Tattoo Aftercare 101 – A Comprehensive Guide Guide For Taking Care Of Your Brand-New Tattoo

Image courtesy of Eric Vieira @ Unsplash.com

If you’ve just gotten yourself a cool new arm tattoo, we’re sure you’re just aching to get out there in the world to show it off.

But stop right there!

Before you do, there’s plenty to know and understand about tattoo aftercare that will help you protect your new tattoo and ensure a quick and efficient healing process.

In the following comprehensive guide, we’re diving into a bunch of expert tattoo aftercare instructions, healing tips, frequently asked questions and more!

Let’s dive in!

10 Tips For Expert Tattoo Aftercare & Proper Tattoo Healing

Tattoo aftercare isn’t rocket science.

In fact, it’s actually quite simple when you remind yourself that a new tattoo is basically an open wound where you tattoo artist stabbed you a few thousand times.

So the last thing you want to do is expose that open wound to unnecessary risks, right?

Right!

Well, the good news is that these 10 tattoo aftercare tips will put you well on your way to a quick healing process and a new tattoo that’ll look awesome for all the years to come.

1 – Follow Your Tattoo Artist’s Aftercare Instructions

Your tattoo artist is your best friend when it comes to giving you tattoo aftercare instructions.

They’re literally THE expert that you want to consult about any questions or concerns you might have regarding your brand new piece of body art.

They’re likely to give you the same run down on tattoo aftercare that we’re giving you here today, but don’t be shy to ask any questions you might have!

They can you give personalize aftercare tips, and might even recommend moisturizers, ointments, or other products that can help speed up the healing process.

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2 – Unwrapping Your New Tattoo

When they’re done their work, your artist is going to wrap your new tattoo with a bandage or piece of clear plastic.

They’ll also advise you to remove the bandage after 1 to 2 hours to give the ink some fresh air to breathe.

But before you take the bandage off, be sure to wash your hands to avoid any potential contamination.

Then, gently peel the bandage off, careful not to tear any bits that might be stuck.

Don’t be alarmed if you see a small amount of blood, either on your skin or on the bandage.

This is perfectly normal, and your tattoo should have already stopped weeping blood by now.

3 – Keeping Your New Tattoo Clean

Once you’ve removed the bandage, it’s time to gently wash your tattoo with a mild soap and warm, not hot water.

Then, you’re going to continue cleaning and washing your tattoo two or three times per day for the next couple of weeks.

The idea here is that want to clean it any time it’s exposed to dirt, dust, sweat, or anything else that might cause irritation.

You also don’t need to overdo it or to scrub too hard.

Just a soft, gentle cleaning with your finger, rinse and pat dry with a clean paper towel.

4 – Moisturizing Is Important

Dry, peeling skin and scabbing is a very common part of the healing process.

This might be a bit alarming when your first notice it, but rest assured, it’s perfectly normal.

The best thing to do if you notice your tattoo getting dry is to keep it moisturized.

For this, it’s best to use natural products, like aloe vera, shea butter, or coconut oil, all of which have natural moisturizing properties that can protect your tattoo as it heals.

Remember to never use petroleum-based products like Vasoline, which can actually trap in both moisture and bacteria, leading to an increased risk of infection.

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5 – Avoid Wearing Tight Clothing

You want to be as gentle as possible with your new tattoo, which means you need to avoid wearing any sort of tight clothing that can rub against it and irritate it.

Instead, wear comfortable, loose fitting clothing, which will feel a lot better and give your new ink plenty of room to breathe.

Also, it’s a good idea to avoid wearing any rough fabrics like wool or tweed, and instead wear cotton, fleece, rayon, or silk if possible.

6 – Keep Your New Tattoo Out Of The Sun

Sun exposure is bad even for fully healed tattoos. But one of the last things you want to do is get a sunburn on your new tattoo.

Not only can this mess with the ink pigments under your skin, it’s also just extremely uncomfortable, and can make it harder to keep your ink properly moisturized.

And no, don’t even think about putting sunscreen on a new tattoo!

Sunscreen products contain all sorts of nasty chemicals that you don’t want on your new tattoo.

These products are still safe to use. You just need to wait until your tattoo has fully healed before applying them to your skin.

In the meantime, stay out of the sun, or cover your new tattoo with loose-fitting clothing to protect it from sun exposure.

7 – Avoid Swimming Pools And Hot Tubs

Your new tattoo is basically an open wound.

Lakes, swimming pools, and hot tubs, on the other hand, are essentially cesspools filled with all sorts of chlorine, bacteria, and other things you don’t want going near your brand-new tattoo.

Seriously, we don’t want to alarm you, but hot tubs might be the grossest places we’ve ever read about!

Splashing water on it and getting your new tattoo wet is perfectly fine, especially if you’re just cleaning it.

But it’s important that you wait until your skin is fully healed before submerging it under water by going for a swim or taking a bath.

8 – Protect Your New Ink At All Costs

Cuts and scratches are almost guaranteed to mess with your new ink and can cause lines to blur, or colors to fade and distort.

So make sure to protect your ink from any and all potential threats, especially if you work outdoors in any type of dirty or dusty environments like a construction site.

Baby finger nails, dog and cat claws, tree branches along the trail while you’re out for a hike in the mountains…

These are all potential threats that you want to protect your new tattoo from coming into contact with!

9 – You Don’t Need Fancy Or Expensive Aftercare Products

If you look online you can find all sorts of “innovative” tattoo aftercare products that promise great results.

However, we’ve often had tattoo artists tell us that the best aftercare products are simple, natural products that you can find at home or in any pharmacy or grocery stores.

Again, it’s products like shea butter, coconut oil, or aloe vera which are the safest to apply to your tattoo.

Other than those, just make sure that you’re using dye-free, fragrance-free moisturizers or creams that are designed specifically for sensitive skin, which are much less likely to cause any sort of irritation to your new tat.

Image courtesy of Allef Vinicius @ Unsplash.com

10 – Final Thoughts And Aftercare Instructions

Taking care of your new tattoo isn’t complicated, but it does require a bit of thinking and preventative action on your part.

In the very least, you need to clean and wash your tattoo every day.

But don’t forget to protect it from the sun and other external threats or potential injuries at all times!

FAQ – Tattoo Aftercare Frequently Asked Questions

By now you should have a pretty good idea of how to take care of your new tattoo during the healing process.

But let’s review a few more questions we’ve often heard about tattoo aftercare.

How long after a tattoo can you swim?

It’s best to wait three to four weeks after a tattoo before you can swim, or at least until the top layer of skin is fully healed. Your new tattoo is an open wound and going into a swimming pool or hot tub exposes it to all sorts of bacteria and irritants that you probably don’t want to know are in there with you.

Can I have an allergic reaction to a tattoo?

Yes, it is 100% possible to have an allergic reaction to a tattoo. Although rare, allergic reactions can happen due to either the tattoo ink pigments, chemical compounds in the tattoo ink, or any other products used by your tattoo artist while doing your tattoo.

Why is my tattoo itchy?

Itchiness and dry skin is a perfectly normal part of the tattoo healing process. But this should go away within the first two weeks of the healing process. So if it’s been 3 or 4 weeks and you’re still wondering why is my tattoo itchy, it could be a sign of an infection, allergic reaction, or contact dermatitis. If symptoms persist, consult with a medical professional.

Can I drink after getting a tattoo?

No, drinking after getting a tattoo is not recommended, unless you’re talking about drinking plenty of water. Alcohol can dehydrate your skin, cause you to take poor care of your tattoo, and just slow down the healing process. Therefore, it’s best to wait at least 48 hours before drinking alcohol.

Is it OK to use hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol to clean my new tattoo?

No! Absolutely not! You should never use anything on your new tattoo other than mild, fragrance-free soap, clean water, or dye-free moisturizers. Hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol may kill any bacteria present on your skin, but they will also mess with your skin’s natural microbiome, leaving your skin dry and prone to infections.

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