How To Care For Your New Tattoo?
Aftercare for Your Tattoo – So, how can you make sure that new tattoo is something you don’t end up regretting? Follow these steps while your new tattoo heals.
- Be sure your artist covers your new tattoo in a thin layer of petroleum jelly and a bandage.
- Remove the bandage after 24 hours. Gently wash the tattoo with antimicrobial soap and water and be sure to pat dry.
- Apply a layer of antibacterial/Vaseline ointment twice a day, but don’t put on another bandage.
- Gently wash your tattoo area twice a day with soap and water and gently pat dry before reapplying the antibacterial/Vaseline ointment.
- Keep applying a moisturizer or ointment after you clean it to keep it moist.
You should repeat this process for 2 to 4 weeks. Also try not to wear clothes that will stick to your tattoo, and avoid swimming and the sun for about 2 weeks. And take cool showers. Scalding hot water will not only hurt, but it can also fade the ink. Wear a physical blocker sunscreen with at least 7% zinc oxide sunscreen during the daylight hours and/or cover it up (with clothing, a bandage).
Contents
What should you not do after a tattoo?
Do and don’ts after tattoo?
Should you keep a new tattoo moist or dry?
Should I apply lotion to my tattoo? What kind of tattoo care products do you recommend? – Yes! Moisturizing your tattoo regularly is extremely important. You should moisturize your clean tattoo 3 – 6 times per day, for roughly two weeks (though proper skincare is always important, and most tattoo enthusiasts moisturize their tattoos daily for life!). A white cream lotion or moisturizer, preferably unscented, should be used! We recommend these fragrance-free, white cream lotions: Aveeno , Curel , and Eucerin . Be warned: your favorite fragranced lotion is not a good option for moisturizing your tattoo – this can cause an excruciating burning sensation when applied to the tattoo, which is essentially an open wound. The fewer chemicals in the product, the better! Pure cocoa butter or shea butter is also popular for darker skin tones and is a fine option. There are some manufacturers who design products specifically for tattoo aftercare that work well for long-term care (such as Tattoo Goo , H2Ocean , and Hustle Butter ). Do NOT use aloe vera gel to moisturize, and we don’t recommend A&D ointment either, as the oil in these products can extract some of the ink from your tattoo.
When should I wash my new tattoo?
The first wash – After usually no less than 5 hours, it is safe to remove the bandage and wash the tattoo. After thorough hand-washing, a person can gently wash the tattoo with hypoallergenic soap and warm water using their fingers. The moisturizer on the skin will come off, and the tattoo may appear as if it is oozing ink or a thick, sticky substance.
This reaction is not usually a cause for concern, as it is just the excess fluid and ink from the tattoo process. After washing, a person should pat the skin with a clean paper towel and allow it to air-dry for up to an hour.
When the area is completely dry, they can apply a thin layer of moisturizer to the tattoo, but leave it uncovered to allow the skin to breathe.
Should I cover my tattoo at night?
This info should guide you through the care of healing your tattoo, but if you have any other questions while it is healing, do not hesitate to contact your artist directly or call the shop for immediate reply. There are no stupid questions about healing.
– After your tattoo is completed, your artist will bandage your tattoo for your trip home. Leave the bandage on for one to three hours. When you take the bandage off, wash it with very warm water (as hot as is comfortable) and mild liquid hand soap (like Dr.
Bronner’s, Dial or Softsoap, just no perfumed or exfoliating body washes). Pat it dry gently with a paper towel, and let it air dry the rest of the way (never scrub the tattoo with a towel or sponge). Then you will apply a very small amount of Aquaphor Ointment or plain, unscented skin lotion (we recommend Aveeno, Lubriderm, Curel, or any of their generics) to the tattoo, just enough to lightly moisturize.
- Your first night sleeping, your artist might recommend you re-wrap the tattoo with plastic wrap (like Saran Wrap) to sleep without the tattoo sticking to your sheets. This is generally for larger or solid-color tattoos. If your artist did not recommend re-wrapping, just let the tattoo stay exposed to air overnight.
- Every day from then on, you will wash the tattoo in the morning and at night, and apply lotion 3 times a day or so, or whenever the tattoo feels dry or tight.
- Always wash your hands before touching the tattoo.
- DO NOT apply Vaseline, Neosporin, Bacitracin or any other medicated or perfumed product to your tattoo.
- After a few days, the tattoo will form a thin scab over it, and in about a week the scab will begin to flake off in the shower. DO NOT pick or scratch at the scab, just keep it clean and moist and the scabs will all fall off by themselves in about two weeks. Picking any of the scabs off will cause faded color and damage to the skin.
During healing do NOT:
- Wrap the tattoo after the first night (wearing breathable clothes over it is fine as long as they are not causing friction. (Keeping tattoos wrapped in plastic or bandages will stop air from getting to the tattoo, slow healing, and make gross stuff grow in there. )
- Submerge the tattoo in water. This means baths, pools and oceans. Regular showering is fine.
- Expose it to strong sunlight (Like outdoor activities or beach days. Walking to your car is fine)
- Shave over the tattoo (ouch!)
When all the scabs fall off and the skin feels smooth again to the touch, it is all healed and you can shave over it again, and swim and everything else. Sometimes after the scab falls off there is a secondary shiny, raised or waxy coat over the tattoo. This is just another healing layer of skin. Continue to moisturize it and it will smooth out by itself over time. If you have any questions about your tattoo while its healing you are always welcome to come by the shop and have us check it out, or email the artist who did the tattoo with “AFTERCARE” in the subject line for an immediate response.
Do not slather a big, thick coat of product over it; just enough for it to stay moist and flexible. If you are using Aquaphor, you can switch to a plain lotion after the first few days. Lotion is generally fine for everyone, your artist will recommend if you would benefit from ointment.
If something doesn’t look perfect After your tattoo is finished healing, we’ll do our best to make it right. Sometimes with excessive scabbing, or other unpredictable reactions during healing, your skin can reject some ink, leaving a “light spot” that is closer to your skin color in the tattoo (or a line might get thinner or lighter in one spot).
This is common as its unlikely your body will accept every spot of pigment uniformly, so just contact your artist via email after your tattoo is finished healing with a photo to see if a small touch up is in order.
Unless you were negligent during the care of your tattoo, touch-ups are very minor and quick, and guaranteed by our artists if you contact them about it within 3 months of getting the tattoo. Because older tattoos that have settled in fully and aged require more work to make uniform, we suggest coming in as soon as possible when it’s healed, as touch ups are performed for a fee at the artist’s discretion after 3 months.
How do I take care of my tattoo the first week?
Aftercare for Your Tattoo – So, how can you make sure that new tattoo is something you don’t end up regretting? Follow these steps while your new tattoo heals.
- Be sure your artist covers your new tattoo in a thin layer of petroleum jelly and a bandage.
- Remove the bandage after 24 hours. Gently wash the tattoo with antimicrobial soap and water and be sure to pat dry.
- Apply a layer of antibacterial/Vaseline ointment twice a day, but don’t put on another bandage.
- Gently wash your tattoo area twice a day with soap and water and gently pat dry before reapplying the antibacterial/Vaseline ointment.
- Keep applying a moisturizer or ointment after you clean it to keep it moist.
You should repeat this process for 2 to 4 weeks. Also try not to wear clothes that will stick to your tattoo, and avoid swimming and the sun for about 2 weeks. And take cool showers. Scalding hot water will not only hurt, but it can also fade the ink. Wear a physical blocker sunscreen with at least 7% zinc oxide sunscreen during the daylight hours and/or cover it up (with clothing, a bandage).
What’s the best lotion for tattoo aftercare?
What cream is best for tattoo aftercare?
Aquaphor’s Advanced Therapy Healing Ointment is easily one of the most widely used treatments for tattoo aftercare, as myriad artists swear by it.
Can u over moisturize a tattoo?
Can You Over Moisturize a Tattoo? – Moisturizing your tattoo is a great way to improve the healing process and give you a vibrant, long-lasting tattoo. However, if you use too much moisturizer on your tattoo or don’t dry it thoroughly after washing, it could hinder the healing process.
- You can over-moisturize your tattoo, and this can lead to all kinds of issues;
- It can prolong the healing process and could even cause an infection;
- All of this can damage your tattoo and leave you with a less than perfect tattoo on your body that you have to live with for many years;
Your tattoo artist will discuss the tattoo aftercare regime with you before you leave the tattoo studio after getting your tattoo. They know what they’re talking about, so it’s best to listen and make sure that you understand what’s needed before leaving. 
This is FAR too much lotion and some should be blotted off with a paper towel.
Is it good to air out your tattoo?
Everyone’s skin heals differently, and when treating a new tattoo, it can be stressful to figure out what works and what doesn’t. Ultimately, the tattoo artist will have the most useful advice, but it will vary from the size of your tattoo to the placement. To guide your healing process and ensure that you can walk away from the recovery in one piece, The Daily Texan has compiled a list of six aftercare tips for fresh tattoos.
- Wash the tattoo Generally, your tattoo artist will wrap the tattoo with a sterile bandage;
- If your tattoo artist pulls out seran wrap from H-E-B to wrap your new tattoo, run fast;
- Fresh air is ultimately necessary to heal a brand new tattoo, but it is very common to have your tattoo wrapped just as a preliminary measure to protect from bacteria and other antibodies;
When you go home, take off the bandage and run lukewarm water over the tattoo along with antibacterial soap, such as Dial Gold. The tattoo is going to be sensitive to touch considering a needle just drew into and across your skin, so it tends to be easier to allow the soap to run down the tattoo as opposed to rubbing it all over the new tattoo.
Apply moisturizer Make sure to apply a very thin layer of unscented moisturizer over the new tattoo after thoroughly washing it. The tattoo artist will recommend moisturizers best suited for the area. Cetaphil has many different types of unscented, reliable body moisturizers to ensure a smooth healing process.
Moisturizers like Aquaphor can come in handy for smaller tattoos of 1-2 inches,but it also holds a reputation for irritating sensitive skin. Don’t pick the scabs When receiving a new tattoo, the skin is punctured anywhere from 50 to over 3,000 times per minute by a tattoo gun depending on the size of the piece.
As soon as you get a new tattoo, your skin will start to produce plasma and begin the scabbing process right away because it is an open wound. Once scabs begin to appear, it is important to not pick them or else the ink will warp, causing the color to fade.
Avoid scratching After investing in a beautiful new piece that will be on your skin forever, the last thing you want to do is scratch your tattoo. Yes, it will itch. Yes, it will tingle. However, it is critical to resist the urge to itch it. The ink needs to set and avoid warping of any kind, so let it be.
Avoid direct sunlight While it is hard to dodge the sun living in Texas, try to the best of your ability to avoid direct sunlight. Sunlight is notorious for causing the color to fade, so if your tattoo has color in it, be cognizant of how much time you spend in the sun.
If you do plan on spending a lot of time outside, wear sunscreen. The healing process is already painful enough, but a sunburn on top of the constant itching sensation would be unbearable. No swimming Your skin heals after getting a new tattoo just as it would when you get a cut.
What happens if you don’t moisturize tattoo?
If you don’t moisturize a new tattoo, there are chances it won’t heal properly. Moisturising keeps it safe from infections and allows the quality of the tattoo to be preserved. It’ll also prevent you from itching, which will stop the area from healing. After getting your tattoo done, the skin tries to rejuvenate and recover from the trauma it’s been through.
How often should I moisturize a new tattoo?
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.
Note : Make sure to wait between 10 and 20 minutes to apply lotion/ointment onto the tattoo after a shower. In that time, the tattoo will dry naturally, so when you do apply a moisturizer, it will soak into the skin nicely.
By applying lotion onto a wet tattoo, you’re risking overdoing it.
How do you sleep with a new 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.
Can I use Vaseline on my tattoo?
– Vaseline isn’t the best choice for tattoo aftercare. Petroleum jelly traps moisture and bacteria, which can lead to infections and scarring if your tattoo doesn’t get enough air while it’s healing. You may be able to use Vaseline on old tattoos if your skin is dry. aftercare ointments and lotions While your tattoo artist should give you the supplies you need for your immediate aftercare, you can also purchase extra ointment and lotion online:
- A+D ointment
- Eucerin
- Lubriderm
Is it OK to wear clothes over a new tattoo?
So, What Kind Of Clothes Should I Wear Over a New Tattoo? – After getting a tattoo, and during the healing process, which can last between 2 weeks and a month in its initial and most important stage, you should be wearing loose-fitting clothes. That is of course if the tattoo is placed on your body apart from the neck, head, and feet.
For those areas, you need to pay special attention, especially in the case of feet tattoo (the issues of wearing socks and shoes). Loose clothes will cover the tattoo so much so that it stays protected. There is a lower chance the fabric will stick to the tattoo and introduce contaminants as well.
There will be minimal or rubbing of the fabrics against the tattoo, which will significantly minimize healing issues or the chance of an infection. Note: After getting a new tattoo, it will be wrapped and well protected. You can wear loose clothes over the wrap and not really worry about it.
How long does tattoo take to heal?
How long does it take for a tattoo to heal? After getting a tattoo, the outer layer of skin (the part you can see) will typically heal within 2 to 3 weeks. While it may look and feel healed, and you may be tempted to slow down on the aftercare, it can take as long as 6 months for the skin below a tattoo to truly heal.
Can I shower after a tattoo?
You Can Shower After Getting a Tattoo, But Remember to Use Mild Soap – When it comes to showering after a new tattoo , it’s best to ask your tattoo artist when you can lather up. Their answer will depend on the type of bandage they use to seal their work before sending you off.
“Depending on what type of bandage you receive determines when you can shower,” Metz-Caporusso tells Bustle. “If you get Saniderm or Tegiderm, then you can shower immediately. This type of covering is waterproof.
If you get a classic bandage or cling wrap, then you must wait anywhere from two to 12 hours, depending on what your artist recommends. After you take that off, you can shower anytime. ” But it’s important to use a mild, fragrance-free soap when you do shower or wash your new ink.
Think classic Dial soap or anything anti-bacterial and gentle. After a gentle washing, Brooklyn-based tattoo artist John O’Hara recommends applying Aquaphor to hydrate the skin and create a barrier to prevent infection.
“The key is to apply a very thin layer, let the skin absorb the Aquaphor for about 10-15 seconds, and blot off the excess with a sanitary paper towel,” O’Hara tells Bustle. “This will give you the right amount.
Can I drink alcohol after 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.
