Tattoos are essentially open wounds, and exposing them to water too soon can lead to bacterial infections, skin irritation, and even damage to the tattoo design. Therefore, tattoo artists recommend waiting at least 2-4 weeks before submerging your new ink in swimming pools, hot tubs, or open water.
``You should wait for your tattoo to fully heal -- which can take at least 2 to 4 weeks -- before swimming in any kind of water,'' says Adrienne Santos, a writer for Healthline.
I recommend you wash for about 3 times a day for the first handful of days, and then once it is finished peeling you can begin to taper down washing. But most of the time you are washing your tattoo for upwards of 1.5-2 weeks, depending on size and how just manipulation there was to the skin (style of tattoo).
After getting a new tattoo, it is important to wait at least 24 hours before showering (2). This allows the tattoo to begin the healing process and ensures that the open wound has had enough time to close, reducing the risk of infection.
Allow your custom temporary tattoo to set before getting it wet. Once set, your tattoo should hold up great in the shower or while sweating.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 should never submerge a new tattoo in water for any length of time directly following a tattoo. If you're wondering just how long after getting your tattoo you can take a bath: the answer is only after your tattoo has healed completely which typically takes 3 to 4 weeks, and in some cases longer.
With good quality tattoo aftercare the life of black and grey tattoos lasts10 years or considerably longer. At 10 years or more they may be needing a retouch to bring back the former glory.
How long does it take for the Tattoo to heal? 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.
Tattoos are essentially open wounds, and exposing them to water too soon can lead to bacterial infections, skin irritation, and even damage to the tattoo design. Therefore, tattoo artists recommend waiting at least 2-4 weeks before submerging your new ink in swimming pools, hot tubs, or open water.
Stay out of pools, hot tubs, rivers, lakes and other bodies of water while the tattoo is healing. Choose clothing carefully. Don't wear anything that might stick to the tattoo.
Black ink tends to outlast any other color because it is super pigmented. Other darker colors like dark blue, dark green, gray, and dark purple will have a similar lifespan to black ink. Lighter inks like yellows, reds, oranges, whites, and any pastel tones tend to fade a bit more quickly than darker inks.
The general rule of thumb is to wait at least 24 hours after getting a tattoo before showering or washing your tattoo.