A tattoo is for life — so the care doesn’t stop when the machine does. You leave Full Moon with your piece protected, a clear healing plan, and a studio you can message any time it’s settling in.
Three things every Full Moon client gets, every time — no fine print.
You leave with your piece dressed and protected, and a clear, written healing routine — no guesswork on day one. We walk you through it before you stand up.
Questions at 2am about peeling, redness or a scab that looks off? Message the studio — a real artist answers, not a script. We’ve seen it all heal before.
If a spot lifts or fades a touch as it heals, we make it right at no charge once it’s settled. “Art for life” means exactly that — we stand behind the ink.
A clear, honest walk-through of what happens and what to do — from the moment you leave the chair to fully settled skin. General care guidance only; your artist’s instructions come first.
Keep the wrap on as long as we advised. Then a gentle wash, pat dry, a thin layer of balm. Expect some weeping and warmth — that’s normal.
The surface tightens and dulls; a light scab may form. Keep washing gently morning and night and moisturising lightly. Hands off.
Peeling and itching peak — completely normal. Flakes lift on their own. Do not pick or scratch. The colour can look patchy mid-peel.
The surface looks healed; deeper layers keep settling for up to a few months. Keep it moisturised and sun-protected, and it’ll bloom.
Every body and every placement heals a little differently. These windows are a guide — your artist’s specific advice on the day always takes priority.
This is the most important stretch. Your tattoo is an open wound right now — treat it like one, calmly.
Through the first couple of weeks, a simple twice-a-day routine does almost all the work.
Around the end of the first week, your tattoo will start to flake and peel like a light sunburn, and it’ll itch. This is your skin doing exactly what it should — don’t panic, and don’t help it along.
Mid-peel, the colour can look cloudy, patchy or dull — that’s the old surface skin lifting off the vivid layer underneath. As the flakes finish, the real tattoo comes through.
Read: Why tattoos peel and flake — and why it’s a good sign →
Healed blackwork
Healed portraitFor roughly the first two to three weeks — until the surface is fully healed — steer clear of these.
No direct sun and no solarium on a fresh tattoo — UV fades healing ink fast and can burn the wound. Once healed, sunscreen is the single best thing for keeping it sharp for life.
No soaking — swimming pools, spas, the ocean and long baths all risk infection and lift colour. Quick showers are fine; just don’t submerge or soak the area.
Skip the gym, contact sport and anything that drenches the area in sweat or rubs it for the first week or so. Sweat and friction irritate fresh ink and invite bacteria.
The one rule that matters most. Let scabs and flakes come off naturally — picking pulls out ink, can scar, and is the fastest way to need a touch-up. Hands off.
Some redness, warmth, swelling and tenderness in the first few days is completely normal. But healing should steadily improve, not get worse. See a doctor or pharmacist if you notice:
This is general care information, not medical advice. Full Moon artists aren’t doctors — if you’re worried about an infection or a reaction, see your GP or pharmacist, and call 000 in an emergency. We’re always happy to look at a photo and point you the right way.
Honest, practical reads from the studio — before the chair and long after.
AftercareEverything on this page, expanded — the full day-by-day, the products we like, and the mistakes we see most often.
Read moreHealingThe peeling week worries everyone the first time. Here’s what’s actually happening under there — and why it’s a good sign.
Read more
Long-termThe single biggest factor in how sharp your tattoo looks in ten years. Healing rules, and the lifelong habit that keeps it crisp.
Read moreNot sure if something looks right? Send us a message or give the studio a call — a real Full Moon artist will take a look and put your mind at ease. No question is too small.
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Thinking about your next piece while this one heals? Browse the work, explore the styles we tattoo, or try a design on your skin with our preview tool. When you’re ready, book the session.
