How to Take Care of Tattoos

Your tattoos will heal faster and stay sharp if you take care of them right after getting them. Leave the bandage on the tattoo for at least a few hours before gently removing the bandage, washing the tattoo with warm water and antibacterial soap, and then drying the skin. By keeping the skin clean and evenly moist, avoiding the sun, and not picking or scratching your tattoo, your tattoo will heal well.

Table of Contents

Tattoo care in the first day

Listen to the tattooist’s advice. The tattooist will teach you how to take care of your tattoo immediately after getting it, so you should follow their instructions. Each tattoo artist may have a different dressing method, so heed their advice to make sure the tattoo heals properly. ^{[1] X Research Source}

Jot down their instructions on paper or save them on your phone so you don’t forget.

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Leave the tape on the tattoo for about 4 hours ^{[2] X Research Source} . Once the tattoo is complete, the tattooist will clean the skin and apply an antibacterial ointment, then cover the tattoo with a bandage or plastic wrap. After you leave the tattoo room, you must try to resist the urge to remove the bandages. The effect of the bandage is to protect the tattoo from dirt and bacteria, so you should leave it in place for up to 4 hours before removing the bandage. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Every tattooist has different methods of dressing a tattoo, so ask when to remove the tape. Some tattooists may not wear bandages, depending on the product and technique they use.
If you leave the tape on your tattoo for longer than the recommended time, you’re more likely to get an infection and the ink may bleed.

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Wash your hands before carefully removing the bandage. Washing your hands before removing the bandage will help prevent infection when you touch the tattoo. To make it easier to remove, you can sprinkle warm water on top to keep it from sticking to your skin. Slowly and carefully pull the tape off so as not to damage the tattoo. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

Throw away the bandage.

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Wash the tattoo with warm water and antibacterial soap. Instead of submerging the tattoo in water, cup your hands together and sprinkle some water over the tattoo. Use your fingers to gently rub an antiseptic solution or soap on the tattoo, washing away any blood, plasma, and ink spills. This will help prevent premature scabbing on the tattoo. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

Do not use a washcloth, loofah, or sponge to clean the tattoo, as these materials can be a breeding ground for bacteria. Do not use these materials before the tattoo has completely healed.
Avoid placing the tattoo directly under water – the water coming out of the faucet can be too strong for a new tattoo.

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Let the tattoo dry naturally or dry with a clean towel. While it’s best to let the tattoo dry naturally after washing, you can also gently pat the tattoo dry with a clean, dry paper towel. Avoid rubbing the tissue over the tattoo to avoid irritating the skin. ^{[6] X Research Source}

The towel you normally use can irritate the tattoo, or the tiny cotton fibers can get caught in the tattoo, so it’s best to use a paper towel to dry it.

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Apply an unscented antibacterial cream to the skin. Once the tattoo is completely dry, apply a little moisturizing ointment to the tattoo, preferably an all-natural ointment used in the postoperative period. Be sure to apply only a thin layer and dab lightly to allow the ointment to penetrate the skin. If you don’t know what ointment to use, ask your tattooist which one is right for your skin. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

Aquaphor is a good choice recommended for moisturizing the skin.
Do not use petroleum-based products (petrpeum) such as Vaseline or Neosporin, as these are too heavy and can clog pores.
Once you’ve rinsed and applied moisturizer, you shouldn’t be wearing a bandage.

Facilitating tattoo healing

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Wash and moisturize the tattoo daily until the scab on the tattoo comes off. You should continue to wash the tattoo 2-3 times a day with antibacterial soap and warm water until the tattoo is completely healed. This process can take 2-6 weeks, depending on the size and location of the tattoo. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

While moisturizing is important, you should be careful not to let the tattoo suffocate with lotion or ointment – a thin layer applied to the skin is sufficient.
Continue to use mild, unscented soap when washing.

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Avoid scratching or picking at the tattoo. During the healing period, a scab may form on the tattoo, and this is normal. You should let the scab dry and peel off on its own, do not scratch or pick at the scab to speed up the process. This can cause the scab to fall off too soon and leave holes or pale spots on the tattoo. ^{[9] X Research Source}

Dry, scaly, and flaky skin can be very itchy, but if you scratch it, the scabs on the tattoo can peel off.
Continue to apply a moisturizing ointment to combat itching if you experience this.

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Avoid direct sunlight on the tattoo. The hot rays of the sun can cause blisters and fade some colors on the tattoo. Therefore, it is best to avoid exposing the tattoo to the sun for at least 3-4 weeks until the base tattoo has healed. ^{[10] X Research Source}

Once the tattoo has healed, you should apply sunscreen to keep the tattoo from fading.

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Avoid submerging the tattoo in water. While you’re waiting for the tattoo to heal, you shouldn’t swim in the pool or sea. You should also avoid soaking in the tub. Excessive exposure to water can cause the ink to soak into the skin and affect the beauty of the tattoo. Water can also contain dirt, bacteria, or other chemicals that can cause infection. ^{[11] X Research Source}

You can return to these activities once the tattoo has healed, but during this time you should only wash the tattoo in the sink or shower.

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Wear clean and loose-fitting clothing to avoid irritating the tattoo. Try not to wear tight or tight clothing, especially at first. As it heals, the tattoo oozes out excess plasma and ink, causing clothing to stick to the tattoo. At that time, undressing will cause pain, in addition, it can also peel off the newly formed scabs on the tattoo. ^{[12] X Research Source}

If clothes stick to the tattoo, do not pull it out! You should get water to wet the tattooed skin so that the clothes can loosen and take off without damaging the tattoo.
Tight clothing will prevent oxygen from reaching the tattooed area, and oxygen is essential for the healing process.

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Wait until the tattoo heals before doing strenuous work. If the tattoo covers a large area of the skin or near joints (such as on the elbow or knee), healing time may take longer if the area is forced to move through physical activity. The movement will cause the skin to crack and become irritated, prolonging the healing process. ^{[13] X Research Source}

If your job requires a lot of exercise, such as in construction or dancing, you might consider getting a tattoo right before taking a day or two off to allow time for the tattoo to heal before go back to work.

Advice

Use clean, old sheets for the first few nights after getting a tattoo in case the tattoo leaks out.
Return to the tattoo parlor if you feel the need to fix the tattoo.
Make sure your clothes and towels are clean while you wait for the tattoo to heal.
Check the ingredients of soaps and lotions to make sure they don’t contain artificial fragrances or alcohol.
You may need to ask someone to help you with your tattoo if your tattoo is in a hard-to-reach area.
Contact your doctor or tattooist immediately if there are signs of infection (During the period from 6-14 days after tattooing)

Warning

Do not leave the bandage/wrap on the tattoo for more than 3 hours.
Avoid using hot water to wash the tattoo.
Do not shave the tattoo until the tattooed skin has completely healed. If you want to shave the hair around the tattoo, remember not to use shaving cream on the tattoo to avoid irritation.

Steps

Tattoo care in the first day

Facilitating tattoo healing

Advice

Warning

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