The Tattoo Aftercare Guide

Good tattoo aftercare is what keeps fresh ink sharp and your skin healthy long after you leave the chair. This guide covers the essentials, from how to wash a new tattoo to choosing the right tattoo cream and tattoo balm for each stage.

Our approach at Penguin Tattoo Co is simple and Australian made: a gentle tattoo wash that cleans without stripping, a lightweight tattoo cream for the early days, and a tattoo balm to protect and keep skin comfortable long term.

New here? Start with Tattoo Aftercare 101 for the full walkthrough, then explore the guides below.

August 09, 2026

Can You Use Sorbolene on a Tattoo? And Paw Paw, Nappy Rash Cream and the Rest of the Cupboard

Sorbolene, paw paw, Sudocrem, Vaseline - we go through what's actually in the stuff in your bathroom cabinet, and which bits matter for fresh ink.

July 13, 2026

Hold Fast vs Dr Pickles vs Mad Rabbit: An Honest Tattoo Balm Comparison

We make one of these three balms. So instead of telling you ours is best, here are the full ingredient lists side by side, and what each one actually tells...

June 27, 2026

How Long After a Tattoo Can You Wash It With Soap?

Most guides say wait a day and use mild soap. Here's the real timing, and why a fragrance-free, soap-free wash might do fresh ink better than soap ever could.

June 26, 2026

The 3-Step Tattoo Aftercare Routine Behind The Ritual Kit

One cream can't do everything a healing tattoo needs. Here's why we split the routine into 3 steps, and how to use it.

June 25, 2026

Can You Use Stand Fast for Cosmetic Tattoo Aftercare?

Eyebrow tattoos, microblading, powder brows and lip blush all heal the same way body ink does. Here's how Stand Fast fits into cosmetic tattoo aftercare.

June 06, 2026

Hold Fast: The Tattoo That's Been Gripping People for Centuries (And Why We Named Our Balm After It)

The "Hold Fast" tattoo has deep roots in sailor culture - and it's trending hard right now. Here's the history, the meaning, and why we named our healing balm after...

Stand fast tattoo aftercare cream penguin tattoo co

June 02, 2026

What to Put on a New Tattoo: Cream, Balm and What to Avoid

Stand Fast Tattoo Cream is built for the healing phase - lightweight, fragrance-free, and made in a TGA-registered facility. Start from day one.

April 29, 2026

Why Is My New Tattoo Peeling So Much? (And When You Should Actually Worry)

Flakes coming off the colour of your ink is the part that panics everyone. Here's the day-by-day timeline, what to do while it happens, and the handful of signs that...

April 10, 2026

Tattoo Aftercare: The Complete Australian Guide

The tattoo isn't finished when you walk out of the studio. The full guide to the next few weeks - the three-stage routine, what to avoid, and the signs worth...

March 07, 2026

Can You Use Bepanthen on a Tattoo? What's Actually In It

Every Australian artist has recommended it, and almost nobody has read the label. Here's what's in Bepanthen, why ointment and cream aren't interchangeable, and when to reach for something else.

March 04, 2026

Why a Gentle Tattoo Wash Matters for Healing Ink

Fresh tattoos need cleaning — but what you clean them with matters. Here's a breakdown of every ingredient in Linework Gentle Tattoo Wash and exactly what it's doing for your...

March 04, 2026

What Makes a Great Tattoo Balm?

What's Actually in Our Tattoo Balm (And Why It's There) Getting tattooed is only half the story. The healing phase is where your tattoo either settles in looking sharp and...

March 03, 2026

Tattoo Aftercare Day by Day: A Simple Routine That Works

Your tattoo needs different things in week one than it does in month one. Here's the routine stage by stage, what's normal at each point, and where most people go...

— WHERE TO START —

Find Your aftercare

Wherever you are in your tattoo journey, we've got the right aftercare to keep your ink looking the way your artist intended.

I.

Just got a new tattoo?

Day-one care, done right. A wash that clears excess ink and bacteria. A cream that stops the itch. Built for fresh ink.

Fresh Ink Kit with Line Work tattoo wash and Stand Fast aftercare cream

Fresh Ink Kit | Gentle Aftercare Wash & Soothing Cream for New Tattoos

$55

II.

Healing in progress

The healing weeks, handled. Cream for daily duty as the tattoo settle. Balm to soothe the scabbing.

Stay True Kit | Soothing Tattoo Aftercare Cream & Hold Fast Tattoo Balm

$60

III.

The Tattoo Collector

For the long haul. Hold Fast finishes the ritual. Locks in colour at the end of healing & keeps every line as bold as the day it was drawn.

Hold Fast Tattoo Aftercare Balm | 100ML

$35

— Premium aftercare —

Our Ingredients

We believe in transparency, because what you put on your tattoo matters.
Our aftercare is simple, effective and built to support healing from day one.
See exactly what goes into our aftercare and why.

Our Aftercare & Ingredients

Country/Region