When can I take my first shower after a tattoo?

Author: Jewel Schuppe  |  Last update: Thursday, October 23, 2025

Yes, you can shower after getting a new tattoo, but it's important to follow a few key steps to protect your new art. 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.

How soon after a tattoo can you shower?

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.

When can I wash my new tattoo?

Wash your new tattoo within five hours of completion and continue washing it a couple of times a day until fully healed. Use clean hands and gentle, antibacterial soap to wash your tattoo.

How long do you have to avoid water after getting a tattoo?

You should wait 4 to 6 weeks before jumping into any body of water. The chlorine in pools can irritate the tattoo and lead to color loss or possibly infection, and the bacteria in natural bodies of water have easier access to your bloodstream through your decorative, puncture wound.

Why is my tattoo fading after 3 days?

1. Ink Quality: High-quality inks tend to last longer, whether they are colored or black. 2. Tattoo Placement: Areas that are frequently exposed to sunlight or friction, like hands or feet, may experience more fading. 3. Sun Exposure: UV rays can break down the pigments in tattoo ink, causing colors to fade.

How To Shower With A NEW Tattoo The RIGHT Way!

How can I keep my tattoo looking fresh?

Dry skin can make a tattoo look blurred or faded. Keeping your skin moisturized is your best bet for a fresh look. While you can buy lotions that are marketed as tattoo lotions, you don't need to spend the extra money. Avoid lotions with additives and fragrances, which can dry out your skin.

What tattoo color lasts the longest?

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.

Can you wash a tattoo too much?

Wash your tattoo once or twice a day for the duration of the healing time. Too much washing can wash away your body's natural bacteria which helps your skin to heal. Washing the tattoo in the morning and at night before you go to bed is sufficient. For the first day, the tattoo will “ooze” clear plasma.

When can I shower normally after a tattoo on Reddit?

Just a heads up water touching your tattoo is fine, you just don't want to be soaking it in a bath tub or similar. 2 weeks is a pretty safe time frame, unless it is clearly still flaking or you're having a difficult heal.

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 soap not to use on a new tattoo?

Please refrain from using any soaps that contain aloe, oatmeal, exfoliants, tea tree oil, or fragrance. All petroleum jelly needs to be removed in this process, so apply a heavy layer of soap, firmly (not roughly) wash your tattoo, then rinse off all of the soap.

What happens if my new tattoo gets wet?

Skin irritation – New tattoos can be painful and irritating while they heal regardless, and submerging them in water–especially salt or chlorine–can cause stinging, burning, and even contact dermatitis. Tattoo damage – Water can cause fading and discoloration for new tattoos.

What shouldn't you 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.

How to shower with a hand tattoo?

Use lukewarm or cold water, and keep the tattoo from heavy shower flow, instead opting to gently rinse the area of your tattoo. Make sure the bandage is secured to your skin before you expose it to water pressure from the shower.

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 it okay to rub dead skin off a tattoo?

"Perfumes and colognes can be super irritating to freshly tattooed skin or a peeling tattoo, so avoid anything with fragrance. After washing, gently pat dry and do not rub the area." Can you rub a peeling tattoo? You should not rub, scratch, or peel the tattoo, no matter how tempting it may seem.

What stage of tattoo is itchy?

Stage Two (Days 7-14) – Itching and flaking begins, and this continues until layers of dead skin and scabs have fallen off. 3. Stage Three (Days 15-30) – Tattoo looks fully healed but may look slightly cloudy for a few weeks. Deeper layers of skin are still repairing, so continue to look after your tattoo.

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.

When to start moisturizing a tattoo?

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.

When should I stop washing my tattoo?

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.

What color tattoo ink to avoid?

Yellows and Greens with Cadmium

Yellows and bright greens often contain cadmium, which can cause skin irritation and has been associated with other health risks. They also tend to fade or change color over time when exposed to sunlight.

Do black tattoos turn blue?

Actually ink didn't turn blue. As you can see ink particles stays black. Colour of the tattoo will depend of a placement, epidermis thickness, the degree of skin hydration and skin tone. From my observation, palms and fingers tend to look more blue due to epidermis structure.

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