You want to avoid excess absorption of water by the tattoo, so washings should be efficient and deliberate to minimize time. You can use antibacterial soap for the first 3-5 days and then regular soap or body wash is fine.
This could take less than a week or a few depending on how fast your body heals, in my experience it has been around 9 days before I have been able to use a light body wash by hand and about 12 days before using abrasives. Hope that helps even though its just my experience and opinion, I'm sure people will disagree!
Wait 24-48 Hours: After getting your tattoo, wait at least 24 to 48 hours before showering. This allows the initial healing process to begin and reduces the risk of infection.
When can I use scented soap on a fresh tattoo? Continue to use unscented soap for a full 30 days following getting any tattoo done. You can use scented soap on a fresh tattoo after the first week.
After using ointment for a new tattoo, you should wait until your tattoo has completely healed before switching to lotion. This typically takes about 2-3 weeks (1).
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.
NEVER rub a wet tattoo with a washcloth, sponge, or towel when it is still in the healing stages. When the protective scab is wet it is at risk of being rubbed away, resulting in loss of ink. *Scabs will often form in the first few days. It is important not to pick the scabs or scratch the skin.
Dr. Bronner's Castile soaps (and balms) have long been prized for tattoo aftercare by tattoo artists because of their effectiveness as cleansers, while still being gentle on sensitive skin. Many tattoo shops specifically recommend our products on their websites.
Lotion should be applied 4-6 times a day for the first 2-3 weeks. Blot excess lotion with a clean paper-towel.
A general rule of thumb is to give your new tattoo a minimum of three weeks away from any kind of pool, ocean, or bath. Washing your tattoo with warm or cold water and a mild, fragrance-free, antimicrobial soap is totally fine, and is actually recommended for hygiene reasons.
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.
Cleaning Your Tattoo After the First Week
Get into a solid tattoo care routine with the right products on hand for every stage of the healing process. After a week or when oozing has stopped, switch to a gentle soap and wash twice daily.
Tattoos typically take two to four weeks to heal on the surface, but it can take three to six months to fully heal. The tattoo healing process typically involves a week of redness and oozing, followed by two to three weeks of itchiness and peeling. After about a month, the skin still internally heals.
After the fourth day, switch over to using a plain white non-scented lotion 4 to 5 times a day or as needed when your tattoo becomes dry and flaky, which is normal at this stage. (Be advised: scented lotions can cause irritation- aka burn like hell-fire). Continue using lotion until the tattoo is completely healed.
48 HOURS AFTER THE PROCEDURE
You may shower normally, DO NOT use any scented soaps, acne washes, or exfoliants.
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. At this point, you can stop washing your tattoo with soap, as it will be protected by its own layers of skin.
After usually no less than 5 hours, it is safe to remove the bandage and wash the tattoo. After thorough handwashing, a person can gently wash the tattoo with hypoallergenic soap and warm water using their fingers.
Immediately wash the tattoo with a mild soap. Any unscented soap will do! If you don't have a liquid soap, make sure not to put bar soap directly on the tattoo – lather in your hands, and use the underside of your fingers or your palm to wash the area. Do not scrub!
Showers are fine-just NO SOAKING! Using a mild, fragrance-free soap (Dove, Dial, and Neutrogena); gently wash all excess blood, ointment, ink, and plasma from your tattoo. Only use your hand – DO NOT use a washcloth or loofah as they can harbor bacteria. If you are not sure which soap to use, read the ingredients.
The general rule of thumb is to wait at least 24 hours after getting a tattoo before showering or washing your tattoo.
Use MD Wipe Outz premium DRY tattoo towels during and after tattoo sessions as a superior replacement for paper towels. Wipe Outz towels are superior to basic paper towels because they produce no lint or frustrating needle clogs. Their softness leads to less irritated skin and better healed tattoos.
Wait Until the Tattoo is Fully Healed
This means no exfoliating during the initial healing phase or the scabbing and peeling phase. This is generally accepted to be around 4-6 weeks, but healing times can vary depending on the individual and the location of the tattoo.