How Do I Care for a New Tattoo?

It’s easy to ruin or fade your new tattoo if you do not care for it properly. Even worse, your tattoo could Ink Fanatic Tattoo Studio become infected, or you may have to get it touched up frequently or completely. Luckily, proper tattoo care is not difficult, but it is necessary. The size and intricacy of your tattoo will determine how long its healing process will take.

Bigger tattoos will always take longer to heal because they cause more stress to your skin. Smaller tattoos don’t usually take quite as long, but that doesn’t mean the healing process isn’t as important! Solid patches of ink also take longer to heal. It can take up to three months for your tattoo to heal fully. But, with the right care and products, your tattoo will be bright and vibrant sooner and stay in perfect condition longer.

There’s a process for tattoo healing – a systematic approach some of the most stellar and knowledgeable tattoo artists share with their clients to keep the tattoo vibrant and bright. Keep the Tattoo Covered Your tattoo artist will clean the tattooed area and then send you home with a bandage over your fresh tattoo. For the first few hours, three at a minimum, wear the bandage initially put on your tattoo.

They’ve probably given you some aftercare tips as well – line their tips up with our suggestions, and as long as they don’t stray too far, you’re in good hands. If your artist used a Tegaderm or Saniderm, you could generally wait up to three to four days before removing the bandage (generally, about a day for Tegaderm, about four days max for Saniderm).

Always ask your artist for specific instructions and consider writing them down on paper or on your phone to reference them in the future. From the moment your tattoo is applied, the healing process begins. Within the first 24 hours, you’ll notice a range of possible changes. You may see strange-looking fluid oozing from the bandage or tattoo – this is your blood plasma and some extra tattoo ink. Your skin will also usually be red and sore.

It might feel slightly warm to the touch. These are all good, normal reactions. It’s worth noting that some people barely have reactions, too. Some people won’t stay red, and their ink will seem to heal right up. That’s okay, too, and after your first session or two, you should have a pretty good idea of how you specifically react.

When you remove your bandage, please wash and thoroughly clean your hands with antibacterial soap, and dry them before you take it off. Unless explicitly instructed by your tattoo artist, there’s no need to wrap your fresh ink again once the bandage comes off. Instead, simply move on to the washing and moisturizing phase and let nature (and Mad Rabbit aftercare products) work their magic in the healing process.

Wash Your Tattoo Once the bandages come off, use fragrance-free, antibacterial soap to wash the area with lukewarm water and pat it dry. Do not scrub the skin or rub it dry. Remember to wash your tattoo with a light touch when first removing your wrap or bandage. The area will be sensitive, even if you’re a quick healer and experience minimal discomfort.

There’s a reason to use lukewarm water when washing. If the water is too hot, you may cause further irritation, while ice-cold water may cause the skin to retract and slow the healing. Stick with unscented antibacterial soap and avoid harsher formulations or soap bars with exfoliating properties.

When in doubt, go easy on your tattoo and treat it like you would a cut or scrape on the skin. For the first few days, you may see some continued oozing from the affected area, combined with some ink particles and other odds and ends. Washing and drying every few hours will help your cause, provided you don’t let your tattoo dry out too much! Do not use a washcloth to dry your tattoo, as they can harbor bacteria. Instead, gently pat the area dry with a clean paper towel.