How long before tattoo stops hurting?

Author: Treva Stracke  |  Last update: Friday, January 2, 2026

Tattooing tends to be a painful procedure because tattoo artists use needles to inject ink into the dermis layer of the skin. The injections cause localized swelling and damage to the skin. Once the tattoo procedure is over, the area may be sore for about a week before the swelling goes down.

How long should a tattoo be sore?

A new tattoo typically remains sore for about 3 to 7 days after the tattooing process. During this time, you may experience tenderness, redness, and some swelling.

How long does it take for a tattoo to stop being tender?

A new tattoo typically remains sore for about 3 to 7 days after the tattooing process. During this time, you may experience tenderness, redness, and some swelling.

How do you soothe a sore tattoo?

Wash it and Pat it dry with a paper towel. Wait for it to dry completely then apply a thin layer of aquaphor or even better a cocoa or shea butter based aftercare balm like Hustle Butter. If it gets too dry it's gonna be sore. It's also painful bc it's over your spine and back muscles.

Is it normal for a tattoo to feel tight after 3 days?

Tenderness: Your tattoo may still feel tender to the touch, but the pain should be manageable and less intense than the first day. Tightness: The skin around your tattoo may feel tight as it begins to heal.

8 Tips To Make Your Next Tattoo HURT LESS Guaranteed!

How to tell if a tattoo is infected or just healing?

What Does an Infected Tattoo Look Like?
  1. A rash that can be itchy with scaly, raised, or swollen bumps.
  2. Excessive redness or discoloration, where the skin beneath the tattoo becomes darker instead of lightening up as it heals.
  3. Pus that oozes from blisters on the skin.
  4. Open sores that may have crusting.

How long does it take for a tattoo to fully settle?

If the tattoo is taken good care of the tattoo is healed after 4-7 days. It takes 2-3 weeks for the skin to feel normal and for the ink to settle completely 1 to 2 months.

What draws ink out of a new tattoo?

Salabrasion is the method of removing a tattoo by rubbing salt and water on a tattoo. This method removes the top layers of skin to rub out the ink in a tattoo. This treatment is done multiple times until the ink in a tattoo is gone or can no longer be reached.

How can I tolerate tattoo pain better?

Stay Hydrated and Nourished: Proper hydration and nutrition before your tattoo session can help improve your pain tolerance and promote a more comfortable experience. Get Adequate Rest: Ensure you get a good night's sleep before your tattoo appointment, as fatigue can negatively impact your ability to tolerate pain.

When to stop using Aquaphor on a tattoo?

Use the Aquaphor for the first 2-3 days then switch to a regular FRAGRANCE-FREE lotion such as Lubriderm, or any other fragrance-free brand. 5. Fresh tattoos sometimes “weep” during the first couple of days, meaning that plasma and ink form a thin moist coating on the skin. This can be DABBED with a clean paper towel.

Can you sleep with a new tattoo uncovered?

Unfortunately, there's no way to control what your body does while you sleep, but keeping your new tattoo covered during the night will help mitigate the risk of causing any injuries by scratching it.

What is tattoo pain comparable to?

How bad do tattoos hurt? There's no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to how much pain you'll feel when getting tattooed. But if you're wondering what type of pain to expect, Caranfa says the experience is comparable to the feeling of a cat scratch or a sunburn.

How long after a tattoo can you shower?

It's generally recommended to wait at least 24 hours before jumping into the shower. This initial waiting period gives your skin time to begin healing. When you do shower, try to minimize direct contact with the tattooed area and limit its exposure to water.

Is outlining or shading hurt more?

Pain Factor 2: The Intensity of Shading

We sometimes hear clients describe the pain from outlining as "cutting" and the pain from shading as "burning." In the case of a tattoo that features some simple black-and-grey shading, it may very well be your experience that the outline is the most painful part of the session.

Should my tattoo still be sore after 5 days?

Your tattoo will go through a number of stages as it heals. In the first few days, redness, oozing fluid and swollen skin is common. If this carries on however for more than a few days this could be a sign of an infection. After two weeks, your skin may begin to peel.

How to build pain tolerance?

Raising pain tolerance
  1. Exercise. Regular aerobic exercise, resistance training, and even circuit training may increase pain tolerance in otherwise healthy people.
  2. Yoga. Regularly practicing yoga may make a person more aware of their mind and body, and may decrease some responses to pain.
  3. Biofeedback. ...
  4. Vocalization.

How much to tip a tattoo artist?

As with tipping waitstaff, 20-25% percent is a good standard. An easy way to include tipping in your budget is to add it in when getting the estimated costs for having your work done. So, if your tattoo is expected to cost $200, with a 20-percent tip, that's $240.

How to soothe tattoo pain after?

Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen, may help ease the pain following a tattooing procedure. However, it is unclear if acetaminophen can effectively prevent pain from tattooing procedures. Instead, some tattoo artists recommend topical skin-numbing products.

Does Vaseline fade tattoo ink?

The American Academy of Dermatology says petroleum-based products can cause ink to fade. They recommend using water-based moisturizers on new tattoos instead. But why? Products like Vaseline and super thick ointments may trap moisture and bacteria on top of a new tattoo, increasing your risk of developing an infection.

When to stop washing a tattoo twice a day?

Until the surface of the tattoo is healed (at a minimum of two to three weeks), wash the area gently 2-3 times per day. After cleaning the tattoo during this two to three week period, gently apply a thin coat of a lotion-based care product. We recommend After Inked tattoo moisturizer and aftercare lotion.

How to speed up tattoo healing?

7 Hacks To Help Heal Your New Tattoo
  1. Relax and Stay Calm. First things first, relax. ...
  2. Say No to Re-Bandaging. ...
  3. Let Your Tattoo Breathe—No Picking Allowed. ...
  4. Avoid Baths, Pools, and Hot Tubs. ...
  5. Stay Out of the Sun (For Now) ...
  6. Embrace Healthy Lifestyle Habits.

Why can I feel my tattoo lines?

If your tattoo is very new, it is likely that the lines feel raised and swollen simply because they are a bit swollen. Your new tattoo is an open wound, and the impact of the tattooing process will usually result in some swelling.

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