Tattoo aftercare, done properly.
Plus every studio worth visiting.
The honest guide to healing your tattoo — written by people who actually run an Australian aftercare brand. And a directory of reputable studios across all eight states and territories.
Healing your tattoo, day by day.
Most aftercare advice on the internet is either outdated, copied from another blog, or written by someone who’s never tattooed a client. We do this differently.
This guide covers Day 1 through fully healed — the products that actually work in 2026, the mistakes that ruin good ink, and what to do when something looks wrong.
Find a tattoo studio anywhere in Australia.
A growing list of tattoo studios across Australia. Browse by state to find one near you.
The questions everyone Googles.
A tattoo takes about 2–3 weeks to heal on the surface and 2–4 months to fully heal beneath the skin. Larger pieces, joint placements, and pieces with heavy colour saturation sit at the longer end of that range. Read the full timeline →
Most Australian tattoo artists no longer recommend Bepanthen — it’s a nappy rash cream designed for a completely different purpose, and it can trap heat and clog pores during healing. Modern aftercare balms are formulated specifically for tattoo trauma. See what artists actually recommend →
Saniderm (or Second Skin / Tegaderm) is now the default in most professional Australian studios — it heals faster and produces less scabbing than the traditional cling-wrap-and-balm method. Use cling film only if you have an adhesive allergy or the placement won’t hold film. Full guidance here →
Yes — you can shower from the day you get tattooed. The rule is short, lukewarm showers with your back to the water, no submerging the tattoo (no baths, pools, or ocean for 2–3 weeks), and pat dry with a clean paper towel. Step-by-step →
Wait 48 hours for any exercise, and 1–2 weeks for anything that involves heavy sweating, friction against the tattoo, or contact with shared equipment. The risk isn’t strain — it’s bacterial infection from gym surfaces and sweat sitting on healing skin. More on training around a new tattoo →
There’s no single “best” — it depends on your skin type, the tattoo’s stage, and your sensitivities. We rate Holdfast Balm, Hustle Butter, and Dr Pickles as the strongest options on the Australian market in 2026. See the full comparison →
Look for current state licensing, visible hygiene practices (single-use needles, barrier film, autoclave), a portfolio of healed work (not just fresh photos), and reviews that mention the healing process — not just how the tattoo looked on the day. Browse studios by state →
Built by people who actually do this.
This site is run by the team behind Penguin Tattoo Co, a small-batch Australian-made tattoo aftercare brand based in Perth.
We test every product we recommend on real healing tattoos. We don’t run sponsored reviews. The studios in our directory aren’t paid placements.
The 30-Day Healing Checklist
Free PDF — exactly what to do, day by day, from fresh ink to fully healed.
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