How Long Should I Keep My Tattoo Covered?
⏳ How long should I keep my tattoo covered with cling film? – After you leave the salon or your tattoo artist, you need to keep the tattoo wrapped for 2-4 hours if you use simple cling wrap (plastic foil). If you have a protective tattoo film, then keep it for 3-5 days.
Contents
- 1 How long is too long to cover a tattoo?
- 2 How long after a tattoo can you shower?
- 3 Can I drink 2 days after getting a tattoo?
How long should I keep my tattoo covered with cling film?
How long to keep a tattoo wrapped in cling film. You’ll need to keep your tattoo wrapped in cling film from one to three days. Depending on the size of your artwork this may be longer and your artist will let you know but a general rule of thumb is: Small line-work pieces – keep the cling film on for one to two days.
How long is too long to cover a tattoo?
Day 1 – You’ll come home from the tattoo studio with a bandage or plastic wrap over your tattoo. After a few hours, you can remove it. You should ask your artist for specifics about how long to wait. Recommendations will vary and may be based on the type and size of your tattoo.
- Some tattoo artists suggest that you only keep your tattoo covered for 1 or 2 hours;
- Once the covering comes off, you’ll probably notice fluid oozing from the tattoo;
- This is blood, plasma (the clear part of blood), and some extra ink;
It’s normal. Your skin will also be red and sore. It might feel slightly warm to the touch. With clean hands, wash the tattoo with warm water and a fragrance-free soap. Apply a fragrance-free and alcohol-free moisturizer. Leave the covering off so the tattoo can heal.
How long after a tattoo can you shower?
How Soon After a Tattoo Can I Shower? – Your first shower after a new tattoo can be the day after you got the tattoo. That could be between 12 and 48 hours. Sometimes, the tattoo becomes messy after a night of oozing blood and ink. In order for the tattoo to start healing properly, you need to give it a light wash with antibacterial soap and lukewarm water.
- After 48 hours, your tattoo should be good for water exposure, but only once or twice a day;
- During the first week, it is essential not to expose the tattoo to the water for longer periods;
- This will prevent the tattoo from drying and forming a new skin layer;
In such a case, your tattoo could get infected. Note : we also recommend you avoid sweat-inducing activities, like working out, jogging, etc. Sweat carries bacteria that can infect the tattoo. Furthermore, sweating prevents the tattoo from drying out, which could also lead to an infection.
What happens if you leave a tattoo bandage on too long?
Fresh tattoos can take anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks to heal. During this healing phase, there are 7 things that can ruin your new tattoo before it has even healed. Bad art from a bad artist It’s possible to ruin your new tattoo by choosing an unskilled artist.
When speaking about skills, I’m not referring to their artistic skills. This would be about the artists’ tattooing procedure and application skills. Everyone’s skin is different skin. Healthy, unhealthy, plump, loose, tight, oily, or dry.
Our skin’s surface, thickness, and tightness are also different throughout our bodies. These differences can have a detrimental impact on how the ink lays into your skin. An inexperienced artist can further implicate this. Finding and choosing an experienced artist goes without question 2.
Keeping your fresh tattoo covered too long Fresh tattoos are open wounds, and after the tattoo session, the artist will cover your new tattoo. Every artist has a different preference for what they use. Some still use the old school plastic Saran Wrap crap made for sandwiches.
Try to avoid using this food cellophane wrap on new ink. Fresh tattoos should be wrapped with a sterile bandage. The best options are medical-grade adhesive bandages and protective tattoo films like Saniderm or Dermalize. Wrapping a fresh tattoo is essential to help the initial healing while providing protection from environmental contaminants like dirt, germs or anything else that should not go near an open wound.
- After the wrap has been on for a few hours, you will start to see blood and plasma underneath;
- Once this happens, it’s time to remove the wrap, as this can block your skin pores from breathing;
- This can ruin your new tattoo before the first day is over;
And trust me, I’ve ruined two tattoos by leaving the wrap on too long as per the artist’s instructions. The bandage or wrap should stay on no longer than 6-8 hours max. If using products like Saniderm or Dermalize, you can always remove it, clean the tattoo and apply a new layer.
- Tattoo Infections As discussed above, the post-procedure wrapping helps protect your skin from getting infected;
- Once unwrapped, keep your skin clean and follow proper tattoo aftercare instructions;
- This will ensure your new tattoo heals without getting infected;
During tattoo healing, avoid touching your ink unless washing or applying aftercare. It’s very easy to transfer dirt and germs onto your fresh tattoo (open wound) from dirty hands. Sleeping with a fresh tattoo Getting a goods night’s sleep can be awkward during the tattoo healing process.
Even more awkward is the size and location of your new tattoo. Try to avoid laying on the tattoo, and or having it covered under the sheets or blankets. Covering a fresh tattoo under blankets or sheets can cause a risk of infection.
The bed is a great place for hidden germs that you do not want to get into an open wound. The same as above, your skin needs to breathe, so not covering up under the sheets helps. Then there’s the issue of laying on the tattoo. You risk having the tattoo stick to the bed or pick up dirt and germs.
You can always lay down a clean towel on the bed if you need to. Another option for sleeping is applying a breathable medical wrap like Saniderm. Make sure to remove it as soon as you wake up so that there’s not too much blood and plasma accumulation.
Cleaning and excess water exposure Keeping a fresh tattoo clean goes without question. So never submerge a fresh tattoo underwater. Also, avoid excessive water exposure while showering. Our skin is like a sponge and it will absorb the water, which can damage the tattoo.
- When it comes to cleaning your new tattoo, make sure you do this several times a day;
- You can read our 17 Best Tips To Heal New Tattoos here;
- Picking or scratching itchy or peeling skin During the tattoo healing stages, some people experience itchy and scabby skin;
The reason for this to happen is part of your skin’s healing process. But whatever you do, resist the urge to pick or peel your skin as this can damage the color and lines of your new tattoo. To avoid or end any itchy peeling skin during tattoo healing, always use a good aftercare product.
Keep your tattoo clean and moisturized several times throughout the day. Don’t let your tattoo get dry, and only apply a thin layer of tattoo aftercare after every cleaning. Now, in regards to peeling and itchy skin, I have never suffered from this.
I followed the above directions and none of my 21 tattoos have ever peeled or got itchy. Excessive sun exposure Excessive sun exposure is a fast way to ruin a new tattoo. Be aware of any direct sun exposure on your fresh ink. If you must be outside, always keep your tattoo covered, for at least the first 40 days.
Cover Up with clothing or try to stay out of the sun. Never apply any sunscreen on a fresh tattoo. Some of these products have ingredients that are not good for your fresh ink during healing. A list of nasty skincare ingredients will be for another blog.
After your new tattoo has healed, make sure to keep it protected with quality sunscreen product if going outside. Excessive direct UVA/UVB sun exposure accelerates skin aging, which causes tattoo fading.
Should I keep my tattoo wrapped for 5 days?
⏳ How long should I keep my tattoo covered with cling film? – After you leave the salon or your tattoo artist, you need to keep the tattoo wrapped for 2-4 hours if you use simple cling wrap (plastic foil). If you have a protective tattoo film, then keep it for 3-5 days.
Can I drink 2 days after getting a tattoo?
Drinking before or after – That drink beforehand is not smart. Bruno Vincent/Getty Images If you’re thinking about downing some liquid courage before taking the plunge, think again. Drinking before and after getting a tattoo is a no-no. Alcohol thins your blood, which means excess bleeding. When you bleed more than normal, it can cause visibility issues for the artist, potentially compromising the quality of the design.
- Excess bleeding can also thin the ink;
- Of course, there’s also the fact that alcohol impairs judgment, and you don’t want to make permanent decisions while impaired;
- And it’s not cute if you have to stop and puke in the middle of a four-hour tattoo session;
Furthermore, drinking after the fact can compromise the healing of the tattoo because of its effects on your blood, so take it easy for a bit.
What should you avoid after getting a tattoo?
How can I make my tattoo heal faster?
What cream is best for tattoo aftercare?
Best Overall: Aquaphor Healing Ointment Aquaphor’s Healing Ointment is of the most widely used tattoo aftercare treatments, and you’ll find a lot of artists quick to recommend the old stand-by.
Can I put Vaseline on my tattoo?
– The first 24 hours after getting a tattoo are critical to your aftercare. Your tattoo artist may advise that you wear special bandages for added protection. After a few days, you may be able to safely take showers, but you’ll still need to avoid submerging the tattoo in water when bathing.
While your tattoo is bandaged, this may allow for a very small window for using Vaseline too, since your tattoo is already covered. However, you’ll want to verify this with your tattoo artist first. Generally, there’s no need for Vaseline on a new tattoo whatsoever.
Once your bandages are off, you’ll want to stay away from Vaseline during the healing process, too. You may be able to use Vaseline on a newer tattoo only after it’s completely healed. The only use for petroleum jelly on your tattoo is for extremely dry skin around the area.
How do you sleep with a fresh tattoo?
Can you sleep on a new tattoo? – In an ideal world, you would be able to sleep and not have to worry about the tattoo. Actually, tattoos are effectively open wounds. This means that you need to take some precautions. Going days without sleep isn’t an option.
- People have different techniques;
- If you can, you should try to avoid sleeping directly on the tattoo;
- For instance, if you have a tattoo on your back, try to sleep on your front and let the tattoo breathe;
A lot of tattoo artists recommend sleeping with the wrap that was put on. Others recommend re-wrapping, or just applying healing ointment and keeping the tattoo clean. The important thing is avoiding infection.
Should you put cling film on a tattoo?
Tattoo Aftercare. Your new tattoo will be wrapped up after completion. Please keep the cover in for 2/3 hours after leaving. Your artist will advise you on the best aftercare for your tattoo, which will be either one of the next 2 methods.
- Always keep your new tattoo clean.
- Do not swim with your new tattoo for a week or until healed, and do not expose to the sun. Always use strong sun protection when healed.
Method 1 – Remove the cling film after 2/3 hours, wash the tattooed area gently, pat dry, and apply the designated tattoo cream thinly over the tattoo, following the instructions on the cream tube. Continue this method until your tattoo has healed up. Method 2 –
- Remove the cling film after 2/3 hours, wash the tattooed area gently, pat dry, air dry for 10 minutes, then re wrap with new cling film for another 5/6 hours. Remove this cling film, wash the tattoo again, removing any goo that has formed, pat dry, air dry for 10 minutes, and re wrap with new cling film again.
- Continue to wash, dry and rewrap your tattoo 3 times a day for 48/72 hours as directed by your artist. Do not apply any cream under the cling film.
- After the 48/72 hour cling film stage, apply a gentle moisturiser or designated tattoo balm until your tattoo has healed.
Do I need to keep my tattoo wrapped?
How Long Should a New Tattoo Be Wrapped For? – This is where many people start to get confused, and this confusion is mainly caused by the fact that there are so many different opinions with regard to the most optimal time in which to keep a tattoo wrapped up for.
What may help to alleviate some of this confusion is to understand the rationale behind the wrapping. As already mentioned, the main goal of having your new ink wrapped and covered is to help keep harmful germs and bacteria out of your new open wound.
These germs are can pose a serious risk; not only to your tattoo, but also your general health by causing unwanted infections. Generally speaking, the wrap is there to keep your ink germ-free, up until the point where you’re able to clean the area yourself.
Once you’re home from the studio, there’s no reason why you cannot remove the wrapping as long as you’re able to give the tattoo a good clean in soapy, lukewarm water straight away, before using a suitable healing/moisturizing lotion on the area.
This initial wash not only helps to keep the area clean, but also assists in the removal of any blood or plasma that may have dried and stuck onto the skin since the wrap was first applied. The moisturizing cream then helps to soothe, hydrate and nourish the area to promote healing.
The best tattoo lotion I’ve ever personally used is a vegan aftercare product called After Inked Tattoo Aftercare Lotion. This stuff works amazingly well during the healing process; not only by keeping your tattoo really well hydrated but also by soothing any annoying itching and irritation.
When using it from the very start of the healing process, this lotion will help to decrease tattoo healing times and work towards eliminating any lingering dryness and scabbing. However – it is generally advisable to wait for at least a couple of hours after leaving the studio before taking the wrapping off.
- This is just to let the area settle down a bit, and to allow some of the blood around the tattoo to disperse (which may also help to slightly reduce swelling and tenderness, so that the cleaning process isn’t unbearably sore or painful);
Another reason for the wrapping is to help prevent direct contact between anything that you may accidentally rub up against or knock into – especially if the tattoo is on a very exposed area of your body, such as on the forearm, shoulder or foot. These knocks and bumps can not only be painful, but they can also aid in the transfer of germs and bacteria to the area if you come into contact with anything unsanitary.
Finally, some people prefer to sleep in their wrapping for the first night , and some artists recommend this too. This is especially true if the tattoo is in an area that is highly likely to come into contact with your bedsheets, which can expose the area to bacteria and can also cause the sheets to become stuck to the skin due to the drying/hardening of leaked blood and plasma.
How to PROPERLY take care of your new TATTOO || Advice from an experienced TATTOOER
At the end of the day, you should trust the advice that your own specific tattoo artist gives you, as they know you and your tattoo better than anybody else. If your artist tells you that you can remove your wrapping in an hour, then go ahead. Alternatively, if your artist suggests that you keep it on until the next day, then I would suggest taking their professional opinion as long as they’re a reputable and experienced artist. 
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What do I do after I take the wrap off my tattoo?
