Tattoo & Piercing After Care

After care. It’s probably not the first thing you think of when getting a new tattoo or piercing, but I know from experience just how important proper after care is. I remember when I got my first piercing how nervous I was about how to look after it once it had been done – It was my first piercing, I had no idea what to do or how to look after it. When I got my first tattoo, I remember urgently asking the tattooist to tell me what to do afterwards, more so in hope of being reassured that it would be OK. Unfortunately for me, where the advice for after care of my first piercing had been spot on, the advice for my first tattoo had not. So today I am going to run you through some products which I have tried over the years, for both tattoos and piercings, and hope you don’t make any of the mistakes I did!

My very first tattoo was the outline of a star on my left upper wrist. I know, original right? I expected it to hurt so much and was pretty surprised when it was done that I hadn't collapsed in fits of tears pleading with the Gods to bring me back from the hell pit of pain I expected. Tattoos are painful, but they are not as painful as I thought they would be. Sure, some places are a hell of a lot more sensitive than others, but you get over it. After my first tattoo I was sent off with the after care advice of ‘wash it and put Vaseline on’. Oh yes, that is really the extend of the advice I received. If only I had known…

Vaseline is a terrible product to use on tattoos. It is not a tattoo after care product; it does nothing to look after your tattoo. Using Vaseline on your tattoos can blur the lining of tattoos, causing blurring, as well as lessen the colour. The first product I moved on to after Vaseline was an utter dream, and it’s still a firm favourite of mine too.

Aptly named Tattoo Aftercare, it comes in a teeny tiny clear pot with a teal lid. It is a 3-in-1 product which soothes, moisturisers and maintains the quality of your tattoo, keeping colour vibrant. It contains natural ingredients, extra vitamin E and is suitable for all skin types. Its BUAV approved – which means it’s cruelty free! And it doesn't contain petroleum, alcohol, parabens or preservatives. It’s an all-round lovely balm for tattoo after-care, and it also smells lovely! You just need a tiny bit, pop it onto the tattooed area and massage in. And what’s even better, is a 10g tub of this will last you several tattoos and only costs £2.49! You can find it on the The Tattoo Shop website, here. 

Another great product for tattoo after care and also a hugely popular and better known brand is Tattoo Goo. It has a novelty name with novelty packaging to match, but the product itself is pretty darn wonderful. It’s 97.5% natural, contains olive oil, cocoa butter and wheat germ oil, has a vitamin enriched formula and is not only dermatologist approved, but pharmacist approved too. It’s free of both lanolin and petroleum, doesn't clog the pores of your skin which is very important with new tattoos and promotes a faster healing time! This is available in 9.3g tins and also costs just £2.49 on the The Tattooed Shop website, you can find it here!

I've been pretty lucky with my piercings over the years. Most of them heal very well and I've only had a few reject (sometimes, our bodies just don’t want to be pierced and will reject the piercing. If you have any worries over a new piercing you should see your piercer as soon as possible for a professional opinion) There are two ways in which I will look after a piercing. If it is a mouth piercing, I will use a salt and warm water solution. With other piercings I will use the Piercing Aftercare Solution. It is a liquid solution which comes in a squeezer type bottle (similar to the format that eye drops solution comes in) and you just pop a drop of it on to the fresh piercing 4-5 times a day. It’s suitable for all skin types and the internal dropper makes sure it stays hygienic and germ free! It can be used on any exterior piercings, and it can also be used when stretching your ears. It contains a blend of active natural ingredients and vitamin goodness which work together to nourish and enrich the skin. It’s gentle, effective and it won’t damage any of your body jewellery. It’s also Vegan friendly, doesn't contain any parabens and also costs just £2.49 for a 10ml bottle. You can find it on the The Tattoo Shop website here.