Tattoo Aftercare Instructions: A Full Guide

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Protect your ink and prevent infection with this expert advice
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When you get a tattoo, you’re essentially getting a colorful wound applied to your skin. The first 48 hours are especially important, since it’s vital to keep your new ink covered, cleaned, and moisturized as it starts to heal. We’ll guide you through all the tattoo aftercare instructions you need to know, so you can have a smooth recovery time.

This article is based on an interview with our tattoo artist, Michelle Myles, co-owner of Daredevil Tattoo. Check out the full interview here.

Disclaimer: Always follow your tattoo artist’s specific instructions in the days and weeks after getting your tattoo, even if they differ from the instructions below.

Things You Should Know

  • Leave the covering on your tattoo for 2-10 hours before carefully washing and moisturizing the ink.
  • Continue to wash and moisturize your tattoo daily. If you shower, do it quickly with cool or lukewarm water.
  • Practice good aftercare habits as your tattoo heals, like keeping your tattoo covered when you go outside and avoiding swimming..
Section 1 of 3:

First 24 Hours

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  1. Once your tattoo artist is completely finished, they’ll clean and cover your tattoo to prevent any bacteria from getting inside. Your artist will give you specific instructions on how long to keep this wrapping in place, but 2-10 hours is a good ballpark estimate. [1]
  2. After washing your hands thoroughly, scoop lukewarm water over your tattoo until the surface is moist. Then, delicately massage a gentle, fragrance-free soap into the surface of the tattoo. Cup more lukewarm water onto the skin to rinse off the soap, and then let it air-dry (or gently blot it with a paper towel). [2]
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  3. Once your skin is dried off, take a tiny amount of mild lotion and apply it in a paper-thin layer over your skin. [4] Keeping the skin moisturized allows it to heal properly, but applying too much can interfere with the healing process. A little goes a long way! [5]
  4. Tattoo artists have different opinions when it comes to tattoo wrapping time, so it’s ultimately best to stick with what your tattoo artist recommends. If they suggest leaving the wrap in place for the first night and then removing and cleaning it the next day, be sure to do that. [7]
    • It’s not a good idea to remove the tattoo wrap and then reapply your own—this leaves you more open to infection.
    • Remove your tattoo wrap the next morning, or whenever your tattoo artist recommends that you do so.
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Section 2 of 3:

Next 24 Hours

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  1. As you did the previous day, wash your hands and carefully moisten the skin before massaging the soap over your ink. Then, scoop more water over the wound and wait for it to air-dry. Aim to do this daily to keep your tattoo as clean as possible. [8]
    • There’s no need to apply a new wrapping once you’ve removed the covering your tattoo artist put on.
  2. Once your skin is dry and clean, rub a thin layer of ointment over the tattoo. Do this whenever you’ve washed and dried off the tattoo. [9] Don’t bandage the tattoo again at any point. [10]
  3. Set your shower to low pressure with a cool or lukewarm temperature—if the water is too warm, you could lose some of the precious ink. Do your best to keep the water from directly spraying on your tattoo, and clean it off with the same fragrance-free soap you’ve been using. Once you’ve given yourself a quick wash, hop out of the shower as soon as possible. [13]
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Section 3 of 3:

Ongoing Aftercare Advice

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  1. On average, tattoos heal in around 2-4 weeks, whenever the ink is finished scabbing. The healing process depends on a lot of different factors, so continue cleaning and moisturizing your tattoo until the scabs are completely gone and the wound is healed. [14]
  2. While you don’t have to be a shut-in, keep your tattoo out of really bright, vibrant sunlight while it heals—a multi-week buffer period is a good rule of thumb. [15] Once your tattoo is healed up, apply SPF 30+ sunscreen before heading outside. [16]
  3. Tight clothes and nylon tend to rub against the skin, which isn’t ideal when you have a healing tattoo. [17] Instead, stick with loose garments that give your skin breathing room without any chafing.
    • You might wear baggy sweatpants if you got a tattoo on your thigh, or a loose T-shirt over a shoulder tattoo.
  4. Pools, ponds, and any other swimming areas contain bacteria and aren’t an ideal environment for a healing tattoo wound. Wait until your tattoo is totally healed (in other words, no longer scabbing) before submerging it in any type of water. [18]
    • Baths are also off-limits while your tattoo is healing.
  5. Tattoos can undoubtedly get itchy, but it’s never a good idea to scratch or pick at the healing skin. If your tattoo is really bothering you, apply a thin layer of lotion to help the itchiness go away. [19]
  6. If you have a gym membership, stay out of the facility as your tattoo heals to prevent it from picking up any antibiotic-resistant infections. [20]
  7. Eat nutritious foods and drink plenty of water to maximize healing. Try to consume somewhere between 9-12 cups (2.25-3 L) of water per day (through both food and drink)—hydration is an essential part of helping your body heal wounds (like a new tattoo). On a similar note, make sure to eat plenty of nutritious foods ; believe it or not, your body actually needs more calories while healing. [21]
    • Leafy greens, eggs, tofu, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, strawberries, pumpkin, milk, and yogurt are just a few healthy foods to consider munching on while your tattoo heals.
  8. Infected tattoos tend to look red and irritated, and they often feel painful. They may even be surrounded by pus-filled bumps. If you suspect that your tattoo could be infected, visit your doctor to get it diagnosed and treated (if necessary). [22]
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      • Get in touch with your tattoo artist if you have any questions or concerns about the healing process for your tattoo. They’re well-informed about how their tattoos heal and can provide you with useful guidance at this time.
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      References

      1. ↑ http://www.smchealth.org/sites/main/files/file-attachments/tattooaftercare.pdf
      2. ↑ https://authoritytattoo.com/tattoo-healing-process/
      3. ↑ https://authoritytattoo.com/best-tattoo-soap/
      4. ↑ https://city.milwaukee.gov/ImageLibrary/Groups/healthAuthors/CEH/PDFs/Tattoo_aftercare.pdf
      5. ↑ https://authoritytattoo.com/can-you-over-moisturize-a-tattoo/
      6. ↑ https://city.milwaukee.gov/ImageLibrary/Groups/healthAuthors/CEH/PDFs/Tattoo_aftercare.pdf
      7. ↑ https://authoritytattoo.com/how-long-to-keep-tattoo-wrapped/
      8. ↑ https://authoritytattoo.com/how-often-should-you-wash-a-new-tattoo/
      9. ↑ https://authoritytattoo.com/when-to-stop-washing-tattoo-with-soap/
      1. ↑ https://city.milwaukee.gov/ImageLibrary/Groups/healthAuthors/CEH/PDFs/Tattoo_aftercare.pdf
      2. ↑ https://city.milwaukee.gov/ImageLibrary/Groups/healthAuthors/CEH/PDFs/Tattoo_aftercare.pdf
      3. ↑ https://authoritytattoo.com/tattoo-lotions-ointments-creams/
      4. ↑ https://authoritytattoo.com/showering-with-a-new-tattoo/
      5. ↑ https://authoritytattoo.com/tattoo-aftercare/
      6. ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/tattoos-and-piercings/art-20045067/
      7. ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/tattoos/caring-for-tattooed-skin
      8. ↑ https://city.milwaukee.gov/ImageLibrary/Groups/healthAuthors/CEH/PDFs/Tattoo_aftercare.pdf
      9. ↑ https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/-/media/Project/Websites/mdhhs/Doing-Business-with-MDHHS/Body-Art-Facility-Licensure/MDCH_-_Tattoo_Aftercare_-_Final_pdf_288593_7.pdf?rev=bc7572a171a842bcad58118e8296d665&hash=35C422C851D931073F3974B18AE8AF2E
      10. ↑ https://authoritytattoo.com/stop-tattoo-itching/
      11. ↑ https://wexnermedical.osu.edu/blog/how-to-care-for-a-new-tattoo
      12. ↑ https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/assets/info/nutrition/if-nfs-eating-well-for-wound-healing.pdf
      13. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23295-tattoo-infection

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