How Long Until I Can Shave Over A Tattoo?
When Can I Shave Over a Tattoo? – After getting inked, you can’t shave over the area of your new tattoo until it’s fully healed. This could take two to three weeks. During this time, you need to keep your ink protected to allow it to heal properly, so shaving is out of the question. Every Gillette Styler comes with a ProGlide Razor Blade , which will help you to make sure your tattoo is left looking super smooth after its first shave. Keep it looking that way by signing up to Gillette’s shave club for fresh razors delivered to your door every few weeks. Remember: newer, sharper razors are always best for avoiding shaving cuts – the last thing you want to be worrying about spoiling your new tattoo.
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How do I know when my Tattoo is ready to shave?
For those with tattoos, some prefer to have a hairfree appearance to give better visibility to their body artwork. That doesn’t necessarily mean shaving and removing hair all over to see the tattoos, but choosing the areas of their body where they wish to have better clarity of the line work and shading of their ink. 
Always shave after a tattoo is fully healed Always ensure your tattoo is 100% healed before shaving the area. Shaving when the tattoo is still going through its healing process could lead to infection, scabbing and loss of ink. Tattoos go through several stages of healing (even the smallest ones). Once the scabs have shed and the new layer of skin has formed over the tattoo, then it’s usually safe to shave, however, always check its sensitivity in case the skin is still irritated.
Running your fingertips over the tattoo to make sure it’s flat and no bumps remain will also help determine if it’s ready for shaving. Healing usually takes anywhere from 5 days – 2 weeks but there are always exceptions where they take longer to heal.
Allow your skin to heal for as long as you can after it looks and feels healed. Shaving won’t affect tattoos as long as they’re healed and you take care of the skin when you do begin shaving it, keeping it exfoliated (to prevent ingrown hairs) and hydrated.
Tattoo’d skin is exactly the same as regular skin once it’s healed so the same care applies. Step One – Pre Shave Preparation Taking a shower before shaving your body anywhere will always help to soften hair.
We’d recommend a light exfoliation once a week to keep dead skin from the surface and to promote hair growth (so you don’t end up with ingrown hairs beneath the tattoo). Choose a good pre-shave product to protect the skin before putting a blade against it.
- There are plenty of gels and foams on the market and it can largely depend on skin type, as well as the size of the area you’re looking to shave;
- King of Shaves Sensitive Advanced Pre Shave Oil ensures maximum glide for a blade to effortlessly move with the contours of the skin;
Gilette’s Fusion5 Ultra Sensitive Men’s Shaving Foam is a cheaper alternative for larger areas. Its foam formula is suitable for sensitive skin containing Aloe Vera for a soothing shave. If you’re only using a cartridge razor to shave over your tattoos, both products work great with electric shavers with wet shaving options too for clean shaves.
Step Two – Shaving If you’re opting for a cartridge or traditional razor, always ensure you have a new, fresh blade for shaving. Blades quickly dull, rust and contain bacteria, so a new blade is a must when shaving over your tattoos.
Gillette razors are great choice where blades can be changed weekly and offer many kits with multiple blades to keep you stocked up for months. Take a look at the Gillette Fusion Proglide Flexball Pack but if you’re looking for a shaver with more longevity and multiple options, the Philips Series 5000 Showerproof Body Groomer is great for all over body shaving, including the chest, back and groin area.
Shave in the direction of the grain and only go over the same patches of skin where necessary to catch any stray hairs. Once shaved, rinse the skin off with cold water to close the hair follicles and apply a moistoriser such as Bluebeards Revenge Cooling Moisturiser to keep skin hydrated and soothed.
Hair doesn’t grow back thicker either but you will have to consider the upkeep of regularly shaving the area of your tattoos when the hair starts to grow back. However, you will find that tattoos look less cloudy and more defined. Getting a tattoo and wondering if you should shave for a tattoo? Although you can shave before your tattoo, it’s not necessary.
Can I Shave my Tattoo after it heals?
Benefits of Shaving Over Your Tattoo – After your tattoo has fully healed, you can shave your skin as usual without any cause for concern. In fact, there are some benefits to shaving the skin over a tattoo!
- By removing excess hair, you improve the appearance of your new tattoo.
- Shaving removes dead skin cells, which can help your tattoo appear more bright. For other tips on combating dull tattoos, check out our article That Fresh Ink Look – A Guide On How To Keep Your Tattoos Looking New.
- If you frequently shave an area and then suddenly stop, you can cause ingrown hairs which may form pimples or small pus-filled blisters on your tattoo. Maintaining your shaving schedule helps minimize ingrown hair issues which may distort your tattoo.
How long does it take for a tattoo to peel off?
How Long Do Tattoos Take to Heal? – According to Rabach, it usually takes the skin two to three weeks to fully heal after getting a tattoo. Tattoos generally go through several different stages of healing. Immediately afterward, your skin might look raw and feel tender to the touch, though this should only last a day or so depending on how large your ink is and where it’s placed.
For instance, a tiny tattoo on your arm might feel fine after a few hours, while a large piece in a sensitive spot like your ribs could take days to feel normal again. “After about two weeks, you can resume your regular lifestyle although your skin may still be naturally exfoliating and regenerating for up to six weeks,” says Otsuji.
“Your artist will have the area bandaged post-tattoo and instruct you how to keep it clean and dry throughout the healing process. ” It is important to avoid sweating, swimming, and sun exposure for the two-week healing period, says Otsuji, as during this time there may be some light scabbing or peeling.
However, a healing cream or mild moisturizer can be used sparingly as needed. She recommends Zensa Healing Cream ($75), for its soothing and hydrating properties thanks to shea butter and cucumber extract as well as sunflower seed oil to preserve your tattoo’s color.
During the middle stage, your tattoo will likely look very dark as it hasn’t peeled yet and should be safe to touch and shower with, so long as you’re not completely submerging it underwater. The last stage is the peeling stage, which tends to occur anywhere from three or four days to a week after you got your ink.
Should I remove the hair on my head before tattooing?
Should You Shave Before a Tattoo? – While you should groom before getting a tattoo, the tattoo artist may still trim the area again to make sure that little hairs don’t get in the way of the ink. The hair on the head should be removed gently before tattooing to avoid razor burn or discomfort.
