Aftercare is the part of tattooing that you control. The artist does the work in the studio, but what you do in the days and weeks after your appointment shapes how your tattoo heals, how the colour settles, and how long the result lasts. Good aftercare protects your skin, reduces the risk of infection, and helps pigment stay even. Poor aftercare can cause fading, patchiness, infection, and extra sessions.
This complete guide covers aftercare for every service at Studio Vanassa in Edmonton, including Nano Brows aftercare, Lip Blush aftercare, Custom Tattoo aftercare, Paramedical aftercare, and Lash aftercare. Use it as a reference before and after your appointment. Always follow the specific aftercare instructions your artist gives you, because they know your skin and your procedure. If this guide and your artist's instructions differ, follow your artist's instructions.
Why Aftercare Matters
Every tattoo, whether decorative or cosmetic, creates tiny openings in the skin. While those openings heal, the skin is vulnerable to bacteria, sun, friction, and moisture. Aftercare keeps the area clean, protects the pigment, and gives the skin time to close and settle. The first week is the most important, because that is when the skin is most open and the pigment is closest to the surface.
Aftercare also affects how pigment holds. If the skin is kept too wet, too dry, or is picked and scratched, pigment can lift out unevenly. That leads to patchy healing and more touch ups. If the area is exposed to sun, pool water, or strong skincare too soon, pigment can fade faster. Following aftercare is one of the simplest ways to protect your investment and get the best result.
General Aftercare Rules for All Services
- Keep the treated area clean, dry, and untouched for the first 24 hours, unless your artist tells you otherwise.
- Do not pick, scratch, peel, or rub the treated area, even if it flakes or itches.
- Avoid swimming, hot tubs, saunas, steam rooms, and very hot showers for at least seven days, or longer for custom tattoos.
- Avoid sun on the treated area while healing. Once cleared, use sunscreen to protect pigment.
- Do not apply makeup, skincare, retinoids, acids, or exfoliants on the treated area until your artist says it is safe.
- Use only the aftercare product your artist recommends. Do not switch products without asking.
- Avoid heavy workouts and excess sweating for the first few days.
- Take photos every few days to track healing, and contact the studio if you notice signs of infection.
- Attend your follow up appointment, even if the result looks good, so your artist can check healing.
Nano Brows Aftercare
Nano Brows use fine, hair like strokes to shape and fill the brows. After your appointment, the brows will look darker and more defined than the final result. This is normal. The colour softens as the skin heals, and the brows settle into a natural look over four to six weeks.
For the first 24 hours, keep the brows dry and untouched. Blot gently if needed, using a clean tissue, but do not rub. For the first week, avoid getting the brows wet in the shower. Wash around them, and pat dry. Do not apply makeup, brow products, or skincare on the brows until your artist says it is safe. Avoid swimming, saunas, and heavy sweating for at least seven days.
Light flaking is normal in the first week. Do not pick or peel. The brows may look patchy as they heal, and the colour may seem to fade, then return. This is part of the healing process. The true result is visible after four to six weeks, when the skin has fully healed and the pigment has settled. Your artist will advise whether a touch up is needed at that point. Touch up appointments are booked separately, and pricing is confirmed at the time of booking.
Lip Blush Aftercare
Lip Blush adds colour and definition to the lips. After your appointment, the lips will look brighter and more defined than the final result, and they may be swollen, especially in the first one to two days. The lips may feel tight, dry, and tender. Light peeling is normal in the first week. Do not pick or peel.
Keep the lips clean and moisturized with the product your artist recommends. Avoid spicy, salty, and very hot foods for the first few days. Avoid kissing, straws, and smoking while healing, because they can irritate the lips. Avoid swimming, saunas, and heavy workouts for at least seven days. Avoid sun on the lips while healing, and use a lip balm with sunscreen once cleared.
The colour will change as healing continues. It may look very dark at first, then lighter, then settle. This is normal. The settled colour at four to six weeks is the true result. Your artist will advise whether a follow up session is needed. Follow up appointments are booked separately, and pricing is confirmed at the time of booking.
Custom Tattoo Aftercare
Custom tattoos cover a wide range of sizes, from small designs to large pieces. Aftercare for custom tattoos is similar in principle to cosmetic tattoo aftercare, but the healing time and the amount of care depend on the size and placement of the tattoo.
Your artist will cover the fresh tattoo with a bandage or second skin film. Follow your artist's instructions on when to remove it and how to clean the tattoo. In general, wash the tattoo gently with lukewarm water and a mild, fragrance free soap, pat dry with a clean towel, and apply a thin layer of the aftercare product your artist recommends. Do not soak the tattoo in a bath, pool, or hot tub for at least two weeks, or until the skin is fully healed.
As the tattoo heals, it may scab, flake, and itch. Do not pick, scratch, or peel scabs, because that can pull out ink and cause patchy healing or scarring. Avoid sun on the fresh tattoo, and do not apply sunscreen until the skin is fully healed. Wear loose clothing that does not rub the tattoo. If the tattoo is in an area that rubs against clothing, keep it clean and moisturized, and change bandages as your artist directs.
Healing for a custom tattoo usually takes two to three weeks for the surface, and longer for the deeper skin to fully settle. The tattoo may look dull or cloudy during healing. This is normal. The colour sharpens as the skin heals. Contact the studio if you notice increasing redness, swelling, warmth, pus, or fever, which can be signs of infection.
Paramedical Tattoo Aftercare
Paramedical tattooing includes scar camouflage, stretchmark camouflage, vitiligo camouflage, and areola restoration. Aftercare for paramedical work is similar to other cosmetic tattoo aftercare, but the skin in the treated area may be more sensitive, especially scar tissue.
Keep the treated area clean, dry, and untouched for the first 24 hours. Follow your artist's instructions on cleansing and moisturizing. Avoid makeup, skincare, and strong products on the treated area until cleared. Avoid swimming, hot tubs, saunas, and heavy workouts for at least seven days. Avoid sun on the treated area while healing, and use sunscreen once cleared, because sun can fade pigment and darken the surrounding skin, which increases contrast.
Paramedical work often needs more than one session. The first session lays the foundation, and follow up sessions build colour and refine the blend. Healing between sessions is important. Do not judge the result until healing is complete, usually four to six weeks after a session. Your artist will advise when to return for a follow up. Follow up appointments are booked separately, and pricing is confirmed at the time of booking.
Lash Aftercare
Lash extensions and lash lifts need aftercare to keep the lashes clean, healthy, and long lasting. The most important rule is to keep the lashes clean. Clean lashes last longer and stay healthier. Dirty lashes can lead to buildup, irritation, and infections such as blepharitis, which is inflammation of the eyelid edge. Blepharitis can cause redness, itching, flaking, and lash loss, and it can make extensions fall out faster.
For the first 24 hours after lash extensions or a lash lift, avoid getting the lashes wet, and avoid steam, saunas, and heavy workouts. After that, clean the lashes daily with a gentle, oil free lash cleanser and a soft brush. Rinse well and pat dry. Do not rub the eyes, pick at the lashes, or pull on extensions. Avoid oil based makeup, removers, and skincare around the eyes, because oil can break down lash adhesive.
Do not use waterproof mascara on extensions, and avoid curling extensions with a lash curler. If you wear eye makeup, remove it gently with an oil free remover, and clean the lashes after. Book fills on time to keep the lashes full, and tell your artist if you notice redness, itching, swelling, or unusual lash loss. Do not try to remove extensions yourself. Ask your artist for safe removal.
Common Aftercare Mistakes to Avoid
- Picking, peeling, or scratching the treated area.
- Getting the area wet too soon, or soaking it in a bath, pool, or hot tub.
- Using makeup, skincare, retinoids, acids, or exfoliants on the treated area too soon.
- Exposing the treated area to sun, tanning beds, or saunas while healing.
- Applying too much aftercare product, which can keep the skin too wet.
- Skipping aftercare because the area looks healed on the surface.
- Missing your follow up appointment.
- Ignoring signs of infection, such as increasing redness, swelling, warmth, pus, or fever.
When to Contact the Studio
Contact Studio Vanassa if you notice signs of infection, such as increasing redness, swelling, warmth, pus, or fever. Also contact the studio if you have severe pain, an allergic reaction, or if the treated area looks very different from what your artist described. Do not wait until your follow up if you are worried. It is better to check early.
Bring your aftercare instructions to your follow up appointment, and tell your artist how healing went. Photos from each stage of healing help your artist assess the result and plan any follow up.
Frequently Asked Questions About Aftercare
How long should I follow aftercare?
Follow aftercare for at least the first week, and follow your artist's instructions for the full healing period, usually four to six weeks for cosmetic tattoos and two to three weeks for custom tattoos. Lash aftercare is ongoing for as long as you wear extensions.
Can I wear makeup after a cosmetic tattoo?
Not on the treated area until your artist says it is safe. Makeup on healing skin can trap bacteria and disturb pigment. You can usually wear makeup on other parts of the face, as long as it does not touch the treated area.
Can I work out after a tattoo?
Avoid heavy workouts and excess sweating for the first few days. Sweat can irritate healing skin and introduce bacteria. Light movement is usually fine, but ask your artist for guidance based on your procedure.
What if I accidentally get the area wet?
Pat it dry gently with a clean tissue and continue aftercare. Do not rub. If you soaked the area, contact the studio for advice.
How do I know if my tattoo is infected?
Signs include increasing redness, swelling, warmth, pus, severe pain, or fever. Mild redness and tenderness in the first day or two are normal. If symptoms worsen after the first days, contact the studio or a healthcare provider.
Book Your Appointment in Edmonton
Good aftercare starts with a good appointment. If you are considering Nano Brows, Lip Blush, a custom tattoo, paramedical tattooing, or lashes in Edmonton, contact Studio Vanassa. The studio team will walk you through the procedure, explain aftercare, and help you plan for the best healing and the best result.
Symptoms of Blepharitis vs Healthy Eye