You should avoid sleeping directly on a small, new tattoo to prevent pressure, friction, and sticking, which can damage the healing skin, pull out ink, or cause infection. Instead, sleep on the opposite side, wear loose clothing, use clean bedding, and keep pets away to protect the open wound and support proper healing.
Sleeping directly on the new tattoo
Although it is crucial to look after your tattoo and get plenty of rest, avoid sleeping directly on the tattoo. Pressure can cause irritation and disrupt the healing process. Instead, try sleeping on your back or on the side opposite the tattoo!
After the first week/couple days it's pretty safe to sleep on a tattoo. I'd personally recommend sleeping with a long sleeve shirt on to help with preventing an infection.
If you've got a back tattoo, try sleeping on your side or stomach to avoid putting pressure on the inked area. Extra pillows can help keep you comfortable and in place. For tattoos on your arm, sleep on the opposite side to keep your new art off the sheets and to keep it elevated.
Rubbing off the top layer before it's ready to naturally fall off could result in the ink falling out, leaving you with a patchy tattoo. Not what you want to happen to a brand new piece! So to avoid this while sleeping, sleep in loose layers that will allow your tattoo to breathe whilst also being protected.
Your first night sleeping, your artist might recommend you re-wrap the tattoo with plastic wrap (like Saran Wrap) to sleep without the tattoo sticking to your sheets. This is generally for larger or solid-color tattoos. If your artist did not recommend re-wrapping, just let the tattoo stay exposed to air overnight.
Back is Best: Whenever possible, try sleeping on your back to relieve pressure on your tattoo. This helps prevent smudging and ensures your tattoo heals beautifully. Don't: Squash Your Art: Avoid sleeping directly on your tattoo, especially during the first few nights when it's most sensitive.
Find the perfect sleeping position
The same goes for a back tattoo. If you're a back sleeper, change positions and sleep on your front. Protecting your fresh tattoo while sleeping is essential. Therefore, taking the pressure off your tattoo when you sleep will relieve the pain and prevent you from damaging it.
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.
Yes, a $50 tip on a $300 tattoo is a good tip, landing around 16-17%, which is well within the standard 15-20% range for good service, but if you absolutely loved the work or it was a custom piece, tipping $60-$75 (20-25%) would be even better, showing extra appreciation for exceptional quality and effort.
After 3 days, your tattoo should show reduced redness and swelling. It will appear slightly dry with a thin film forming over it. Some clear fluid and ink may still seep out, but significantly less than the first day. The colors will appear bright but may have a shiny, tight feeling.
Is it OK to wear clothes over a new tattoo? Yes, but try not to after the few initial days after application. If you do, make sure you change your clothes frequently. In our experience, tattoos can weep onto the clothes and if you don't change them, it can cause infection.
Cling wrap should be removed within the first 24hrs to wash and clean the tattoo so as to keep it free from infection causing bacteria. Derma wrap is best if left on for 3-5 days if possible. It is designed to breathe but keep out harmful bacteria, it sticks to the tattooed area and creates a sterile barrier.
After getting a tattoo, avoid picking or scratching it, submersion in water, tight clothing, and exposure to direct sunlight. Avoid harsh products, including scented soaps, petroleum jelly, and medicated ointments, unless your artist or dermatologist recommends them.
You know the basics of tattoo aftercare: keep it clean, moisturise, and stay out of the sun. But here's a secret most people overlook: sleep. How well you rest can affect not just how fast your tattoo heals, but also how smooth it looks, how vibrant the colours stay, and even your risk of infection.
Removing it too fast could cause the ink to be pulled off!
Wash your tattoo in the morning after waking up and in the evening before going to bed. Be gentle. Use clean water, good soap (our soap is pretty great), and a clean paper towel. And moisturize after.
You may notice one or more of the following:
It's generally recommended to wait at least 24 hours before jumping into the shower. This initial waiting period gives your skin time to begin healing. When you do shower, try to minimize direct contact with the tattooed area and limit its exposure to water.
It is best to leave the tattoo open to the air because the constant friction of a bandage may cause healing problems. Only bandage if necessary! - DO NOT use Vaseline, A+D ointment, Neosporin or petroleum jelly. - DO NOT use alcohol or peroxide.
You want to sleep in a position that doesn't put pressure on the tattoo. Lying on it can cause rubbing, inflammation, prevent good airflow, and trap moisture against the tattoo. You can sleep on your new tattoo once a new layer of skin has begun to form over it.
Timing is everything when it comes to tattoo aftercare, and sometimes it's easy to get it wrong. If you remove the bandage too early, your tattoo might still be in the oozing phase, exposing it to bacteria and dirt that can cause infections.
No, $200 an hour is generally not considered a lot for a professional, experienced tattoo artist in 2025-2026, often falling into the standard or even lower-mid range, especially in major cities or for specialized styles like realism or fine-line work, though rates vary significantly by location, artist demand, and expertise. While some talented artists charge around $100-$150/hour, high-demand or highly specialized artists can easily charge $250-$300+ per hour.
As it heals, it's natural for scabs to form over your tattoo to protect the vulnerable skin from infection. If you scratch your tattoo, you might remove the scabs, expose the sensitive skin, and disrupt the healing process by forcing your skin to scab over again. Scabbing is one of the biggest reasons why tattoos itch.