Congrats on your new tattoo! I know you probably have a lot going through your head right now. But if you want your new wearable art to remain beautiful forever, there are a few things to keep in mind.

First, you need to remember that a brand new tattoo is an open wound. So you want to keep it clean and infection-free. For the first 2-3 days, you’ll want to wash it with antibacterial soap about 3 times a day. Pat dry with a clean paper towel, and apply a very thin layer of Aquafor or A&D ointment. A little dab’ll do ya. If the tattoo shines, you’ve applied too much. Gently dab the excess with a clean paper towel.

Avoid standing water like pools, lakes, oceans, or baths (though a quick shower is perfectly fine). Just like any open wound, soaking it in standing water is a surefire route to infection. And avoid direct sunlight on your tattoo. Sunlight is the number one contributor to tattoo fading over time.

After the first few days, stop using the Aquafor or A&D. Wash your tattoo once or twice a day, and moisturize afterward. You want a fragrance-free lotion like Jergens, CeraVe, Cetaphil, or Aveeno. Fragrance-free is important because any scented lotion will have alcohol in it, which will burn and dry out your tattoo. Just like with the ointment, you don’t need much lotion; just a thin layer should suffice.

Your tattoo will likely start to itch, and the color may appear dull. This is normal! Do not scratch or pick at your tattoo.

Your tattoo will peel. It might even scab in some places. Again, do not scratch or pick at it. Continue to avoid standing water like pools, lakes, oceans, hot tubs, and baths.