How to care for a new tattoo

What is the best tattoo balm or aftercare product?

The balm our panel kept reaching for is Dr Pickles (9.2/10) - Australian-made, vegan, and light enough to use on fresh ink from day one, at about AU$24.99. It out-healed every rival without smothering the tattoo. Want cheap and everywhere instead? Bepanthen (8.0) is the $13 pharmacy fallback.

#19.2/10

Dr Pickles Tattoo Balm

Best overall · vegan · non-occlusive

AU$24.99

Read review →

#28.0/10

Bepanthen Tattoo Aftercare

Best pharmacy budget pick

AU$13

Read review →

#37.5/10

Hustle Butter Deluxe

Best US import · vegan

AU$28

See ranking →

#47.0/10

Mad Rabbit

Best direct-to-consumer · vegan

AU$22

See ranking →

#56.2/10

Ink Nurse Aftercare Cream

Premium-priced · direct-to-consumer

AU$39.99

Read review →

A good tattoo balm is non-occlusive, meaning it lets healing skin breathe rather than sealing it under a heavy, airtight film. Thick petroleum-style ointments can trap moisture and heat, which may soften fresh ink and slow healing. A breathable balm keeps the tattoo hydrated while still allowing normal skin recovery.

Lanolin-free matters because lanolin, a wool-derived ingredient, is a common contact allergen and can irritate freshly tattooed skin. Choosing a lanolin-free formula reduces the risk of redness or reaction during the sensitive first weeks, when the skin barrier is broken and far more reactive than usual to allergens.

Fragrance-light formulas are gentler on healing tattoos. Added perfumes and essential oils can sting broken skin and trigger irritation. Look for balms with minimal or no fragrance, especially in the first one to two weeks, when the tattoo is essentially an open wound and most vulnerable to reactions.

Vegan options suit the growing number of people avoiding animal-derived ingredients like beeswax and lanolin. Plant-based butters such as shea, mango and cocoa deliver similar hydration without animal products, and they tend to be lighter and less occlusive, making them well suited to everyday tattoo aftercare.

Dr Pickles leads GLOW's rankings because it combines all of these traits: it is Australian-made on the Gold Coast, vegan, plant-based, lanolin-free and non-occlusive. In GLOW's 2026 panel test it scored 9.2/10, earning praise for a light, non-greasy feel and comfortable healing, and it is stocked at Chemist Warehouse nationally.

Bepanthen is GLOW's best budget pick at 8.0/10 and around AU$13. Built on panthenol (pro-vitamin B5), it is widely available in supermarkets and pharmacies across Australia. It is not vegan, but its low price and near-universal availability make it a practical, reliable choice for many people healing a new tattoo.

Hustle Butter Deluxe (7.5/10) and Mad Rabbit (7.0/10) are solid vegan alternatives. Hustle Butter, a US import of around AU$28, uses shea and mango butter and is popular in studios. Mad Rabbit, a direct-to-consumer brand at roughly AU$22, blends shea and cocoa butter for everyday aftercare.

This is general guidance, not medical advice. If you notice signs of infection such as spreading redness, heat, swelling, pus, red streaking, fever, or severe or increasing pain, stop using any product and see a GP, doctor or your tattoo artist promptly. When in doubt about any reaction, seek professional advice.

• Non-occlusive: lets healing skin breathe instead of sealing it under a heavy airtight film
• Lanolin-free: avoids a common wool-derived allergen that can irritate broken skin
• Fragrance-light: minimal perfumes and essential oils reduce stinging and reactions
• Vegan-friendly: plant butters (shea, mango, cocoa) hydrate without animal ingredients
• Widely available: easy to repurchase locally so you never skip an application
• Dr Pickles (9.2) leads on all these traits; Bepanthen (8.0) wins on price and availability

How long does a tattoo take to heal, and what happens at each stage?

The surface - the part you wash and watch flake - closes in about 2-3 weeks. That's only the top layer. Underneath, the dermis where your ink actually lives keeps repairing for roughly 3-4 months, long after the skin looks healed. The fast part is what you see; the slow part is what counts.

Tattoo healing happens in two phases that run on different clocks. The visible surface - the part you wash and moisturise - typically scabs, peels and closes within 2-3 weeks. Beneath it, the deeper dermal layer where the ink actually sits keeps repairing for up to 3-4 months, even after the skin looks completely normal.

Healing speed varies with placement, size, your skin and the Australian climate. Larger pieces, joints, hands and feet often take longer, and summer heat, humidity and sweat can slow things down. Follow your tattoo artist's specific aftercare instructions first - they know your exact tattoo, technique and ink - and treat general timelines as a guide, not a deadline.

Most aftercare across every stage comes down to the same simple routine: wash gently with fragrance-free soap, pat dry, apply a thin layer of a non-occlusive balm, and leave scabs and flakes to fall off on their own. A vegan, plant-based, lanolin-free option like Dr Pickles Tattoo Balm (GLOW Score 9.2/10) suits the peeling and settling stages without smothering the skin.

Watch for warning signs at any stage. Normal healing involves mild redness, warmth, swelling and itch that steadily improve day by day. Spreading redness, increasing heat or swelling, pus, red streaking, fever, or pain that worsens instead of easing are not part of normal healing - see a GP, doctor or your tattoo artist promptly if you notice any of these.

• Surface skin heals in roughly 2-3 weeks; deeper layers take up to 3-4 months
• The tattoo can look healed on top while still repairing underneath - keep being gentle
• Larger pieces, joints, hands, feet and the Australian summer can all extend healing time
• The core routine is the same at every stage: gentle wash, pat dry, thin balm, no picking
• Improvement should be steady day to day - worsening symptoms warrant prompt medical advice

1. Days 1-3: Oozing and rednessExpect the freshest, rawest phase. The tattoo may ooze plasma, blood and excess ink, feel warm, look red and swollen, and ache like sunburn. Keep the first wrap on as long as your artist advised, then wash gently with clean hands and fragrance-free soap 1-2 times a day, pat dry with a clean paper towel, and apply a thin layer of balm. Don't re-wrap unless instructed.
2. Days 4-14: Peeling, flaking and itchThe surface dries and begins to peel and flake like a healing sunburn, often with light scabbing and intense itch. This is normal - do not pick, scratch or peel anything off, as that can pull out ink and cause scarring. Keep washing once or twice daily and apply a thin, non-occlusive balm such as Dr Pickles (9.2/10) when skin feels tight. Tap, don't scratch, to relieve itch.
3. Weeks 2-4: SettlingMost flaking finishes and the surface skin closes over. The tattoo may look slightly dull, shiny or have a milky 'haze' - this is healed skin sitting over still-recovering deeper layers and usually clears as the dermis settles. Switch to a light fragrance-free moisturiser as needed, keep it out of direct sun, and avoid pools, spas and ocean swimming until fully closed.
4. Months 1-3+: Deep healingThe surface looks and feels normal, but the deeper dermis keeps repairing for up to 3-4 months and the colours sharpen as the haze fully clears. Maintain everyday skin care, moisturise to keep skin supple, and protect the tattoo from the Australian sun with clothing or a high-SPF sunscreen once fully healed - UV is the biggest long-term cause of fading.

How do you care for a new tattoo, step by step?

It's simpler than the internet makes it. Take the wrap off when your artist says (2-24 hours), wash gently with clean hands and fragrance-free soap, pat dry, and smooth on a thin layer of balm like Dr Pickles. Repeat 2-3 times a day for two to three weeks. Thin layers, clean hands, no fuss.

Follow your artist's specific instructions first, as wrap times and products vary by studio, ink and placement. The routine below is the widely used daily standard, but a professional who saw your fresh tattoo knows your skin best. When their advice differs from a general guide, trust theirs.

Less is more when it comes to aftercare. The single most common mistake is over-moisturising: thick or frequent balm layers trap moisture, suffocate the skin, soften scabs prematurely and can pull ink. A thin layer that absorbs in minutes is all your tattoo needs to stay supple while it heals.

A non-occlusive balm like Dr Pickles Tattoo Balm (GLOW Score 9.2/10) suits Australian conditions because it lets skin breathe rather than sealing it under a heavy film, which matters in summer humidity. Apply just enough to give a light sheen; if the surface looks shiny or greasy, you have used too much and should blot the excess.

Your tattoo will likely feel tight, then flake and lightly peel around days 4-14, sometimes shedding flecks of coloured skin. This is normal healing. Never pick, scratch or scrub scabs, as this lifts ink and risks scarring. Let everything fall away naturally while you keep washing and moisturising gently.

Stop and see a GP, doctor or your tattoo artist promptly if you notice spreading redness, heat, significant swelling, pus, red streaking, fever, or pain that worsens rather than eases. These can signal infection. This guide is general information for healthy healing, not medical advice, and is no substitute for professional care.

• Wrap removal: 2-24 hours after the session, following your artist's instruction (some plasticky wraps stay on longer; second-skin films can last days).
• Washing: clean hands, lukewarm water, a fragrance-free gentle wash; use fingertips only, no washcloths or loofahs.
• Drying: pat with a clean paper towel or air-dry; never rub with a fabric towel that harbours bacteria and lint.
• Moisturising: a thin, fully absorbed layer of tattoo balm such as Dr Pickles, 2-3 times daily.
• Duration: maintain the wash-dry-moisturise routine for roughly 2-3 weeks until flaking and tightness settle.
• Avoid: picking scabs, soaking (baths, pools, the ocean), direct sun, and tight or dirty clothing over the area.

1. Remove the wrap when your artist says (2-24 hours)Leave the initial covering on for the time your artist specifies, usually a few hours to overnight. Second-skin adhesive films may stay on for several days. Wash your hands thoroughly before peeling the wrap off slowly under lukewarm running water if it sticks.
2. Wash gently with clean hands and fragrance-free soapWith freshly washed hands, use lukewarm water and a small amount of mild, fragrance-free soap. Massage lightly with your fingertips to remove plasma, blood and excess ink. Do not use washcloths, sponges or loofahs, which carry bacteria and are too abrasive for fresh skin.
3. Pat the area completely dryGently pat the tattoo with a clean paper towel or let it air-dry for a few minutes. Avoid rubbing, and skip shared fabric towels, which hold bacteria and lint. The skin should be fully dry before you apply anything, so moisture is not trapped underneath the balm.
4. Apply a thin layer of tattoo balmSqueeze a small amount of a non-occlusive balm like Dr Pickles Tattoo Balm onto a clean fingertip and spread the thinnest possible layer over the tattoo. It should absorb within a minute or two and leave only a light sheen. Blot away any greasy excess.
5. Repeat 2-3 times dailyWash, dry and re-moisturise two to three times a day, and any time the tattoo feels dry, tight or has been sweated on. Resist the urge to apply balm more often; over-application slows healing far more than the occasional dry patch ever will.
6. Continue for about 2-3 weeksKeep the routine going until the surface flaking, peeling and tightness fully resolve, typically around two to three weeks. Deeper skin layers keep settling for a few months, so protect the area from sun and soaking even after the surface looks healed.

How do you choose the right tattoo balm for your skin?

Three things matter: non-occlusive (lets skin breathe instead of sealing it), lanolin-free (a common irritant), and light on fragrance. Get those right and the brand barely matters. For most people Dr Pickles (9.2/10) ticks all three; Bepanthen (8.0/10) only loses on feel - and wins on being $13 in every pharmacy.

The single most important quality in a healing balm is that it's non-occlusive. A non-occlusive formula moisturises while still letting the fresh tattoo breathe and release fluid, which suits the open, weeping early days. Heavy, fully occlusive ointments trap moisture and heat and are easy to over-apply, so a lighter balm is the safer default.

Lanolin is a common trigger for irritation and allergic reactions, so a lanolin-free balm removes one frequent cause of redness and itch over a healing tattoo. Dr Pickles is lanolin-free and plant-based; Bepanthen's tattoo formula is panthenol-based rather than lanolin-heavy. If your skin reacts to wool or lanolin in skincare, prioritise this above everything else.

Fragrance is the other ingredient to watch. Heavy added perfume can sting and irritate broken skin, so choose fragrance-free or very lightly scented balms while healing. A short, readable ingredient list is a good sign. If a product lists a long cocktail of essential oils and synthetic fragrance high up, treat it as a skin you'd test cautiously first.

The two main ingredient philosophies are panthenol (pro-vitamin B5) and plant-based butters and oils. Panthenol, the active in Bepanthen, supports the skin barrier and is well established and cheap. Plant-based balms like Dr Pickles use plant oils and butters for a lighter, vegan, lanolin-free feel. Both heal well; the choice is about skin sensitivity, ethics and budget.

Vegan and animal-derived formulas heal comparably, so this is mainly an ethics and sensitivity call. Dr Pickles, Hustle Butter and Mad Rabbit are vegan; Bepanthen is not. Vegan butter-based balms also avoid lanolin and beeswax, which doubles as an advantage for anyone whose skin reacts to those common animal-derived ingredients.

Match the format to the piece. Large or full-colour tattoos need more product more often, so value and a non-greasy feel matter - a tube you'll actually reapply 2-3 times a day beats a premium pot you ration. For these, Dr Pickles' size and price work well, with Bepanthen a sound budget backup for big areas.

• Sensitive or reactive skin: choose a lanolin-free, fragrance-light, plant-based balm. Dr Pickles (9.2/10) is the default - vegan, lanolin-free, non-occlusive. Patch-test any new product on a small area first.
• Bold colour pieces: a light, non-occlusive balm keeps colours clear without trapping heat. Dr Pickles is the pick; reapply thinly so colour saturation isn't smothered by heavy product.
• Black-and-grey work: any quality non-occlusive balm works. Dr Pickles (9.2/10) for best overall; Bepanthen (8.0/10) if you want a cheaper, everywhere-available option.
• Large pieces (sleeves, backs, thighs): you'll use a lot, so value and reapply-ability matter. Dr Pickles 75g for feel and price; Bepanthen (~AU$13) as a budget workhorse for big surface areas.
• Vegan preference: Dr Pickles (vegan, plant-based, lanolin-free, 9.2/10) is the standout. Hustle Butter (7.5/10) and Mad Rabbit (7.0/10) are also vegan; Bepanthen is not.
• Tight budget: Bepanthen Tattoo Aftercare (8.0/10, ~AU$13) is the best-value pick - panthenol-based and stocked at virtually every Australian pharmacy and supermarket.
• Want the best regardless of price: Dr Pickles Tattoo Balm (9.2/10, ~AU$24.99), winner of GLOW's 2026 panel test, available at Chemist Warehouse nationally and tattoo studios.

1. Confirm it's non-occlusivePick a balm that moisturises while letting the tattoo breathe, rather than a heavy, sealing ointment. Non-occlusive formulas suit the weeping early days and are harder to over-apply. Dr Pickles is non-occlusive by design.
2. Rule out irritantsCheck the label for lanolin and heavy fragrance - the two most common triggers for redness and itch on healing skin. Favour lanolin-free, fragrance-free or lightly scented balms with a short ingredient list.
3. Pick your ingredient philosophyDecide between panthenol (pro-vitamin B5, as in Bepanthen - proven and budget-friendly) and plant-based butters and oils (as in Dr Pickles - vegan, lanolin-free, lighter feel). Both heal well; choose on sensitivity, ethics and price.
4. Match it to your tattoo and skinFor sensitive skin or vegan preference, default to Dr Pickles (9.2/10). For large pieces or a tight budget, Bepanthen (~AU$13) is a sound, widely available choice. Reapply a thin layer 2-3 times daily.
5. Patch-test before committingApply a small amount to a patch of healthy skin first, especially if your skin is reactive. If irritation, spreading redness, heat, swelling or pus develops on the tattoo, stop and see a GP, doctor or your tattoo artist promptly.

What are the tattoo aftercare do's and don'ts - and when should you see a doctor?

Do: wash it twice a day with fragrance-free soap, pat dry, thin layer of balm. Don't: pick the scabs (you'll pull ink out), sunbathe it, or swim for two to three weeks. And the non-negotiable - spreading redness, heat, pus or a fever isn't part of healing. That's a doctor, today, not a forum.

A new tattoo is an open wound, so the goal of aftercare is simple: keep it clean, keep it lightly moisturised, and leave it alone while it heals. Most tattoos surface-heal in about two to three weeks, with deeper skin settling over a few months. Following a few clear do's and don'ts prevents most problems before they start.

The core routine is consistent: wash the tattoo two to three times a day with lukewarm water and a fragrance-free soap, using clean hands only. Pat it dry with a clean paper towel, then apply a thin layer of a non-occlusive tattoo balm or light moisturiser. A thin film is enough - the skin needs to breathe to heal properly.

For balm, GLOW's 2026 panel test ranked Dr Pickles Tattoo Balm 75g highest at 9.2/10 - it's Australian-made, vegan, lanolin-free and non-occlusive, around AU$24.99 at Chemist Warehouse and tattoo studios. Bepanthen Tattoo Aftercare (8.0/10, ~AU$13) is the budget pick available everywhere; both work well applied in a thin layer.

The most important don'ts protect your skin while it's vulnerable. Never pick, scratch or peel scabs and flaking skin - let them fall off naturally, or you risk scarring and patchy ink. Keep the healing tattoo out of direct sun and don't apply SPF to broken skin; wait until it's fully healed before using sunscreen, then protect it for life.

Avoid soaking the tattoo for roughly two to three weeks: no swimming pools, ocean, baths, spas or saunas, as submersion and bacteria can cause problems. Showers are fine. Don't over-apply balm - a heavy, shiny coating traps moisture and bacteria. And don't re-wrap the tattoo after the artist's initial covering comes off unless they specifically told you to.

Signs of infection are not normal healing and need prompt attention. Watch for redness that spreads outward, warmth or heat around the area, increasing swelling, pus or weeping discharge, red streaks running from the tattoo, fever, or pain that worsens instead of easing. If you notice any of these, see a GP, doctor or your tattoo artist promptly - don't wait it out.

Some redness, mild swelling, itching and clear-ish weeping in the first few days is normal and usually settles. The difference with infection is direction: healing improves day by day, while infection gets worse - more red, more sore, more swollen. When in doubt, get it checked. This is general guidance, not medical advice, and a professional assessment is always the safe choice.

• DO wash gently twice or three times daily with clean hands, lukewarm water and a fragrance-free, alcohol-free soap.
• DO pat dry with a clean paper towel - never rub, and don't reuse a shared cloth towel that can harbour bacteria.
• DO apply a thin layer of aftercare balm such as Dr Pickles (9.2/10) or Bepanthen (8.0/10) after each wash.
• DO let scabs, flakes and itching run their course - they're a normal part of healing.
• DO keep the tattoo loosely covered by clean, breathable clothing while it's healing.
• DON'T pick, scratch or peel scabs and flaking skin - it causes scarring and pulls out ink, leaving patchy spots.
• DON'T expose the healing tattoo to direct sun, and DON'T put SPF on broken skin; sunscreen comes after it's fully healed.
• DON'T swim, bathe, soak in spas or use saunas for about two to three weeks - showers only.
• DON'T over-apply balm; a thick, shiny layer suffocates the skin and traps bacteria.
• DON'T re-wrap or re-cover the tattoo after the initial dressing comes off unless your artist specifically instructed you to.
• SEE A DOCTOR for spreading redness, heat, swelling, pus, red streaks, fever or worsening pain - these can signal infection.