Keep the wrap on
- Don't remove the film too early
The wrap keeps dirt out while the skin is open. Leave it on for as long as Hiroshi tells you when he finishes.
- Wash your hands before touching it
Always, every time you remove the film, wash the tattoo or apply cream.
- A gentle first wash
When you remove the film, wash with lukewarm water and mild, fragrance-free soap. Use your fingers to remove leftover ink and plasma, no sponges or towels.
It's normal for the tattoo to release some ink and fluid in the first hours. It's not ink being lost: it's the excess left on the surface.
Wash and protect
- Wash 2 or 3 times a day
Lukewarm water and mild soap. Rinse well so no soap is left.
- Pat it dry
With clean paper towel, pressing gently. Never rub.
- A very thin layer of cream
Just enough to keep the skin from drying out. If it looks shiny or sticky, it's too much: the skin needs to breathe.
- Sleep in clean clothes
Clean sheets and clothes, ideally cotton. If it sticks to the fabric when you wake up, wet it with lukewarm water before peeling it off.
Don't scratch it
- It will itch and peel
That's the skin renewing itself. Little flakes with color will come off: it's normal, it's not ink being lost.
- Don't scratch or pick
If it itches a lot, tap it gently with a clean hand. Picking scabs pulls out ink and leaves light patches.
- Keep using the cream
Always in a thin layer, 2 or 3 times a day.
- Loose clothing
Nothing tight or rubbing on the area, especially on legs, waist and back.
Sunscreen, always
- SPF 50 sunscreen
The sun is what fades a tattoo the most over the years. On the Trujillo coast the sun is strong even when it's cloudy: put on sunscreen every time you go out.
- Moisturize your skin
Moisturized skin keeps the black deep and the lines sharp.
- Check-up
If you see a lighter patch once it has healed, message Hiroshi with a photo to see whether it needs a touch-up.
The top layer heals in about 2 or 3 weeks, but the skin underneath keeps closing for a month or more. That's why the tattoo can look a bit cloudy at first and then clears up.
What to avoid
Salt water and sand in Huanchaco can infect the wound and fade the ink.
Chlorine irritates open skin and can dull the color.
Cover it with clothing. Sunscreen only once the skin has closed.
Heat and humidity open the pores and slow down healing.
Sweat and friction irritate it. After that, train in clean clothes and wash it when you're done.
Not scabs, not flakes. Let them fall off on their own.
Aftercare questions
When can I go in the sea after getting tattooed?
Wait until your skin has stopped peeling and is fully closed, usually between 2 and 3 weeks. Salt water, sand and strong sun can infect the tattoo or fade the ink while it heals.
Is it normal for it to itch and peel?
Yes. Between day 4 and day 14 the skin renews itself: it itches and sheds little flakes with color in them. Don't scratch or pick at anything; let it fall off on its own.
When can I work out again?
Avoid hard workouts for the first 3 days. After that, train in clean clothes that don't rub the area and wash the tattoo when you're done.
Which cream should I use?
A fragrance-free healing cream, in a very thin layer. Hiroshi will tell you which one to use at the end of your session.
My tattoo looks cloudy. Is that normal?
Yes, while the skin finishes closing it can look milky or cloudy. It usually clears up on its own over the following weeks.
See a doctor if you notice
- Pus or a bad smell.
- Fever or chills.
- Redness or swelling that grows instead of going down after the third day.
- Pain that gets worse day by day.
If you're unsure about how it looks, message Hiroshi with a photo.