What is the rule for tattoo aftercare?

Author: Mrs. Alexa Schultz III  |  Last update: Monday, September 29, 2025

Treat your tattoo like a healing wound (because it is). Make sure you are washing it clean at least 2x per day. Be gentle, don't scrub, and pat dry. When you wash your tattoo, always use products with ingredients meant for tattoos, such as Tattoo Goo Deep Cleansing Soap.

What can you not do after getting a tattoo?

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.

What is the best tattoo aftercare protocol?

Here's the step-by-step process to ensure proper tattoo healing:
  • Keep the Tattoo Covered. ...
  • Wash Your Tattoo. ...
  • Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize. ...
  • Protect Your Tattoo from the Sun. ...
  • Avoid Strenuous Activity. ...
  • Avoid Tight Clothing. ...
  • Do Not Pick at Scabs. ...
  • Avoid Swimming.

How to take care of a tattoo right after?

A few key tips - Keep it clean: Gently wash your tattoo 2-3 times a day and pat it dry. Apply ointment: Use a tattoo-specific ointment or fragrance-free lotion 2-3 times a day. Avoid tight clothing and excessive moisture. Protect from sun exposure and avoid scratching or picking at the tattoo.

How do I make sure my tattoo is healing properly?

After about a month, the skin still internally heals. The best way to ensure proper healing and avoid infection is to keep your tattoo clean, apply ointment/lotion, and keep it out of the sun. If your tattoo continues to ooze or swell—or you have a rash or fever—contact your healthcare provider.

Professional Tattoo Aftercare Guide (Day-by-Day) | Sorry Mom

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 dry healing a tattoo better?

Benefits of Dry Healing

Natural Healing Process Dry healing allows the body to use its natural healing mechanisms, which can result in a more vibrant and detailed tattoo. Simplified Routine Without the need for multiple applications of ointments or creams, the aftercare routine becomes simpler and less time-consuming.

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.

What not to do after getting your first tattoo?

While it's healing, don't pick or scratch your tattoo — even if it's flaking, Wei says. Also, avoid submerging your tattoo, so stay out of pools, hot tubs, and any bodies of water for two weeks. Don't expose your tattoo to the sun either.

Should I let my tattoo dry out and peel?

If scabs develop, they can remove the color beneath them if prematurely removed. It's important that they're allowed to dry out completely, and not get waterlogged at any time. The scab will eventually fall off on its own, and the tattoo should be fine if no deep cracks have formed.

What is poor tattoo aftercare?

Bad tattoo aftercare often leads to infection, so listen to your body. If something doesn't feel right, trust your gut. See a doctor immediately if you develop any of the following uncomfortable symptoms: Excessive redness, bumps, or rash.

What is the number one tattoo aftercare?

The Best Tattoo Aftercare Products
  • Best Overall: Hustle Butter Tattoo Aftercare.
  • Best Balm Under $15: Badger Tattoo Balm.
  • Best Skin Ointment: Aquaphor Healing Ointment Advanced Therapy Skin Protectant.
  • Best Soap: Dial Antibacterial Liquid Hand Soap in Gold (Pack of 4)
  • Best for Eczema-Prone Skin: CeraVe Healing Ointment.

What messes up tattoo healing?

Cleaning and Excessive Water Exposure

Who would have thought that cleaning the tattoo could also sabotage healing? Avoid submerging your fresh tattoo underwater or apply excessive water while showering. Our skin could absorb the water and damage the tattoo.

What food to avoid after a tattoo?

Examples of the main food to avoid include:
  • Soft drinks.
  • Processed juices.
  • Fried foods, such as French fries, pastries and other savory snacks.
  • Fast food.
  • Pork and processed meats, such as sausage, ham, sausage, bacon, mortadella and salami.
  • Sweets, cream-filled biscuits, cakes, ready-made cake batters, cereal bars.

What is not allowed after tattoo?

Avoid water.

Swimming, bathing, Jacuzzis, hot tubs, the ocean. For the first two weeks after getting tattooed, avoid being submerged in water all together. And if you're reading this during the summer while your friends scamper and frolic past you on their way to the beach, take a moment of silence for yourself.

What not to say to a tattoo artist?

Here's some of the things you may want to avoid saying or asking:
  • “Can you go any faster?” – If you want a crappy tattoo, maybe.
  • “If I don't like it, can I get a refund?” – No, sorry. ...
  • “I've only had a few drinks before I came in.” – Well, I guess you're not getting your tattoo then.

How long after a tattoo can you shower normally?

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.

Can too much Aquaphor fade a tattoo?

There hasn't been an official study on how much ink (if any) Aquaphor can remove or fade from a tattoo. In the interest of fairness, plenty of tattoo artists claim that they've never experienced ink loss in their clients that use Aquaphor.

How long to leave saran wrap on tattoo?

So, how long should you keep the cling film on for? “I'll recommend to keep the tattoo covered with cling film for anywhere between two and four hours,” advises Sarah. Liv's in agreement, “a few hours gives any soreness time to settle and excess plasma/ink – that gooey stuff!

What is the best thing to put on a new tattoo?

Both Paul and Shuliar recommend Aquaphor healing ointment for tattoo aftercare because it's unscented and designed to create a protective healing barrier while allowing oxygen to pass through.

Why did my tattoo artist tell me not to use ointment?

Others will tell you that antibacterial ointment is a major "no-no." And the old-school artists advise against using any ointments or lotions at all, saying they may be vehicles for bacteria and can cause infection and scabbing.

What are the stages of tattoo healing?

While there's some variability to the healing process, generally, there are three broad stages of tattoo healing:
  • Inflammation (Days 1-3) ...
  • Visible recovery (Days 4-14) ...
  • Invisible recovery (Days 14-30) ...
  • On the day. ...
  • 1-48 hours. ...
  • 48hrs – 14 days. ...
  • The sun. ...
  • Scented soap.

What is the best soap for tattoos?

Using Castile Soap for Tattoo Aftercare

No need for alarm as this is quite normal. What you're seeing is in fact excess fluid (plasma) and ink from the tattoo process. Using Dr. Bronner's Baby Unscented Pure-Castile Liquid Soap for tattoos is perfect for this step!

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