

Remove it slowly

After 3–4 days, take the film off at home (somewhere clean). Wash your hands first — the easiest way is in the shower under warm water. Underneath, the tattoo can look a little dirty or sticky from a mix of excess pigment, blood and plasma — that's completely normal.

• Peel the film off slowly and gently — never rip it, as that irritates the skin and can disrupt healing.
• Wash gently with antibacterial soap and warm water, then pat dry with a clean paper towel — don't rub.
• Let it air-dry for 30–40 minutes in a clean room.

Keep pets away from the fresh tattoo — animals can sense a wound and may try to lick it, which can introduce bacteria and cause infection.

The first month · Healing

Keep it simple

Once the skin is dry, the routine is easy: a very thin layer of Aquaphor, three times a day. Don't overdo it — the tattoo should look lightly moisturised, no more.

• Wear loose clothing that won't rub against it.
• Keep it out of direct sun — UV is strong even on cloudy days, so cover it whenever you're outside for a while.
• Skip anything that soaks it: pools, open water, hot springs, saunas and hot tubs.

My work usually heals faster — around 3 weeks — because my technique traumatises the skin less. Everyone's different, though, so to be safe, give it a full month. After that there are no more restrictions — you're free to go back to all of it.

For life · Keeping it vivid

Two lasting habits

Once it's fully healed, make two things part of your routine:

• Sunscreen any time the tattoo is outside.
• Moisturise your skin regularly.