When To Start Moisturizing Tattoo?

When To Start Moisturizing Tattoo

Week one – Some tattoo artists recommend waiting between 24-48 hours before applying moisturizer, though others recommend doing so as soon as the first wash. A person with a fresh tattoo should follow their tattoo artist’s instructions on when to start using moisturizer.

For the first couple of days, the tattooed skin may feel warm to the touch and have a reddish appearance. The colors may also appear very bright against the rest of the skin. The tattoo will become less vibrant as the healing process continues.

A person should avoid submerging the tattoo in water or getting the tattoo wet during the first 3–6 weeks, except for when washing it. A person can continue using the washing technique above throughout the first week when needed. How often washing is necessary will vary depending on a person’s activity levels and environment.

  • Someone who is sitting in an air-conditioned office all day may only need to wash the tattoo once a day;
  • However, someone who is working in a hot or dirty environment and sweating may need to wash the tattoo every few hours;

It is best to wash the tattoo with clean fingers only and not a cloth or towel, which may irritate the skin and prematurely remove any scabs that may have formed. Scabs will often form in the first few days, and ink may still come up through the skin and need to be washed away.

It is important not to pick the scabs or scratch the skin. In general, Scabbing is not a sign of improper wound care. Scabs will form anytime the skin is injured, and can be a sign of healthy tissue forming underneath the wound.

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Keeping some form of antibiotic ointment or moisturizer under occlusion (as long as there is no known allergy) on the wound can help it heal better and the sooner this is done the better healing will happen with less chances of scarring. Any redness or mild swelling usually goes away near the end of the first week.

When can you put lotion on a new tattoo?

When You Can Start To Apply Tattoo Lotion – The very first time that you can apply tattoo lotion is when your tattoo has completely dried. The tattoo ink can be wet for the first couple of days after inking, so it is important that you do not apply any lotion or moisturize your tattoo until it’s fully dry.

This can take between one and 3 days. For this time you should keep the tattoo covered and change your bandage twice a day. When you are changing the bandage, make sure you also clean the tattoo by softly dabbing it with a wet towel that has antibacterial, fragrance-free soap on it, then rinse gently.

After you cleaned the tattoo, put the bandage back on. Once your tattoo starts to itch and the ink begins to scab over, you know that it’s time to apply lotion. Don’t worry, the scabs are part of the natural healing process but it’s important that you don’t pick at the scabs so to avoid infections or warping of the tattoo.

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Should you moisturize your new tattoo?

Don’t apply anything to it, though. The first time you should moisturize your tattoo is right after it starts to dry out; no sooner. A good way to determine if your tattoo is dry is to gently pull at your skin until it’s taut. Pay attention to that sensation — it should feel tight like it’s on the verge of cracking slightly.

How long does it take for a new tattoo to dry?

You should start moisturizing your tattoo as soon as it starts to dry — not before. This can generally take about 1–3 days after you got your tattoo. Be sure to wash and dry your tattoo with antibacterial soap and choose the appropriate moisturizer as well.

If you’re new to tattoos, we recommend that you educate yourself on the complete healing process. We go into detail on the precautions you need to take, how to get the job done, and how often to moisturize.

If you’re a tattoo-head, it might be worth your while to get a refresher, as well.

Can you take a shower after getting a tattoo?

TATTOO AFTERCARE -my advice for healing

How Often Should You Moisturize Your Tattoo? – Professional tattoo artists always recommended one moisturizes their tattoo(s) once or twice a day. The best way to moisturize a tattoo is by doing it in the morning and in the evening. It is also important to apply lotion or ointment after taking a shower, to protect the tattoo from drying out.

  1. Note : Make sure to wait between 10 and 20 minutes to apply lotion/ointment onto the tattoo after a shower;
  2. In that time, the tattoo will dry naturally, so when you do apply a moisturizer, it will soak into the skin nicely;
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By applying lotion onto a wet tattoo, you’re risking overdoing it.