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.)
You should keep your new tattoo covered for a minimum 8--10 days. The fabric should be cotton as would absorb any perspiration from around the tattoo and also help the skin breathe to heal. Close fitting or tight clothes will rub against the skin and cause irritation, maybe even infection.
A new tattoo should generally be covered with a bandage for about 2 to 24 hours after getting it. Most artists recommend keeping the bandage on for at least a few hours to protect the tattoo from bacteria and to absorb any excess ink and fluid.
10. Don't Wear Tight Clothing It's time to ditch the super skinny jeans in exchange for your mom denim for a couple of weeks. ``For the first two weeks, avoid wearing tight clothing that might rub up against your tattoo as well as sleeping on your tattoo so you don't agitate the healing process,'' Inked warns.
A tattoo is a wound and if you cover it, it will heal faster but can pull the ink out of your skin as well. Do not wrap again after the first time.
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.
When the tattoo is dry to the touch, cover it completely with a new piece of plastic wrap, using small pieces of tape as needed to hold it in place. Do NOT use any healing ointment or moisturizer. With this method, the tattoo is kept completely covered with plastic wrap 24 hours a day, usually for 48-72 hours.
Wear loose clothing
You don't want your clothing to get too tight around your tattoo, as the pressure can cause pain, aggravate the skin, and make the healing process take longer. Like with the bedding, we recommend choosing clothing you don't mind possibly getting stained if your tattoo leaks!
You can shower 3-4 hours after getting a tattoo, if you have a Saniderm bandage on, however, if you have a plastic wrap wait 24 hours to unwrap your tattoo and shower. In either case, shower in cold or lukewarm water and avoid prolonged soaking or submerging your tattoo in water for 3-4 weeks.
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.
Washing and Moisturizing
Continue to wash your tattoo 2-3 times per day until it is healed. For the first 3 days, apply a very thin coat of Aquaphor ointment after washing. After 3 days, switch to a light lotion or moisturizer. DO NOT OVER MOISTURIZE!
Carefully wash your tattoo area three times a day with soap and water, and gently pat it dry. Keep applying a moisturizer or ointment after you clean your tattoo to keep it moist. After 5 days, you can switch from an antibiotic ointment to a gentle fragrance-free body lotion.
After each time you wash your tattoo and apply ointment you can wrap your tattoo in Saran Wrap and secure with tape or tight fitting clothing like a sock on your foot or compression shirt. Be sure to change the wrap 2-3 times per day.
Sleep on a clean surface
Avoid sleeping directly on the tattoo, as the friction from the sheets can disrupt the healing process. Be sure to follow the aftercare instructions provided by your tattoo artist and use a clean pillowcase or bedding to promote a healthy healing process.
Don't worry, this is completely natural. It happens because the old skin, damaged during the tattooing process, forms a thin layer over your tattoo and masks its true appearance. In time this old skin will naturally exfoliate itself, revealing your tattoo underneath in all its vibrant glory.
While it might seem harmless in the heat of summer with an inviting pool in your midst, several issues can pop up if you allow your tattoo to get wet before it's fully healed. Infection – Since fresh tattoos are open wounds that require healing, exposing them to water also exposes them to any harmful bacteria present.
Leaving the bandage on for too long can result in infection, so always change your bandage within the stated timeframe. Most tattoos can be properly healed with 2 applications of the bandage, with each application being left on the skin for 1-2 days, for a 3 or 4 day total.
Is it OK to wear clothes over a new tattoo? Yes, but try not to after the few initial days after application. If you do, make sure you change your clothes frequently. In our experience, tattoos can weep onto the clothes and if you don't change them, it can cause infection.
During the first two weeks of healing, you should avoid wearing anything tight. Think of it like having a scrape or burn—you wouldn't want clothing to be rubbing against it all day.
Your tattoo artist will wrap your tattoo immediately after finishing the piece. This bandage should be left on anywhere between 3 and 24 hours after getting your tattoo – depending on the bandage used and the size of your piece. Tattoo bandages often come off before going to bed the first night.
According to tattoo artists, you should begin using lotion on a tattoo once it begins to dry. It is a waiting game, in a way. You don't want to apply lotion while the ink is still wet. How long it takes the ink to dry is dependent on your body, the size of the tattoo, and environmental factors such as humidity.
You'll need to keep your tattoo wrapped in cling film from one to three days.
When Can I Stop Washing My New Tattoo? You should continue washing your tattoo until it is fully healed. It is considered fully healed when all scabs have fallen off, and the skin has regenerated and closed up. This process generally takes between 2 to 4 weeks.