Fresh Ink. Now Protect the Heal.

Congratulations on your new tattoo. The tattooing part is over; healing is now in your hands.

A great tattoo needs a great heal. The first weeks matter: how you clean it, moisturise it, protect it and leave it alone has a direct effect on how it settles into your skin.

> We create the tattoo. You protect the heal.

Every artist may have a preferred healing method depending on the tattoo, its placement, your skin, and the bandage used. Follow the instructions given by your artist first. This guide covers the general aftercare essentials for tattoos completed at Hoochimama Tattoo and Elysian Tattoo Co.

First Hours: Leave It Alone

Your artist will tell you whether your tattoo is covered with standard wrap, cling film, or a medical adhesive film such as second skin. Keep the covering on for the timeframe your artist provides.

- Wash your hands before touching the tattoo or its bandage.

- Do not remove the bandage early unless it is leaking badly, lifting significantly, contaminated, or your artist advises you to do so.

- Do not re-wrap a tattoo in cling film after the initial protective period unless your artist specifically instructs it.

- A little redness, warmth, tenderness, clear fluid, ink residue and light spotting are normal during the first day or two.

- Wear loose, clean clothing that will not rub, trap sweat or stick to the tattoo.

If you have been given a medical adhesive film, some fluid or ink may collect beneath it. This is usually normal. Keep it in place for the time your artist recommends, unless the seal breaks or it becomes contaminated.

Cleaning Your Tattoo

Once your covering is removed, treat your tattoo gently.

- Wash your hands first.

- Use lukewarm running water and a mild, fragrance-free liquid soap.

- Clean away plasma, excess ink, blood residue and moisturiser with clean fingertips only.

- Do not scrub, use a washcloth, loofah, exfoliant or nail brush.

- Pat dry with clean disposable paper towel, or let it air dry.

- Do not share towels, products or bedding while the tattoo is healing.

- Keep the tattoo clean, but do not over-wash it. Usually, washing once or twice daily is enough unless it becomes dirty.

## Moisturise Lightly

Once your tattoo is clean and dry, apply a very thin layer of the aftercare product recommended by your artist.

- Use only a small amount. Your skin should look comfortable, not wet, shiny or smothered.

- Reapply when the area feels dry or tight.

- Too much moisturiser can block the skin, trap bacteria and cause irritation or breakouts.

- Avoid strongly scented creams, petroleum-heavy products, alcohol-based products and harsh antiseptics unless advised by a qualified health professional.

- Do not use products that sting, burn, cause a rash or make the area excessively red.

> Moisturise the tattoo. Don’t marinate it.

## The Healing Phase

Most tattoos begin to feel dry, tight, itchy or flaky after a few days. This is normal. The tattoo may look dull or slightly cloudy while new skin forms over it; this is part of healing.

- Do not scratch, pick, peel or pull at scabs or flakes.

- Do not let other people touch your fresh tattoo.

- Keep nails clean and avoid rubbing the tattoo while sleeping.

- Avoid tight clothing, straps, shoes, jewellery or equipment that repeatedly rubs the tattoo.

- Keep pets away from the tattoo and from your bedding while it heals.

- Change bed linen regularly, especially during the first week.

- Avoid sleeping directly on the tattoo where possible.

> If it flakes, let it flake. If it itches, don’t make it worse.

## What to Avoid While Healing

For roughly two weeks, or until the skin is fully healed and no longer peeling, avoid anything that soaks, overheats, contaminates or repeatedly irritates the tattoo.

| Avoid | Why |

|---|---|

| Swimming pools, ocean, rivers, lakes and spas | Water exposure and bacteria can irritate healing skin and increase infection risk. |

| Baths, saunas and steam rooms | Prolonged soaking and heat can disrupt healing. |

| Direct sun and tanning | UV exposure can irritate a fresh tattoo and affect colour and contrast. |

| Heavy training and excessive sweating | Sweat, friction and shared equipment can irritate the area. |

| Tight, dirty or abrasive clothing | Rubbing can lift scabs and affect the healed result. |

| Picking, scratching and shaving over the tattoo | These can damage healing skin and pull out pigment. |

| Applying sunscreen to unhealed skin | Wait until the skin is fully healed before using sunscreen. |

You can shower, but keep it brief and avoid soaking the tattoo. Once fully healed, use high-SPF sunscreen to protect the tattoo from fading.

## When to Get Help

Mild redness, tenderness, warmth, swelling and clear fluid are common immediately after a tattoo. Seek advice from a qualified health professional if you develop symptoms such as worsening pain, spreading redness, substantial swelling, pus, fever, chills, red streaks, or a reaction that continues to worsen.

Contact your artist if you have a non-urgent question about the bandage, normal healing stages, or the aftercare instructions you were given.

> A tattoo should heal, not become a horror story.

## Studio Touch-Up Policy

Tattoos heal differently on every person. Skin type, placement, friction, sun exposure, swimming, work conditions, training, picking, scratching and aftercare all affect the final healed result. For that reason, touch-ups are never automatic and are always assessed by the artist.

For tattoos completed at Hoochimama Tattoo’s Fremantle studio, contact your artist or the studio within 14 days of your original appointment if you believe a touch-up may be needed.

- Touch-up requests are assessed individually by the artist.

- A complimentary touch-up is not guaranteed.

- The artist will consider the healed tattoo, placement, design, skin response and healing circumstances before approving any work.

- Requests made after 14 days are outside the complimentary touch-up window.

- After 14 days, any future work, rework or refresh is at the artist’s discretion and may be charged.

> Fresh tattoos need care. Touch-ups need a conversation.

## Festival and Pop-Up Tattoo Aftercare

Festival, party, event and pop-up tattoos carry a different healing environment. You may be dancing, sweating, drinking, camping, travelling, exposed to dust, sun, water, friction and less-than-ideal hygiene conditions. That is part of the experience—but once you leave the chair, the healing responsibility is yours.

For this reason, complimentary touch-ups are not offered for tattoos completed at Hoochimama pop-ups, festivals or events.

- Follow the aftercare directions carefully from the moment you leave the tattoo station.

- Keep the tattoo clean, covered when appropriate, and protected from dust, sun, sweat and rubbing.

- Avoid alcohol and substances that may lead to poor aftercare decisions during the immediate healing period.

- Do not swim, soak the tattoo, share towels or let festival friends touch your fresh ink.

- Any future tattoo work, refresh or touch-up is entirely at the artist’s discretion and may incur a charge.

If you have a genuine concern about how your tattoo is healing, contact us or your artist with clear photographs and the date of your tattoo. We will advise you on the appropriate next step.

If you are booking another tattoo later, ask whether the artist can assess the healed piece during that appointment. Where appropriate, they may be able to discuss a paid refresh or touch-up alongside your new tattoo.

> Festival memories fade. Good aftercare keeps the tattoo from joining them.

## Two Studios. One Tattoo Community.

Hoochimama Tattoo and Elysian Tattoo Co are connected by a shared love of great artists, great clients and tattoos worth wearing for life.

Hoochimama Tattoo is built for walk-ins, flash, spontaneous decisions, events and festival tattoos.

Elysian Tattoo Co is our private, appointment-only space for custom, large-scale and multi-session projects.

Whether you were tattooed at Hoochimama, Elysian, or one of our pop-up events, the goal is the same: a tattoo that heals well and stays worth looking at.

BAD CHOICES MAKE THE BEST TATTOOS.

GOOD AFTERCARE MAKES THEM LAST.

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