Tattoo Aftercare — La Petite Tattoo (2024)

FAQs

What is the best aftercare for small tattoos? ›

-Continue to wash & moisturize at least once per day. -Until the tattoo is healed, avoid prolonged sun exposure and the beach, avoid getting overly sweaty, avoid submerging your tattoo entirely in water (i.e. bath, pool, ocean, etc.), and avoid tight clothing on the area that was tattooed.

How long does it take for a tattoo to heal? After getting a tattoo, the outer layer of skin (the part you can see) will typically heal within 2 to 3 weeks. While it may look and feel healed, and you may be tempted to slow down on the aftercare, it can take as long as 6 months for the skin below a tattoo to truly heal.

Tiny Tattoo Post-Care Instructions. The initial state of tattoo healing begins immediately after your tattooing session is finished. You should look at your tattoo as an open wound, and treat it accordingly. Your artist will gently wash the area and put a protective bandage on it to protect it from bacteria.

Carefully wash your tattoo area three times a day with soap and water, and gently pat it dry. Keep applying a moisturizer or ointment after you clean your tattoo to keep it moist. After 5 days, you can switch from an antibiotic ointment to a gentle fragrance-free body lotion.

After you leave the studio you will have been cleaned and bandaged; remove the bandage after 3-4 hours. Don't remove the bandage until you can properly clean the tattoo with mild soap and warm water.

You can shower 3-4 hours after getting a tattoo, if you have a Saniderm bandage on, however, if you have a plastic wrap wait 24 hours to unwrap your tattoo and shower. In either case, shower in cold or lukewarm water and avoid prolonged soaking or submerging your tattoo in water for 3-4 weeks.

Dry your tattoo by blotting it with a dry, clean, lint-free paper towel. Do not rub your tattoo. Keep your tattoo out of direct sunlight and away from tanning booths for a minimum of 14 days. Use sunscreen of at least SPF 30 after it has healed to prevent premature fading.

Aquaphor is a commonly recommended part of a tattoo aftercare regimen. It has hydrating and anti-inflammatory properties that can speed healing and make the process more comfortable. If you're getting some new ink, or have just gotten a tattoo, you may want to consider using Aquaphor.

A lot of tattoo artists recommend sleeping with the wrap that was put on. Others recommend re-wrapping, or just applying healing ointment and keeping the tattoo clean. The important thing is avoiding infection.

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. After cleaning the tattoo during this two to three week period, gently apply a thin coat of a lotion-based care product. We recommend After Inked tattoo moisturizer and aftercare lotion.

What to expect after a small tattoo? ›

“Some swelling, redness, and general irritation is all normal after a fresh tattoo (after all, you've just had foreign particles stabbed into your skin repeatedly). However, this goes down relatively quickly within the first 48 hours,” Liv says.

Poor aftercare

Not taking proper aftercare precautions could also contribute to patchiness; picking scabs off your new tattoo, swimming or submerging it in the bath, exposing it to UV rays while it's still in the early stages of healing could all lead to ink loss and patchiness.

What NOT to do? DON'T re-bandage your tattoo, rub, scratch or pick at your new tattoo. DON'T apply alcohol, Neosporin, Vaseline, or petroleum jelly (they can trap dirt and germs and cause infection). DON'T apply a heavy coat of lotion (remember the skin must breathe in order to heal).

For the first few days post-tattoo, there's one important rule: stay away. Your ink will be wrapped in plastic; keep it that way. Depending on the size of the tattoo, the wrap might need to stay on for several days, but as a general rule of thumb, you can remove the plastic on day two or three.

Dry your tattoo by blotting it with a dry, clean, lint-free paper towel. Do not rub your tattoo. Keep your tattoo out of direct sunlight and away from tanning booths for a minimum of 14 days. Use sunscreen of at least SPF 30 after it has healed to prevent premature fading.

Pat your skin dry with a soft cloth. Apply a small amount of fragrance-free and alcohol-free moisturizer to the tattoo. You can keep the covering off at this point to let your skin breathe. Keep this routine up for the first couple of weeks, and keep the tattoo out of the sun until it's fully healed.

2. After a few hours, gently wash the tattoo. The majority of advice will tell you to leave the covering on the tattoo (aka, 'second skin') for the first 1-5 hours, then to carefully remove it and gently wash the tattoo with lukewarm water and unscented body wash.

Moisturizers and barrier creams can help keep itching at bay. And it's a good idea to keep fresh hand tattoos covered (this also provides the added benefit of shielding that new tattoo from daily wear and tear). “The skin should be kept covered and moist while healing,” Dr. Palm says.