When you get a new tattoo, the first 48 hours are the most important in how well it’ll heal and how it’ll look once the healing process is over.
This early stage is when your skin is the most sensitive, and you can affect the comfort and appearance and recovery of your new tattoo.
What To Expect In The First Few Hours
When you get a new tattoo, your tattoo artist will clean the area, apply a thin layer of ointment and cover your tattoo with either a bandage or some protective film.
You will notice a soreness that feels like a sunburn, and that’s just the normal part of the initial tattoo healing process.
Expect to get some mild swelling, redness, heat and a light oozing of ink-tinted plasma. When this happens, stay hydrated, avoid any alcohol and take an over-the-counter pain relief, but don’t apply ice directly to the healing tattoo.
Avoid wearing any tight clothing, doing intense workouts, heavy sweating, swimming and direct sun, so you don’t irritate your new tattoo or slow down the healing.
When To Remove The Bandage
Your tattoo artist will tell you when to remove the bandage or film. If they used a traditional plastic wrap or gauze, you’ll usually remove it after 2 to 4 hours, letting your skin breathe and start the healing process properly.
If you’re wearing a medical-style adhesive film on your tattoo, you’ll usually keep it in place for 24 hours (sometimes up to 3 days), depending on how much fluid builds up, and the sensitivity of your skin.
When you do take your bandage off, look out for redness, swelling or a foul smell, as these signs can mean you’ve got an early tattoo infection.
How To Clean Your New Tattoo
When you remove your bandage, and you’ve seen how your tattoo looks, you need to do a gentle but thorough clean. Wash your hands and use lukewarm water and a mild fragrance-free liquid soap.
Let the water run over the tattoo, rather than spraying your tattoo directly, and lightly glide your fingers over the area to lift away any plasma, ink or ointment.
Rinse the area until the skin feels clean (not slick), and pat the tattoo dry with a clean paper towel, without rubbing, as that can cause skin irritation and delay the healing time.
Skip all harsh washcloths, loofahs or strong cleansers, as they can damage the fresh ink, and affect how your tattoo will look once it has healed.
How Often To Wash And Moisturize
As your tattoo is an open wound for the first 48 hours, you’ll want to wash it gently 2 to 3 times a day, and moisturize lightly afterward each time.
Space the washes out evenly, like the morning, after any sweaty activity and before bed. Only ever use fragrance-free and alcohol-free products designed for fresh ink, and pat the area dry, before you apply a thin layer of ointment or lotion.
If your skin is naturally dry, a tiny but more moisturizer might help, but you don’t want your kin to look glossy or feel sticky. If you have oily skin, use the smallest amount of moisturizer possible, to prevent you getting any clogged pores.
