Depending on the size of the tattoo, it can take a few days to a few weeks to heal. Taking proper care of it will determine how long it takes to heal. Once the tattoo is done, the artist applies a antibiotic cream to the tattoo and covers it with gauze. It is recommended that you leave the gauze on for a couple hours just in case there is some bleeding. Once you are home, remove the gauze and apply a little more of the cream. You can get antibiotic cream usually at any store that would sell medicines. Apply the cream every couple hours for the first couple of days. During the following days, the tattoo will start scabbing up which is the beginning of the healing process. You will start applying less and less of the cream as the scabs start coming off. You will be able to the outline of the tattoo made by the scab. You need to make sure that you are applying the antibiotic cream as recommended to keep the skin around the tattoo soft and medicated to avoid infection. If an infection does occur, seek a physicians assistance. After a few weeks your tattoo will look like you were born with it.