What the artist brings, and what leaves
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Sealed and single-use
Needles and cartridges arrive sealed and are opened in front of you. Each is used once, on you only, then goes into a sharps container that leaves with the artist.
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The room becomes the setup
The work surface gets fresh barrier film, the machine and the clip cord are wrapped, and gloves are changed any time the artist touches something outside the clean field.
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A room that closes
Sessions happen indoors with the door shut, never on a terrace or by the pool. Wind, insects and dust are the main things that threaten a fresh tattoo in Bali, and a closed door keeps all of them out.
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Nothing is left behind
All waste, wrapping and sharps leave with the artist, and the room is put back the way it was found.
How it heals, day by day
- 01
Day 1: leave the wrap, expect weeping
Keep the covering on for as long as the artist tells you. When it comes off, a little oozing of blood, plasma and extra ink is normal, and so are redness, soreness and skin that feels warm. Wash your hands first, then rinse the tattoo with lukewarm water and fragrance-free soap, and pat it dry with a paper towel rather than the bathroom towel. Apply a thin layer of the ointment your artist recommended, morning and night.
- 02
Days 2–6: scabbing
The redness fades and light scabs form. The scab is the tattoo's own bandage, and it lifts off by itself within a few days. Picking at it pulls out ink and can leave a scar, so leave it alone. Keep washing twice a day, and keep the ointment layer thin: a thick layer traps moisture and can soften the scab enough for it to slide off too early.
- 03
Days 6–14: itching and peeling
This is the itch stage. The tattoo flakes and peels like a sunburn, and a light moisturiser a couple of times a day takes the edge off. Scratching while the surface is still fragile is how healed tattoos lose their sharpness, so try not to. If the area is still swollen, hot or getting redder instead of settling at this stage, that is worth a doctor's look: send us a photo and we will tell you straight.
- 04
Days 15–30: the dull phase
By now the scabs are gone and the skin may look dry, dull or slightly cloudy. That is the last layer of healing skin, not a faded tattoo. Keep it lightly moisturised and be patient: the lower layers of skin finish healing over two to three months, and only then does the tattoo show its true depth.
While it heals, skip these
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Sea, pools and rivers
No swimming, soaking or submersion for at least two weeks. Sea salt, pool chlorine and river water on an open wound is the fastest way to ruin a fresh tattoo in Bali. Showers are fine.
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Direct sun
A healing tattoo can blister and lighten in direct sun, and sunscreen does not belong on broken skin. Keep it covered until it has healed. After that, sunscreen is what keeps the line work sharp for years.
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Picking and scratching
Both pull ink out of a healing tattoo and leave a scar in its place. When it itches, wash it or add a little moisturiser. Keep your nails away from it.
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Tight clothing and long sweat
Loose, clean clothing over the tattoo, and fresh sheets at night. Fabric that rubs, or hours of sweat against the skin, irritates it during the weeks it is most fragile.
Touch-ups
How skin heals depends on the person, the placement and how the tattoo was looked after, so nobody can promise a result in advance. Once it is fully healed, send photos. The artist will look at whether a touch-up is worth doing, and will say so honestly if it is not.