Congrats on the new ink! You step out onto Reguliersbreestraat, sneak another three looks at your arm… and that's when the real job starts: aftercare. Relax, it's easier than it sounds.
A fresh tattoo is basically a graze with a piece of art in it. Treat it like one and it'll stay crisp for years. Below you'll find what to do at each stage, straight from our own aftercare sheet.
Say hi to Ivor, our tattoo artist
Itching for new ink? Then meet Ivor. He's been tattooing for 10 years and he's a true top artist. Curious what he can do? Have a scroll through his Instagram @ivor_tattoo_, there's a good chance your next tattoo idea is waiting there.
Tattoos with Ivor start from €80. You do need to be 18 or older, which is our own studio rule. And before a single line goes on, we always ask for your consent first.
Book your appointment with Ivor →
Day 0: walking out of the studio
Right after tattooing we clean your tattoo and cover it with wound spray, a sterile dressing or a sterile transparent adhesive film. Which one depends on your tattoo. You always get the aftercare both verbally and in writing, so there's nothing to memorise. Lost the sheet? You can download the tattoo aftercare instructions as a free PDF.
Dressing or cling film
Covered with a non-transparent dressing or cling film with ointment? You can take it off after a few hours, then move on to the daily routine below.
Wound spray or clear film
A special healing film or wound spray stays on for 1 day. You can shower as normal with it on. The spray wears off by itself. If fluid builds up under the film and it comes loose early, no drama: just start the routine below a bit sooner.
Day 1 to roughly week 2: your daily routine
Our aftercare sheet says the surface of your skin usually heals in about 2 weeks. Fully healed can take up to 6 weeks, according to the aftercare instructions of the RIVM (the Dutch National Institute for Public Health, page in Dutch).
Your general health and condition play a part, so some skin is quicker than others. Until it's healed, this is the routine:
- Wash your tattoo twice a day with a mild, fragrance-free soap.
- Gently pat it dry with a clean towel or tissue. Pat, don't rub.
- If you like, apply a thin layer of Bepanthen wound cream or another suitable tattoo aftercare cream with clean hands. Thin is the magic word.
- Don't share your cream with anyone, not even the friend who got inked the same day.
- Touch the tattoo as little as possible.
Itchy? That's part of it
A healing tattoo can itch like crazy. Annoying, but normal. Don't scratch: you'd be damaging skin that's busy repairing itself. Good personal hygiene really matters these weeks.
The don't list
- No disinfectants like Sterilon or Betadine on the tattoo.
- No plasters or bandages over it.
- No tight or dirty clothing on the tattooed area.
- No swimming pools, hot tubs, open water, saunas or steam rooms until it's healed. Showers are fine.
- No sun and no sunbeds, not even with sunscreen.
- Regular Bepanthen cream only once the tattoo has fully healed. While healing, it's the wound cream.
Aftercare in an Amsterdam autumn and winter
Good news: the cold months are actually a great time for a new tattoo. Less sun, no beach days. Winter does come with its own traps, though.
Scarves, coats and skinny jeans
A wool scarf over a fresh neck piece or a tight coat sleeve over your forearm is exactly the kind of tight clothing you want to avoid. Go for loose, clean layers for the first weeks. Cycling around the city every day? Watch out for a backpack strap or collar rubbing right over your tattoo.
Sauna day, ski trip or New Year's dip?
A sauna day over the holidays, a week on the slopes or a New Year's Day dip in the sea: time your tattoo so it's healed before you go. Saunas, steam rooms and open water are off the table while it heals, and on the snow the same rule applies: no sun on a fresh tattoo.
After healing: keeping it looking good
Once it's healed, the sun becomes your tattoo's biggest long-term enemy. Always use a high SPF when it's out in the sun, on the slopes too. More on that in tattoos and the sun.
Spot a patch that stayed a little lighter after healing? Read when a touch-up makes sense. Fine lines need extra care, see our post on fine-line tattoos.
When to contact your artist or a doctor
Extreme redness, swelling, bleeding, pus, discolouration or severe pain? Contact your artist or a doctor straight away. Not sure? Always get it checked.
Getting tattooed at Piercings Works
We've been in the same spot for 22 years: Reguliersbreestraat 46, between Muntplein and Rembrandtplein. We have more than 2,000 reviews, Piercings Works was the first studio with a GGD (Dutch public health) licence, and we follow the legal hygiene guidelines for tattooing.
Good to know: our team speaks your language. Book online or walk in for a walk-in tattoo.
Prefer your aftercare as a comic? Check out the tattoo aftercare comic. Curious where all that ink comes from? Our e-book Inkt door de eeuwen (in Dutch) covers the history of tattooing.
FAQ
How long does a tattoo take to heal?
According to our aftercare sheet, the surface usually heals in about 2 weeks. Fully healed can take up to 6 weeks (RIVM). Your health and condition play a part. Not sure if it's healed yet? Ask your artist.
Can I shower with a new tattoo?
Yes, even with wound spray or clear film on it. Skip baths, pools, saunas and steam rooms until it's healed.
Which cream can I use?
If you want to: a thin layer of Bepanthen wound cream or another suitable tattoo aftercare cream, applied with clean hands. Regular Bepanthen only after healing. No Sterilon or Betadine.
Can I put a plaster on my tattoo?
No. No plasters or bandages, and no tight or dirty clothing over it.
My tattoo itches. Is that normal?
Yes, itching is part of healing. Don't scratch. With extreme redness, swelling, pus or severe pain, contact your artist or a doctor right away.
How do I book a tattoo?
Book online in Ivor's calendar or walk in at Reguliersbreestraat 46. Tattoos from €80, age 18+.
Can I download the aftercare instructions?
Yes, you'll find the tattoo aftercare instructions as a PDF on our downloads page.
Ready for new ink?