Black Wolf Tattoo Club

Aftercare

We heal tattoos dry: keep it clean, let it breathe, and leave the lotion on the shelf.

Dry healing means no ointment and no lotion while it heals. Washing keeps it clean, and air keeps it dry so it can heal on its own. Your artist will go over aftercare at the end of your session. If anything they tell you differs from this page, follow their instructions.

Gold Signature Aftercare tin with the Black Wolf BW monogram

Made by the shop

Signature Aftercare

Our own balm for once your tattoo has finished peeling. Mango butter, shea butter, beeswax and jojoba oil, in a gold Black Wolf tin. Pick one up at the shop.

See the tin and ingredients

The first month

  1. The first day

    Leave the wrap on for as long as your artist tells you. Wash your hands, take it off, and gently wash the tattoo with lukewarm water and fragrance-free soap. Pat it with a clean paper towel, then let it air dry for 10 to 15 minutes. Don't put anything on it.

  2. Days 2 to 14

    Wash it two or three times a day the same way, pat it, and let it air dry. Nothing goes on it: no ointment, no lotion. It will get tight, flaky and itchy, and may form light scabs. That's normal. Let the flakes and scabs fall off on their own.

  3. Weeks 3 and 4

    The surface looks healed, but the skin underneath is still settling. Once the peeling has stopped completely, you can use a moisturizer if the skin feels dry, like our Signature Aftercare balm. Keep it out of the sun.

Do

  • Wash your hands before touching it
  • Keep it clean and let it air dry after every wash
  • Wear loose, clean clothes over it
  • Let it breathe: loose clothes, no bandages after the first wrap
  • Use sunscreen once it's fully healed

Don't

  • Pick or scratch the flakes
  • Soak it in baths, pools, hot tubs, lakes or the ocean for two weeks
  • Put it in direct sun or a tanning bed while it heals
  • Put ointment or lotion on it while it's peeling
  • Rub it dry with a towel or cover it with plastic wrap again

What you need

  • Fragrance-free soap
  • Clean paper towels
  • Loose, clean clothes for the first few days
  • Clean sheets the first few nights

When to see a doctor

Redness, swelling and mild heat in the first two days are expected. These are not:

  • Redness that keeps spreading after day three
  • Yellow or green discharge, or a bad smell
  • Fever, chills, or feeling genuinely unwell
  • Pain that gets worse after day two
  • Raised, hot, hardened skin around it
  • Red streaks running away from the tattoo

Any of those: see a doctor first, then call the shop at 907-251-7841 so we know.