Yes, you should wash your new tattoo day and night (typically 2-3 times a day) for the first few days using clean hands, mild, unscented antibacterial soap, and lukewarm water, then gently pat dry and apply a thin layer of moisturizer to keep it clean and promote healing, avoiding baths, soaking, or picking at scabs to prevent infection and ink loss. Always follow your tattoo artist's specific instructions first, as individual needs can vary, but keeping it clean and moisturized is key.
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.
Wash your tattoo once or twice a day for the duration of the healing time. Too much washing can wash away your body's natural bacteria which helps your skin to heal. Washing the tattoo in the morning and at night before you go to bed is sufficient.
If you don't look after your new tattoo, a few not-so-great things can happen. The biggest concern is infection. A new tattoo is essentially an open wound, and if you don't clean it properly, bacteria can sneak in.
A $2000 tattoo can range from a detailed half-sleeve to a large, intricate thigh or chest piece, or even the beginning of a full back or sleeve, often taking multiple sessions and significant artist hours (8+ hours) for complex designs, but it depends heavily on the artist's skill, location, and the design's intricacy.
Do not scrub. Pat dry with a clean, disposable paper towel. DO NOT RE-BANDAGE. Until the surface of the tattoo is healed (at a minimum of two to three weeks), wash the area gently 2-3 times per day.
Some people with tattoos find dry healing works for them as they may avoid allergic reactions to certain skincare products, for example. However, it's not recommended.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
Along with some of the basic tips, we know you're looking for ways to heal your tattoo fast!
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.
Swollen Skin
The skin around your tattoo may begin to swell during the normal healing process. However, if the swelling remains for a long period of time, then this may be an allergic reaction. Another sign that you may be having an allergic reaction is inflammation around the tattoo.
First, moisturizing a new tattoo is crucial for preventing scabbing. Heavy scabbing can dull the appearance of your tattoo and even lead to some fading over time. Keeping the skin supple allows it to heal more evenly, resulting in a brighter, sharper tattoo that lasts.
Artist-approved balms like Hustle Butter or After Inked, light lotions like Lubriderm or Aveeno, and gentle cleansers like H2Ocean are proven favorites. Avoid heavy petroleum, fragrances, and alcohol. With the right aftercare supplies, your tattoo will heal clean, vibrant, and long-lasting.
After getting a tattoo, you should avoid eating food with a high fat or sugar content, as these foods can cause skin inflammation and interfere with the healing process. Examples include fresh sausage, smoked sausage and ham. These foods can cause inflammation and increase the risk for slow recovery and scarring.
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.
Most tattoo artists are more than happy to touch up a tattoo that's too small or too big for your liking. They may even offer to do it for free.
Color vs.
Color tattoos often cost more than black and grey because they typically require additional passes and materials. The difference ultimately comes down to the time involved, the intricacy, and the technique.