"Mastering Tattoo Aftercare in Missoula"
The Quiet Work of Healing: A Tattoo Artist's Guide to Aftercare in Missoula
I see it every day in my studio in Missoula. The moment a new tattoo is finished. There's a mix of exhilaration and relief, a tangible energy in the room. The hard part is over, right? You've sat through the process, you have this beautiful new piece of art on your skin, and you're ready to show it off. But here's the truth every professional artist knows: the tattoo isn't finished when the machine stops. It's only halfway there.
The most critical phase of your tattoo's life begins the moment you walk out our door. This is the quiet work of healing. It's not glamorous. It involves discipline, patience, and a little bit of faith. In Western Montana, where our lives are so intertwined with the outdoors, hiking the M, floating the river, soaking in natural hot springs, this aftercare period can feel particularly restrictive. But it is this very discipline that protects your investment and ensures the art we created together lasts a lifetime.
The most common mistakes I see clients make are born from good intentions. A desire to help it heal faster. To stop an annoying itch. To get back to their normal Montana lifestyle. Picking at a scab, slathering on too much ointment, or taking that first sunny hike without protection. These small choices have real, permanent consequences: infections that require medical attention, ink that fades or becomes patchy, scars that distort the design we worked so carefully to place.
This isn't meant to scare you. It's to empower you. Understanding the why behind the rules makes them easier to follow. Your skin is not just a canvas. It's a living, breathing organ that has just undergone a controlled trauma. My job, and now yours, is to guide it through its recovery with the same respect we had for the creation process. Let's talk about how to do that right.
Why Aftercare Isn't Just a Suggestion
Think of a fresh tattoo as an open wound. Because that's precisely what it is. Thousands of tiny punctures have been made, and pigment has been deposited into the dermis, the second layer of your skin. Your body immediately goes into repair mode. It sends plasma, blood, and lymphatic fluid to the surface, which dries and forms a protective scab. This scab contains the very ink we want to stay.
Every aftercare instruction is designed to support this biological process while protecting the fragile artwork trapped within it. When you interfere, you work against your own body's healing intelligence. The goal is simple: keep it clean, keep it lightly moisturized, keep it protected, and let your body do its thing. The complications arise when we disrupt that process.
The Mistakes We See (And Their Lasting Effects)
Over the years, my fellow artists and I at Montana Tattoo Company have seen patterns. The same aftercare missteps lead to the same disappointing results. Here’s a breakdown of what goes wrong and why it matters so much for your tattoo.
Picking or Scratching the Scabs
This is perhaps the most tempting and most damaging mistake. As the tattoo heals, it will itch. It will flake. It may even form thick, shiny scabs. Your instinct is to pick at a loose edge or scratch that maddening itch. Resist.
When you pull off a scab prematurely, you are quite literally pulling the ink out of your skin. The scab is not just a covering. It's a plug holding the pigment in place. Removing it creates a divot in the healing tissue, resulting in a patchy, faded spot that often requires a painful touch-up. At worst, it can cause scarring that permanently distorts the linework or shading. If it itches, pat it gently or apply a tiny bit of moisturizer. Never scratch.
The Moisture Miscalculation: Too Much or Too Little
Balancing moisture is an art in itself. We recommend a thin layer of a specific, water-based lotion or balm. The key word is thin.
Over-moisturizing is a common error. Smothering the tattoo in a thick layer of ointment clogs the pores (yes, tattooed skin still has pores). This creates a warm, wet, anaerobic environment perfect for bacterial growth, leading to pimples or serious infections. It also suffocates the skin, preventing it from breathing and forming a proper protective layer.
Under-moisturizing is the opposite problem. Without any moisture, the scabs become hard, thick, and brittle. They crack and split open as you move. These deep cracks pull at the edges of the healing wound, causing significant ink loss and creating a rough, uneven texture in the healed tattoo.
Sun Exposure: The Silent Fader
In Missoula, we cherish our sunny days. But for a new tattoo, the sun is public enemy number one. UV radiation is incredibly damaging to healing skin. It can cause severe sunburn on the vulnerable area, leading to blistering and catastrophic ink loss. Even after it's healed, prolonged sun exposure is the primary cause of tattoo fading over decades. A healed tattoo should always be protected with a high-SPF sunscreen, but during the initial 3-4 weeks, it must be kept completely covered from direct sunlight.
Submersion in Water
This one is crucial for our active Montana community. No soaking. This means no baths, no hot tubs, no swimming in the Clark Fork River or area lakes, and no long, steamy showers. Submerging a fresh tattoo softens the scabs, making them fall off too early and taking ink with them. More dangerously, water—especially in pools, hot tubs, and natural bodies of water - is full of bacteria and chemicals. Soaking invites that directly into an open wound, significantly raising the risk of a nasty infection. Short, lukewarm showers are your only safe option for the first few weeks.
Friction from Tight Clothing
Your tattoo needs to breathe. Wearing tight, restrictive, or non-breathable fabrics (like synthetic workout gear) over it creates friction. This constant rubbing irritates the skin, delays healing, and can grind off delicate scabs. It also traps sweat and heat against the wound. Opt for loose, soft, clean cotton clothing that covers the tattoo for protection but doesn't cling to it.
Using the Wrong Products
Not all moisturizers are created equal. We strongly advise against petroleum-based products like Vaseline or even the petroleum in some versions of Aquaphor. These products create an impermeable seal over the tattoo. While this might sound good, it traps in bacteria and blocks oxygen, creating a high risk for infection. They also don't allow the skin to breathe or properly expel plasma and dead cells. Harsh, scented soaps or alcohol-based cleaners are also a problem. They strip away the skin's natural oils, causing excessive dryness, irritation, and cracking.
Returning to Intense Activity Too Soon
I get it. You have a routine. You run, you bike, you lift at the gym. But intense exercise stretches the skin, produces sweat, and exposes the tattoo to friction from equipment and clothing. Sweat is salty and contains bacteria, which can seep into the fresh tattoo and cause irritation or infection. Giving your body 2-3 weeks to focus its energy on healing the tattoo, rather than repairing muscle tissue, will yield a much better result. It's a short pause for a permanent gain.
The Professional's Protocol for Flawless Healing
Now that we know what to avoid, let's build a positive, simple routine. This is the protocol we trust and recommend to every client who leaves our studio. Remember, your specific artist may have slight variations, so always defer to their final instructions.
The First Few Days: The Initial Care
Your artist will apply a bandage or protective film before you leave. Leave this on for the time they specify - usually a few hours or up to a day. This initial covering absorbs excess plasma and blood and protects the fresh wound from airborne contaminants.
First Wash: When you remove the initial bandage, wash the tattoo gently with lukewarm water and a fragrance-free, antibacterial soap. Use only your clean hands - no washcloths or loofahs, which can harbor bacteria. Pat it completely dry with a clean paper towel. Do not rub.
First Moisturizer Application: Apply the tiniest amount of your artist-recommended aftercare product. We often recommend specific water-based lotions or balms like Hustle Butter or Lubriderm Fragrance-Free. A pea-sized amount for a large area is often enough. You should not see a shiny, greasy layer. It should absorb almost completely.
The Ongoing Routine: Weeks 1-3
Consistency is everything for the next two to three weeks.
Cleaning: Wash the tattoo gently 2-3 times per day, or anytime it gets dirty. Always use lukewarm water and your designated soap. Pat dry.
Moisturizing: Apply your thin layer of moisturizer 4-6 times a day, or whenever the tattoo looks/feels tight and dry. The goal is to maintain a supple, non-greasy surface. If it looks shiny, you've used too much. Blot the excess off with a clean paper towel.
Protecting: Keep it covered with loose, clean clothing. Avoid direct sunlight completely. Do not submerge it in water. Sleep on clean sheets, and be mindful of pets.
Managing the Itch: The peeling and itching phase usually hits around days 4-7. This is normal. Apply a small dab of moisturizer to relieve the itch. Pat the area gently. Do not, under any circumstances, scratch.
Long-Term Tattoo Preservation
After the initial 3-4 weeks, your tattoo will look healed on the surface. But the deeper layers of skin can take up to 3-6 months to fully settle. Your care shouldn't stop.
Make high-SPF (50+) sunscreen a non-negotiable part of your daily routine whenever the tattoo will be exposed. This is the single most important thing you can do to prevent fading over the years.
Keep the skin healthy and hydrated with a good quality, fragrance-free lotion as part of your regular skincare.
If you notice significant fading over time, consult your artist about a touch-up. Some areas (like hands and feet) fade faster than others.
When to Seek Help
While proper care prevents most issues, it's vital to know the signs of trouble. If you experience any of the following, contact your artist or a healthcare professional immediately:
Excessive redness that spreads beyond the tattooed area.
Thick, green, or yellow pus (a small amount of clear or slightly cloudy plasma is normal).
Red streaks radiating from the tattoo.
Fever or chills.
Pain that intensifies after a few days instead of subsiding.
An infection is a medical issue and needs prompt attention. Do not wait.
A Partnership in Permanence
Getting a tattoo is a collaborative act. You bring the idea, the trust, and the skin. We bring the vision, the skill, and the craft. But the final collaborator is you, alone at home, with a bottle of unscented lotion and the discipline to leave a flaking scab alone. That final act of care is what seals our partnership. It's what transforms a beautiful new wound into a lifelong piece of art that you'll carry with pride through the streets of Missoula, on the trails of the Bitterroots, and everywhere your life takes you.
The aftercare period is a short season of mindfulness. A small sacrifice of normalcy for a permanent reward. Treat it with the same intention and respect you had when you chose the design and the artist. Your future self, looking at a vibrant, crisp, healthy tattoo decades from now, will thank you for it.
At Montana Tattoo Company we host independent tattoo artists who run their own businesses and create work with intention. We do not do generic walk ins. Every project starts with a conversation and a vision. Choose the artist whose style fits your idea and reach out directly. Connect with Mickey Schlick, James Strickland, Noelin Wheeler, Nicole Miller, or reach out to boldbooking.io. Book a consultation, explore portfolios, and bring your idea to life. I have completely automated the studio side. Aftercare, directions, booking links 24 hours a day with completely consistent customer service. At any interaction you are welcome to ask to talk to Mickey directly and you will either be connected to me or I will get back to you asap.
