To wash a new tattoo, gently clean it with clean hands, lukewarm water, and unscented antibacterial soap, using a light circular motion to remove plasma and ink, then pat it dry with a paper towel and air dry before applying a thin layer of aftercare ointment, avoiding scrubbing, soaking, or using cloth towels. Repeat this process 2-3 times a day for the first few days, and always start with freshly washed hands.
Make a lather in your hands with soap and warm water. NO washcloths, bath towels, or sponges on a fresh tattoo. Gently clean the tattoo using a circular motion until all ointment and plasma are removed. Rinse the tattoo gently until the skin is clean.
You can use a bit of unscented antibacterial soap and clean your tattoo area gently in circular motions with your fingers when in shower. Pat dry with paper towels when you are done. After that, let your skin breathe.
You'll want to avoid washing your tattoo too soon or waiting too long. Generally, you'll want to wait for no less than five hours and no more than 24 hours. And of course, not washing your tattoo at all is a bad idea. Be aware of the importance of only washing or touching your tattoo when your hands are clean.
Submerging your tattoo in a bath or hot tub can cause serious damage. So avoid doing that for at least two to three weeks. However, showering is perfectly fine, as long as you don't saturate your tattoo. If you get soap or shampoo on your tattoo, wash it quickly with water.
Why is my new tattoo fading after just a few days? It's not unusual for your new tattoo to appear to fade shortly after application. During the healing phase, the top layer of skin may dry out and flake, causing the tattoo to look dull or less vibrant. This is a normal reaction as your skin begins to heal.
Once your tattoo stops oozing, which usually happens around days 5--7, you can reduce washing to once or twice a day. Washing too often can dry out your skin and slow down the healing process.
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.
Along with some of the basic tips, we know you're looking for ways to heal your tattoo fast!
A fresh tattoo is effectively a wound, so it's important to keep it clean in order to avoid infection. “It will need to be cleaned regularly, particularly in the first 24-48 hours”.
Keep it up. Continue to clean and moisturise the tattooed area until it has completely healed (may take up to 4 weeks). Keep it up even after the scabs are gone. FYI, there may be scabs.
While it's okay to take a lukewarm and quick shower, submerging your tattoo in water is a big no-no. Pools, hot tubs, and even baths should be avoided until your tattoo is fully healed. Soaking in water for too long can cause the ink to fade or lead to infection, especially in chlorinated pools or hot tubs.
You have a rash or bumpy skin around your tattoo
If you notice a rash or lumpy, bumpy skin around your new tattoo, this could be something to worry about. Any itching that seems extreme, or rashes and cracked skin, could indicate infection.
What NOT to do after getting a tattoo
Bronner's mild soap or any unscented mild soap will work. Antibacterial soap is not necessary. Gently pat dry with a clean towel or a paper towel. Apply a very thin layer of unscented lotion, or an even thinner layer of Aquaphor to the entire tattoo.
The Scabbing Stage (Days 4-6)
Around four days after getting your tattoo, the redness and drainage should subside. The tattoo often takes on a cloudy appearance as scabs start to form over the ink.
Unfortunately, tiny tattoos may not age well. Tiny tattoos are small and have lots of detail in one concentrated space. These intricate details will be lost with time as your skin changes.
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.
Depending on the size and location of your tattoo, it will take around four weeks to completely heal, and showering too soon may be painful and cause further irritation or infection. Think of it this way, would you expose a fresh wound, uncovered and raw, to hot water or hard pressure in a shower? Probably not!
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.
Top 5 Soaps for Washing Your New Tattoo
Keeping your tattooed skin hydrated is the best thing you can do to keep its vibrancy. After you thoroughly cleanse the area, it's time to moisturize with a moisturizer formulated for tattooed skin. Moisturizing with lotion helps nourish the ink and prevent dryness and premature fading.
Skin rejecting tattoo ink often shows as persistent itching, redness, swelling, and bumpy or scaly patches, sometimes with blisters or oozing, which can appear days, months, or even years later, often linked to certain colors like red ink. This reaction, known as allergic contact dermatitis or a photosensitivity reaction, signals your immune system is overreacting to the pigment, requiring a dermatologist's evaluation if it's severe or prolonged.
Here are seven ways to increase the vibrancy of your ink.