Traditional dressing
Remove your dressing at the time recommended by your artist. Wash your hands first, then gently clean the tattoo with lukewarm water and mild, fragrance-free soap.
Ghost Orchid Tattoo
Aftercare guide
Proper care. Beautiful healing.
Your tattoo is an open wound while it begins to heal. Keeping it clean, protected, and properly moisturized helps support healthy healing and keeps your tattoo looking its best.
Always follow the specific aftercare instructions provided by your artist, especially when it comes to your bandage or protective film.
Your bandage
Before leaving the studio, your artist will explain when and how to remove the dressing applied to your tattoo.
Adhesive protective film
Leave the film in place for the amount of time recommended by your artist. Removal and replacement instructions may differ depending on the product used and how your tattoo is healing.
Never re-bandage your tattoo unless your artist has specifically instructed you to do so.
Days 1–2
Fresh & healing
- Always wash your hands before touching your tattoo.
- Gently wash with lukewarm water and mild, fragrance-free soap.
- Pat dry with a clean paper towel. Do not rub.
- Once your dressing has been removed, apply only a very thin layer of the aftercare product recommended by your artist.
- Mild redness, tenderness, warmth, swelling, and some clear fluid or excess ink can be normal during the early healing stage.
Keep it clean. Keep it simple.
Your skin has already done enough today.
Days 3–4
Settling down
- Redness, tenderness, and fluid should gradually begin to decrease.
- Continue gently washing your tattoo and moisturizing as directed.
- Keep the area clean and avoid unnecessary touching.
- Avoid baths, pools, hot tubs, lakes, and other forms of soaking.
- Wear clean, loose-fitting clothing whenever possible.
Let your skin breathe.
Give your tattoo room to heal.
Days 5–7
Flaking & peeling
Your tattoo may begin to feel dry, flaky, or lightly scabbed during this stage.
- Apply a thin layer of fragrance-free moisturizer as needed.
- Allow peeling and flaking skin to come away naturally.
- Do not pick, peel, scratch, or pull at scabs.
- Avoid tight clothing or anything that repeatedly rubs against the tattoo.
Let it happen naturally.
Picking can damage healing skin and affect the finished tattoo.
Week 2
The itchy stage
Itching and peeling are common while a tattoo heals.
Do
- • Keep the tattoo clean
- • Moisturize lightly as needed
- • Gently pat around an itch instead of scratching
- • Use a clean, cool compress for temporary relief
- • Wear clean, comfortable clothing
Don’t
- • Scratch or pick
- • Pull away peeling skin
- • Expose the tattoo to direct sunlight
- • Soak the tattoo
- • Allow excessive friction or irritation
Annoying? Absolutely. Temporary? Thankfully.
Let your skin do its thing.
Weeks 3–4
The home stretch
- The surface of your tattoo may appear mostly healed.
- Deeper layers of skin can continue healing after the surface looks normal.
- Dryness or occasional itching may still occur.
- Continue moisturizing when needed.
- Continue protecting the tattoo from prolonged sun exposure.
Once your tattoo is completely healed, regular sunscreen helps protect it from UV damage and premature fading.
Your tattoo is settling in.
Take care of it now so you can enjoy it for years.
Important reminders
Keep it clean
Wash gently with clean hands and avoid unnecessary touching.
Don’t over-moisturize
A light layer is enough. Your tattoo should not remain wet or heavily coated.
Don’t soak it
Avoid baths, pools, hot tubs, lakes, and other prolonged water exposure while your tattoo is healing.
Protect it from the sun
Keep a fresh tattoo out of direct sunlight. Once completely healed, use sunscreen to help protect the tattoo.
Avoid friction
Loose, clean clothing can help prevent unnecessary rubbing and irritation.
Don’t pick
Peeling, flaking, and light scabbing should come away naturally.
Listen to your body
Healing varies from person to person. If you’re unsure whether something you’re experiencing is part of normal healing, contact your artist.
Know when to seek medical care
Some redness, tenderness, warmth, swelling, and clear fluid can occur during normal early healing.
Seek medical advice if you develop symptoms that are severe, worsening, spreading, or otherwise concerning—particularly increasing pain or swelling, spreading redness, unusual discharge, fever, red streaking, or signs of a significant allergic reaction.
Your tattoo artist can help with questions about tattoo aftercare, but cannot diagnose or treat an infection or other medical condition.
