When and how. Clearly.
Aftercare fails on confusion more often than on effort. Written with tattoo artists: when to start using Inkform, how much, how often, and what changes as the work settles.
Guidance, not medicine
This is product guidance, not medical advice. Your artist's instructions come first — they know the work and how they want it treated. If skin looks or feels wrong at any point, stop using the product and speak to them or a healthcare professional.
The short version
The whole routine,
start to settled
Every tattoo passes through the same three stages.
Follow your artist. Start when they say.
Our co-founder,tattooing fifteen years, uses it on fresh work at the end of a session. It'sgentle enough for skin that's just been tattooed. Your artist knows the piecethey've done, so follow their timing — here's what that usually looks like:
If you're wrapped in second-skin film: leave it alone. Nothing goesunderneath and nothing goes on top. When your artist says to remove it, washthe area, pat dry, and start from there.
If you're wrapped in cling film or a dressing: remove it when yourartist advises, usually within the first few hours. Wash, pat dry, then applyyour first layer.
Once you're using Inkform:
- A pea-sized amount covers a palm-sized area. Spread a thin, even layer.
- Skin should look matte after a minute, not wet. Glossy means too much.
- No need to rub it in — it absorbs on its own in about a minute.
- Apply 2-3 times daily.
Hold back on: soaking (baths, pools, sea), direct sun, tight or abrasive clothing over the area, and more product than the skin can absorb. Thin and regular beats thick and occasional.
Keep the routine. Resist the itch.
As the skin recovers it will typically feel dry, tight and itchy, and may flake. This is where most aftercare routines get abandoned — and where consistency matters most:
- Continue the cleanse → thin layer → absorb routine, 2–3 times daily
- The gel helps soothe itch and dryness — apply rather than scratch
- Let any flaking skin come away on its own; don’t pick or peel it
- Keep avoiding soaking and direct sun until the skin has fully settled
When to pause: if the area shows anything your artist didn’t describe as normal, stop using the product and ask them or a healthcare professional. A quick question costs nothing.
Care becomes maintenance.
Once the tattoo has settled, the schedule relaxes but the principle holds: well-kept skin shows the work clearly, and consistent hydration helps preserve ink vibrancy over time.
- Apply whenever skin feels dry or tight — after showers, sun, sea or dry weather
- No schedule required; the tube belongs in your daily routine, not a first-aid drawer
- UV fades ink over time — use a separate SPF on exposed tattoos (Inkform is not a sunscreen)
Care FAQ
My artist gave me different instructions. Whose do I follow?
Your artist’s. Always. They know the piece, the placement and their own working method. Inkform is designed to fit into an artist’s routine, not to compete with it.
How much is a “thin layer”, exactly?
Enough that the skin feels comfortable, little enough that it absorbs within a minute or two. If the surface still looks glossy after that, you’ve applied more than the skin can take in — use less next time.
Can I shower with a fresh tattoo?
Short, lukewarm showers are generally part of keeping the area clean — follow your artist’s advice on timing. It’s prolonged soaking (baths, pools, the sea) that should wait until the skin has settled. Apply gel after gently drying.
The itch is difficult. What actually helps?
A thin layer of gel — it helps soothe itch and dryness, which removes most of the temptation. If the skin is peeling and you still feel itchy after one gel layer, add a second thin layer right after. Beyond that: loose clothing over the area, and patience. Scratching risks the work; the itch passes, the tattoo stays.
Can I exercise during healing?
Ask your artist — it depends on placement and how the skin is settling. If they’re happy for you to train, cleanse the area afterwards and reapply a thin layer; the gel’s fast absorption means it won’t sit greasy under training clothes.
Do old, long-healed tattoos really benefit from this?
Skin that carries older work still dries, tightens and weathers — and dry skin mutes the piece sitting beneath it. Regular hydration helps preserve the vibrancy of the ink, whatever its age.
Can I use it on a fresh tattoo?
Yes — Inkform is designed for fresh and healed tattoos. On fresh work, always follow your artist’s aftercare instructions first.
Product-specific questions — ingredients, sizes, shipping — are answered on the product page.
Ask us directly
If something about your routine is unclear, we’d rather answer a small question than let it become a big one. We reply within one working day.
care@inkform.co.uk
- response
Within 2 working days
- Coverage
UK studios at launch · EU to follow
One tube covers every stage
Tattoo Care Gel made in Korea, suitable for fresh and healed tattoos
Free UK delivery over £45 · Dispatched within 1–2 working days