On the first night, you may want to wrap your tattoo to prevent sticking to your bedding. It is helpful to tape a loose non-fabric bandage or paper towel over your freshly medicated tattoo for the first 3 days. After a few days, your tattoo will begin to peel. Do not pick at the skin.
Tattoo aftercare starts the moment you leave the tattoo shop. (or A&D ointment) over the entire tattooed area. Your artist will then cover the area completely with plastic wrap or a bandage (paper towel is normal). This covering protects the open skin from bacteria, sunlight, and from rubbing against clothing.
Fresh tattoos should be wrapped with a sterile bandage. The best options are medical-grade adhesive bandages and protective tattoo films like Saniderm or Dermalize.
After washing, gently pat it dry with a clean cloth or paper towel, then allow it to air-dry for 15 minutes. When the tattoo is dry to the touch, cover it completely with a new piece of plastic wrap, using small pieces of tape as needed to hold it in place.
Ink is a pigment that can easily be stained, so it's important to keep the area around the tattoo clean while it's healing. Cling wrap or plastic wrap helps to protect the tattoo from dirt and debris, which can speeds up the healing process.
You should wrap your tattoo in cling film, even while sleeping for the first couple of nights. This helps keep the germs out and helps with keeping fabric off of the tattoo to reduce rubbing/chafing.
You'll want to keep the tattoo wrapped for at least the first night because it will take a while for it to settle down and stop leaking. You don't want an open wound like that touching your bed sheets, getting blood everywhere, or dirt and dust getting into the wound itself.
That's right, baby wipes! Many tattoo shop owners and artists recommend using baby wipes to remove tattoo ink from your skin, as they are gentle and won't cause irritation. Plus, they're super convenient and easy to use - grab a wipe, wipe away the ink, and voila! Your tattoo is clean and fresh.
Only use CLEAN hands to wash your tattoo. NO washcloths, bath towels, bath sponges or loofahs on fresh tattoo. Once the tattoo is dry apply Aquaphor healing ointment made by Eucerin.
Once the tattoos' initial bandage is removed, DO NOT cover it again during the healing process. The tattoo will need to be exposed to air in order to heal.
Saniderm's waterproof nature is the only medical grade wrap that you're completely safe with, if you want to get wet in the shower. Saniderm is designed to protect the integrity of your tattoo even in light exposure to water.
"I've met a lot of people who are unhappy about their tattoos and wanted to cover up immediately after getting it done but the thing is you should wait at least four to six weeks for it to heal," said Yesilbas.
After washing, a person should pat the skin with a clean paper towel and allow it to air-dry for up to an hour. When the area is completely dry, they can apply a thin layer of moisturizer to the tattoo, but leave it uncovered to allow the skin to breathe.
You'll want to keep the tattoo wrapped for at least the first night because it will take a while for it to settle down and stop leaking. You don't want an open wound like that touching your bed sheets, getting blood everywhere, or dirt and dust getting into the wound itself.
While you don't want to forget to wash your tattoo for days on end, if you miss a couple of cleaning sessions, don't worry. Your skin will continue healing. Just pick up where you left off as soon as you can.
You may have heard some rumours that Bepanthen shouldn't be used on new tattoos, but this absolutely isn't the case. Bepanthen is by far one of the most highly recommended tattoo aftercare products and is the go-to ointment for most tattoo artists and studios.
It is advisable that you refrain from drinking for at least 48-72 hours after getting a tattoo. It is normal for plasma and blood to ooze 48 hours after getting a tattoo. However, alcohol consumption will increase the bleeding rate due to blood thinning.
Start washing the tattoo using your fingertips or cotton pads only 2-3 times per day. Always wash your hands before touching the tattoo If you don't have access to the water and it's time to clean your tattoo just use cotton pads.
To get the excess ink off, you'll want to use a lot of Vaseline. Wipe it around a little bit to pick up all the excess ink and get it mixed in with the Vaseline. Then, you can wipe the Vaseline off with a paper towel. You do not need any other products.
If your artist did not recommend re-wrapping, just let the tattoo stay exposed to air overnight. Every day from then on, you will wash the tattoo in the morning and at night, and apply lotion 3 times a day or so, or whenever the tattoo feels dry or tight.
Knowing how long and when you should cover your tattoo plays a large role in effective aftercare. So, how long should I have my tattoo wrapped? Keep your tattoo wrapped for 2-4 hours after leaving the tattoo shop. If using protective tattoo film instead of plastic foil, keep the wrap on for 3-4 days.
After you leave the salon or your tattoo artist, you need to keep the tattoo wrapped for 2-4 hours if you use simple cling wrap (plastic foil). If you have a protective tattoo film, then keep it for 3-5 days.