You need at least 2-4 weeks for surface healing, avoiding strenuous activity, swimming, and sun exposure during this time, but complete skin healing takes 3-6 months. Rest involves gentle cleaning, moisturizing with fragrance-free lotion, wearing loose clothing, and skipping workouts that sweat or stretch the area to prevent infection and protect ink.
If the tattoo is taken good care of the tattoo is healed after 4-7 days. It takes 2-3 weeks for the skin to feel normal and for the ink to settle completely 1 to 2 months.
After getting a tattoo, avoid scratching/picking, submerging in water (baths, pools, hot tubs), direct sun exposure, tight clothing, and harsh soaps or petroleum jelly; instead, keep it clean with mild soap, moisturize lightly with artist-recommended lotion, and let it heal undisturbed to prevent infection and preserve the ink. Always follow your tattoo artist's specific aftercare instructions for best results.
According to tattoo professionals, it's recommended to wait 2-3 days before vigorous exercising. After that, it's a good idea to start slow, with light workouts until the new tattoo is fully healed. Working out too soon after getting a new tattoo can lead to infection and swelling of the tattoo.
Days 2 to 3:
During these days, your tattoo may look dull and cloudy as your skin heals and new skin starts to form. Excess ink and plasma may still ooze from your skin.
Important Dos and Don'ts
Showering is fine, however, please DO NOT soak your tattoo for at least 2 weeks. This means no swimming, baths or submerging your tattoo in water for long periods of time. Avoid direct sunlight on your tattoo for at least 2 weeks and your tattoo is completely healed.
To keep skin from cracking, moisturize your ink after each wash and a few times throughout the day. This will also help keep tattoo peeling at a minimum. According to Glodny, newer recommendations for tattoos include the application of a "second skin" layer to your tattoo, which is kept on the tattoo for up to a week.
Following proper aftercare instructions is crucial to ensure the best results. You need to keep the tattoo clean and moisturized while avoiding sun exposure to prevent any further fading.
In most cases, no. Gradual muscle growth allows the skin to adapt evenly, so tattoos usually maintain their shape. Significant changes typically occur only with rapid size increases or large weight fluctuations rather than steady strength training.
The complete tattoo healing process typically spans 4-6 weeks for surface healing, though deeper skin layers continue to recover for 3-6 months. Understanding each healing stage helps you get the best results from your new tattoo.
Here's a handful of bad habits that are top of the list of things tattoo artists hate.
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.
No, $200 an hour is generally not considered a lot for a quality tattoo in many areas; it often falls into the mid-to-upper range for experienced, reputable artists, reflecting their skill, custom designs, and the permanence of the art, though rates vary significantly by location, artist reputation, and specialization. While some very in-demand artists charge more, $200 is a fair market value for professional custom work, not excessive.
While patience is key, there are several proactive steps you can take to help your skin recover more quickly and effectively.
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.
Bepanthen is one of the most highly recommended tattoo aftercare products and is the go-to ointment for many tattoo artists and studios. Typically used as a nappy rash ointment, Bepanthen has been around for a long time, and its gentle formula is used to treat babies with irritated skin.
Avoid high-impact activities like running or jumping, as well as exercises that stretch the tattooed skin. These can cause excessive sweating, friction, and irritation, increasing the risk of infection and potentially affecting the tattoo's healing.
Sweat itself won't ruin a new tattoo, but excessive sweating can create a breeding ground for bacteria and interfere with the healing process. This could lead to issues like fading, blurring, or infection. Proper aftercare is essential to minimize these risks.
If you decide to touch up the area later on, seek out a tattoo artist who specializes in the area, as this skin texture can prove tricky to work with. Working out and toning your muscles shouldn't affect your tattoo at all, but if heavy weightlifting is in fact your thing, significant muscle gain could morph the shape.
Wash your new tattoo within five hours of completion and continue washing it a couple of times a day until fully healed. Use clean hands and gentle, antibacterial soap to wash your tattoo. Rinse thoroughly and ensure all soap is removed. Let your tattoo air-dry or gently pat it dry with a clean cloth.
A good sign is if you start to see a rash, pimples, or the tattoo is bubbling from trapped moisture. Also, when putting lotion/moisturizer on, if your skin is looking shiny or wet, then you are over moisturizing. You only need a thin layer and you can pat, don't rub, away excess with a clean paper towel.
Apply a water-based lotion or cream to your tattoo to keep it moisturized — it's never a good idea to leave your fresh new ink susceptible to dryness. “Moisture will help the skin to heal faster and keep scabs from forming,” Dr. Sra says.
It is still important to wash the tattoo, even while it's peeling, and even if you notice some ink coming away as you do it.
How Do You Tell if a Tattoo Isn't Healing Properly?