A Day-by-Day Guide to Preparing and Caring for a New Tattoo
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Congrats on your new tattoo! The hard part is finally over, but now you've got to make sure to take care of it properly so your artwork heals well. After covering a good bit of my body in tattoos, I've not only had to heal a bunch of my own, but I've also talked to a ton of artists to accumulate the best advice on what to expect (especially for tattoos in difficult locations like an elbow or knee ditch).
So, with advice from professionals and from tattooed people like myself, we've put together a step-by-step guide on tattoo aftercare, including all the details about what to expect during the healing process and what products actually work best.
Here's Your General Timeline:
Week 1 — Your tattoo will be weepy, slightly oozy, sore, and the surrounding area will probably be a bit swollen. The tattooed area will heal a little more every day and begin to gently scab over.
Week 2 — Scabbing will continue and your skin will start to peel, similar to a bad sunburn. You will probably get itchy AF and start to feel like a reptile.
Weeks 3 to 4 — You will likely still be a bit itchy and dry, and your tattoo may look a bit cloudy. Your body is still repairing the skin, even though it's not flaking or peeling anymore. At this point, it's mostly healed.
Here's What You Need to Buy:
There are tons of fancy tattoo care products on the market, but most tattoo artists will recommend three things: Aquaphor healing ointment, unscented Lubriderm lotion, and Dial antibacterial liquid soap.
There's plenty of debate about whether Aquaphor or A&D Ointment are better for the first few days. Honestly, it doesn't matter, because they both work perfectly fine. I have used both, but Aquaphor is definitely my first choice. It spreads on easier and it doesn't clog the pores as much. I like to buy the miniature multipacks so I can keep one at work and one at home.
It's also recommended that you switch to an unscented lotion after three days or so. Lubriderm is most artists' lotion of choice because it's gentle but effective at moisturizing. When it comes to soap, some people swear by H20cean's green soap, and some love to use Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap (my personal pick). But Dial's classic antibacterial soap is pretty much the standard choice for most.
You'll also want to make sure to have some plastic wrap and a roll of paper towels around.
What to Expect on the Day of Your Tattoo:
After your session is done, your artist will clean your tattoo up, swipe on a very thin layer of A&D Ointment or Aquaphor, and bandage you up with a non-stick, absorbent sterile pad and medical grade tape. If it's in a difficult location, they may instead use plastic wrap and medical tape to keep the tattoo covered.
Your tattoo may feel swollen, hot to the touch, and pretty sore by the end of the day. That's completely normal — don't worry! This will last for a few days, and you'll probably notice some bruising as well. All of that should go away within the first week.
How to Sleep on the First Night:
It's important to consider that your tattoo is technically an open wound at this point, so it needs to stay protected for little while. Most tattoo artists will recommend that you leave your bandaging on overnight to keep it protected (this is what I've always done).
If your tattoo is covered in plastic wrap instead of a sterile bandage and you notice that a lot of moisture has built up underneath it, you may want to consider cleaning it up and re-wrapping it before you go to bed (read on for cleaning instructions). The plastic wrap can trap ink, plasma, blood, sweat, and general moisture against your tattoo, creating a perfect environment for bacterial growth. Not great for open wounds, TBH.
For the next few nights, make sure to sleep on the opposite side of wherever your tattoo is, so you're not pressing it directly on your sheets. It will leak a tiny bit, so if you have darker sheets, use them.
How to Wash and Moisturize Your Tattoo:
The first time you wash your tattoo will either be before you go to bed or first thing in the morning when you wake up. Either way, make sure to be extra gentle when removing your bandage. If it's sticking, don't rip it off: Get into a warm shower and let the steam loosen it. Whether you're in the shower or using the sink, be sure to avoid placing your fresh tattoo directly under a stream of water for more than a few seconds, and definitely make sure never to completely submerge it at the beginning.
To wash your tattoo (either in the shower or the sink), start with unscented, antibacterial soap and lukewarm water — never use hot water. Lather and rub gentle circles over your tattoo until there's no ointment or gunk left. Splash water on it to rinse the soap off.
Pat your tattoo dry instead of rubbing at it, preferably with a paper towel since it may still be leaky. Once it's completely dry, re-apply a very thin layer of Aquaphor, and then either re-cover it with plastic wrap to sleep in for the first night, or leave it uncovered if it's the first morning after.
What to Wear the Day After and How to Deal With Leaky Ink:
So it's the day after your tattoo and you have to go to work. What do you do about clothing?
For starters, you'll definitely want to wear something loose, or something that doesn't touch your tattoo at all if possible. But if it's winter and you need to wear sweaters or pants over your tattoo, you can cover it with plastic wrap for the length of your commute, then repeat your wash/dry/Aquaphor routine before letting it air out through the day.
Make sure to wear dark colors in case you have any ink leaking out. You'll want to occasionally dab at the tattoo with a paper towel to keep it dry, and reapply Aquaphor once or twice throughout the day.
Once you get home, wash/dry/Aquaphor it again and let it air out until bedtime. I tend to wash my new tattoos two to three times a day, so you may choose to wash it again before bed or just reapply a little more Aquaphor.
Keep doing this for the next four to six days, until scabbing begins to form and your tattoo starts peeling. Once your tattoo starts to scab, switch from Aquaphor to Lubriderm unscented lotion, but continue washing it twice a day.
What to Do When Your Tattoo Starts Peeling:
This phase in the healing process, usually the beginning of week two, is the biggest pain in the ass. Your tattoo will start to scab over gently and begin to peel, and you will probably be itchy AF. You will also be tempted to pull off little pieces of flaky skin. RESIST THIS URGE. Picking, scratching, or rubbing at your skin can create splotchy, uneven spots on your beautiful new ink.
The peeling can last for as long as a few days to a few weeks, depending on how rapidly your skin is healing itself. Make sure to keep your tattoo hydrated with lotion a few times a day, and continue washing it once in the morning and once at night. If your tattoo is insanely itchy and you feel yourself slowly turning into a cranky lizard, use Hustle Butter.
How to Take Care of a Dry But Mostly Healed Tattoo:
Towards the end of the healing process (about two weeks in) you'll probably notice that your tattoo looks a little cloudy or dull compared to the first few days. That's just because your skin is still busy repairing itself. The top layer may look completely healed, but it's the deeper layers that are still hard at work. Continue to keep it moisturized and wash it at least once a day.
A Few Rules to Remember for the First Few Weeks:
1. Keep your tattoo out of direct, intense sunlight.
2. Avoid using hot water directly on your tattoo.
3. Do not submerge your tattoo in water or go swimming.
4. If your tattoo is in a ditch spot (the crease of your elbow, knees, or armpits), try not to bend it too much for the first week or so.
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