Tattoo Aftercare — Classic Tattoo (2024)

FAQs

Tattoo Aftercare — Classic Tattoo? ›

After first 2-5 days, when your tattoo has begun to dry out, apply only a light layer of unscented lotion (we recommend Aveeno) 2-3 times per day, until skin returns to normal (around 4 weeks). DO NOT pick or scratch scabs! NO DIRECT SUN, HOT TUBS, POOLS, OR TANNING for the first 3 weeks.

Tattoos typically take two to four weeks to heal on the surface, but it can take three to six months to fully heal. The tattoo healing process typically involves a week of redness and oozing, followed by two to three weeks of itchiness and peeling. After about a month, the skin still internally heals.

Traditional Tattoo Healing

Clean the tattoo with water 2-3 times throughout the first day. With clean hands: Apply a very thin coat of A&D vitamin ointment 2-3 times for the first 3 days. Be sure to wear loose clothing and allow tattooed skin to breathe for those 3 days.

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.

Do not rub. Wash 2-3 times a day for the first 2 days, once a day for the remainder of the healing time, or as needed. After first 2-5 days, when your tattoo has begun to dry out, apply only a light layer of unscented lotion (we recommend Aveeno) 2-3 times per day, until skin returns to normal (around 4 weeks).

American traditional tattoos may possibly hurt more due to the amount of ink used for bold lines and color packing techniques. However the pain of any tattoo is also dependent on its design, size, and placement.

Slight fading over decades is less noticeable with tattoos featuring bolder linework and larger pieces can still look well-defined even if there's a little blurring between the lines. Fine-line tattoos also tend to fade faster than traditional tattoos because the ink is less densely-packed under the skin.

Tegaderm is a sterile, breathable, waterproof, germ-proof barrier to protect your new tattoo. Leave the Tegaderm on for 5 days and do not lift, change, or remove it. Tegaderm will protect your tattoo from infection, abrasion, irritation and contamination while healing.

Tattoo Care After 2 Weeks – Days 15 to 30

If your tattoo looks dry and dull, continue to moisturize to rehydrate the skin. It may take another month or two for the lower layers of skin to completely heal, at which point the tattoo should look as bright and vivid as you expected, and as the artist intended.

Does Aquaphor Cause Fading in Tattoos? There are rumors that Aquaphor makes tattoos fade, but from our experiences and many others, this just isn't true. If a tattoo is done correctly and the ink is where it needs to be, ointment should only help your tattoo heal correctly.

Do old tattoos need to be moisturized? ›

While proper hydration of your tattoo is necessary right after you get a tattoo, it is still just as important to keep up with over time. Moisturized skin is more elastic and hydrated, which both help with the looks of your older tattoo.

One of the most effective ways to make your older tattoo look new is by investing in a professional touch-u. This process involves an experienced tattoo artist going back over your existing body art with fresh ink. They can also add more intricacies to the existing tattoo, which can make it more appealing.

"If you are doing a color tattoo that is more the traditional tattoo style where flat solid colors are required, it will be much quicker. If you are doing a more complex realistic style of color tattoo that requires layers of colors and different color gradations, it will take much longer," says Dagger.

Do not use any healing ointment or moisturizer, only plastic wrap over your cleaned and dried skin. With this method, the tattoo is kept completely covered with plastic wrap 24 hours a day, for as long as it takes to peel—usually 3 to 5 days.

The lower layers of skin will most-likely take 3-4 months to completely heal, though your tattoo will start to look much clearer and sharper long before those 3-4 months are up. In conclusion, it's hard to say when a tattoo is fully healed because everybody heals differently.