Aftercare for a New Tattoo
- Leave your bandage/wrap on until told by your artist. While some artists may ask you to leave your bandage on for only an hour, others may ask you to keep it on for a whole day. Your tattoo artist knows which length of time is best for you and your ink, so ensure you listen to their advice.
- Wash your tattoo well after removing the bandage/wrap. Wash your tattoo thoroughly (but carefully) using warm water and an unscented and alcohol-free soap to remove any excess dried blood and plasma.
- Pat your tattoo dry after cleaning it. Use a clean paper towel to dry your tattoo by gently patting the area. Do not rub.
- Apply a thin layer of lotion. After cleaning your tattoo, ensure the area is completely dry before applying a thin layer of your chosen tattoo aftercare lotion to help moisturize and nourish the area
- Repeat the cleaning process until the tattoo is fully healed. Remember that your tattoo isn’t completely safe from germs and bacteria until it has finished scabbing and peeling. Continue to wash the tattoo until this point (usually 2-4 weeks).
- Don’t pick and pull at the flaking/scabbing skin. Picking away at your healing tattoo can delay healing, cause fading, and increase the chances of infection.
- Stay away from the sun. Don’t expose your new tattoo to intense sunlight, and don’t apply sun lotion to the area until it has fully healed.
- Stay away from water. All bodies of water can contain nasty bacteria that can ruin a new tattoo if you’re not careful. Stick to short showers until your skin has fully healed, and don’t go swimming.
- Continue to look after your tattoo. Once healed, keep your tattoo well protected from the sun and ensure you regularly moisturize the area. Healthy skin means a healthy-looking tattoo.
Initial Aftercare: The Most Important Stage
Without a doubt, tattoo aftercare is most significant directly after getting the tattoo and right through until about three weeks afterward. This is when the top layers of your skin should have healed entirely.