Tattoo Aftercare Instructions: A Full Guide

• 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..

First 24 Hours

Remove your tattoo covering after 2-10 hours. 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.

Gently wash your new tattoo with gentle antibacterial soap. 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). You might see some ink come off as you clean your tattoo. Don’t stress—this is a normal part of the process. Don’t place your tattoo under the running water; instead, scoop the water onto your tattoo with one of your hands. Best soaps for aftercare: After Inked Aftercare Foam Cleanser Soap, Tattoo Goo Deep Cleansing Soap, H2Ocean Tattoo Liquid Soap

Apply a thin layer of antibiotic ointment to your tattoo. Once your skin is dried off, take a tiny amount of mild lotion and apply it in a paper-thin layer over your skin. 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! Best ointments for aftercare: Bacitracin Zinc Oxide Ointment, Vitamin A&D ointment, Neosporin Don’t use anything that’s too greasy, like Vaseline or aloe vera.

Sleep with the tattoo wrap on during the first night if your artist recommends it. 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. 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.

Next 24 Hours

Wash your tattoo daily. 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. There’s no need to apply a new wrapping once you’ve removed the covering your tattoo artist put on.

Apply antibiotic ointment after you’ve washed it. 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. Don’t bandage the tattoo again at any point. After the first 5 days, switch from antibiotic ointment to a mild, fragrance-free lotion. Products like Hustle Butter Deluxe, After Inked Tattoo Lotion, and Ora’s Herbal Tattoo Salve are all great options.

Take a quick shower with lukewarm or cool water. 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.

Ongoing Aftercare Advice

Continue washing and moisturizing your tattoo daily for 2-4 weeks. 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.

Cover your tattoo and apply sunblock when you go out. 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. Once your tattoo is healed up, apply SPF 30+ sunscreen before heading outside.

Wear loose clothes around the tattoo. Tight clothes and nylon tend to rub against the skin, which isn’t ideal when you have a healing tattoo. 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.

Refrain from swimming as your tattoo heals. 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. Baths are also off-limits while your tattoo is healing.

Never pick or scratch at your new ink. 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.

Avoid heavy exercise as your tattoo heals. 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.

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. 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.

Watch for signs of a tattoo infection. 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).