Do you have a new tattoo? Not sure what tattoo aftercare process to follow? We bring you 10 tips to take care of your new tattoo
After a long time to choose the new tattoo and the ideal tattoo parlor, you need to take care of it so that it heals well and does not lose quality. A tattoo in most cases is forever and it is something that must be taken care of from the first day, if you do not take care of yourself, it is useless to look for the best tattoo artist and the best design.
10 tips to take care of your new tattoo 2025
Taking care of a freshly made tattoo is a relatively simple task, but it requires some time each day and being as careful as possible with its cleaning. We seek two objectives: that the tattooed area heals as soon as possible and that the design and colors of our tattoo are perfect. Keep in mind that more than 40% of the final result of your tattoo will depend on the care you apply to it. Take note of these 10 tips to take care of your new tattoos.
1. Transparent Adhesive Wraps
When your tattoo artist finishes making the drawing you have chosen, they will place transparent adhesive wraps on your skin over your tattoo. The purpose of these wraps is for the blood to coagulate and prevent infections in the tattooed area. Remove the plastic about three hours after leaving the studio, stop washing and caring for the tattoo. If the tattoo is in an area of frequent friction with clothing or accessories, do not cover it with the wraps again and go to the next section.
Our recommended transparent adhesive wraps are the Saniderm Tattoo Aftercare Bandage
One of the best things about Saniderm is how easy it is to apply. Even for difficult to protect areas such as feet or the upper back, Saniderm makes protecting your tattoo easy.
Buy it here at a price of 12.95 usd
2. Cream or dessing?
These are the two methods that we currently propose to cure a tattoo. From Tattoo Shops Near Me we always recommend the use of the dressing because it requires less care and is a more hygienic method. We talk about it and how to change it in detail in this post.
The dressings cover our tattoo and keep it in optimal conditions of asepsis while helping its healing. Care using dressings is much easier, since you only need to change it 24, 48 and 72 hours after leaving the tattoo parlor.
Meanwhile, cures with Bepanthen cream, for example, have proven their effectiveness over many years. During the first week you will have to apply the cream a couple of times a day, always after having washed the tattoo area well.
Consult our article with the best tattoo aftercare creams.
3. Hans allways Clean
It seems logical and you may think that it is an unnecessary statement, but there are many people who do not take seriously the necessary guidelines before healing their tattoo. The hands are one of the areas of the body that can concentrate the most germs and the tattoo is an open wound where all kinds of bacteria can enter. It is important to wash your hands well with warm soapy water, rubbing between your fingers and brushing your nails. It is very important to carry out this process until the area that we have tattooed has completely healed.
4. A Careful wash
Clean your tattoo twice a day using lukewarm water and neutral soap. Apply a little soap on the tips of your fingers and pass it gently in a gentle circular massage over your previously moistened tattoo. Be careful not to scratch it and always dry it with paper or sterile gauze, never with towels.
5. Avoid tight garments
During the healing period of the tattoo, which lasts between 10 and 15 days, it is better to do without any clothing or accessories that oppress it so that the skin can breathe and heal faster and better. Remember that if the clothing is going to be in contact with the tattoo, it is convenient to cover it with a protective wrap such as those indicated in the first section.
6. Beware of sports
Sweat can irritate the skin, cause itchiness, and damage a fresh tattoo. During the healing phase it is preferable that you avoid visits to the gym and sports that make you sweat.
7. Keep it hydrated
Once your tattoo has healed, you no longer need to use healing dressings or Bepanthen-type creams, but you do need to ensure good hydration for your tattoo. Apply a fragrance-free cream at least once a day.
8. Protect it from the sun
During the healing period of a newly made tattoo, it is absolutely inadvisable to sunbathe. Next, keep in mind that UVA rays can damage not only your skin but also the colors of your tattoo. Always apply a UV 50+ protective layer to the tattooed area when going out in the sun.
Our recommended tattoo care sunscreen is the Australian Gold SPF 50 Tattoo Stick
Protect those beautiful works of art with this SPF 50 Tattoo Stick with Ultimate Fade Protection that helps prevent ink discoloration while providing intense moisture to brighten tattoo colors.
Buy it here at a price of 12.60 usd
9. Do not scratch
During the first few days after getting a tattoo, you may notice some itching in the tattooed area. Do not scratch yourself. If the itching is too intense, go to your tattoo artist or dermatologist to check that everything is going well. It is possible that the area is very dry and that causes the itching. Also, if you get scabs on your tattoo, do not pick them up under any circumstances. And don’t worry if you’ve been to the beach and you start peeling. The skin will regenerate if you hydrate it properly and your tattoo will look the same as ever.
10. Wait to take a bath
In the same way that we recommended waiting for the tattoo to heal before playing sports or sunbathing, it is very important to postpone bathing at the beach and in the pool. This time varies a bit, wait until the tattoo skin has completely sealed.
Other products to follow the 10 tips to take care of your new tattoo
In 3 of the 10 sections above, we recommend some products to follow the 10 tips to take care of a new tattoo. Now we leave you some more products that may interest you as an alternative or supplement in your care process.
Hustle Butter Deluxe Tattoo Aftercare: Tattoo Balm, Helps Heal and Maintain Your Art
A replacement for petroleum-based product, our tattoo butter cream will help you get your skin moisturized and lubricated helping you before, during or after you get your skin tattooed.
- TATTOO AFTERCARE ESSENTIAL: Hustle Butter is the original luxury tattoo aftercare product for new and older tattoos. Safe to use right after getting a tattoo to help heal and reduce irritation unlike others. Makes tattoos older tattoos pop and rejuvenates them.
- REVIVES COLOR, PREVENTS FADING: Through daily use Hustle Butter prevents fading and revives color that may have occurred over time in older tattoos.
- USED & RECOMENDED BY ARTISTS WORLDWIDE: Hustle Butter Deluxe making the tattoo experience better for the artist and the client. Unlike others, Hustle Butter does not remove stencils or clog tubes allowing for colors to go in easier. Artists then often sell or give Hustle Butter to their clients so they can heal better and protect their new art.
- THE ORIGINAL: Back in 2011 Richie Bulldog, a staple in the tattoo community, knew tattoos needed more care than the mass market lotions and creams. It has to be all natural and use top quality ingredients to penetrate the skin deep enough to reach the ink. Hustle Butter was born and now is sold all over the world but still made here in the U.S.
Buy it here at a price of 14.99 usd
Viking Revolution Tattoo Care Balm: for Before, During & Post Tattoo. Safe, Natural Tattoo Aftercare Cream
Our tattoo balm does more than just soothe and moisturize sore, red skin post treatment. By applying the safe and natural tattoo ointment regularly to the affected skin, our tattoo aftercare cream can help speed up the healing process, enhancing your body’s own healing response.
- Faster Healing: Is your skin sore or red from your new tattoo? Our soothing, moisturizing lotion can help speed up the skin’s recovery process post treatment. Heal with ease with our tattoo balm.
- Faster Healing: Is your skin sore or red from your new tattoo? Our soothing, moisturizing lotion can help speed up the skin’s recovery process post treatment. Heal with ease with our tattoo balm.
- Works on Old Tattoos: Our cream works on any area that you’ve had a tattoo. It not only moisturizes to make the skin there happy and calm, it also works on older tattooed areas.
- Natural, Balm: The whole process of getting a tattoo can be hard on the skin. Our aftercare balm is chemical free, and sure to soothe your healing skin. It also smells awesome!
- Before, During & After: Don’t wait until your tattoo is done to start using our skin ointment. Apply the cream before you get your tattoo for the smoothest application process ever.
Buy it here at a price of 9.88 usd
Tattoo Goo Tattoo Balm: The Original Aftercare Salve
The Original Tattoo Goo in ointment form is the Natural Choice for healing your tattoo fast and for skin that is damaged, chapped, scraped, sun or wind burned from X-Treme sports. This unique formula based with herbs, oils, and vitamins known for their natural healing properties allows the skin to breath and helps to “soothe” the tattoo as it heals. The “original” is non-staining, has a pleasant natural smell, petroleum free, lanolin free, and mineral oil free. Ingredients: Olive oil, beeswax, cocoa butter, wheat germ oil, tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E), lavendar oil, sunflower oil, rosemary extract, D&C green 6.
- HEALING BALM – Made with the finest blend of humectants, essential oils and premium natural ingredients for moisturization, antimicrobial activity, anti-oxidation and stimulation of circulation. Designed to help the skin heal itself for vibrant new tats.
- ANTIOXIDANT SUPPORT – No preparation has more antioxidant activity than Tattoo Goo. We use quality pumice grade olive oil to help manage the skin healing process along with wheat germ oil, loaded with the antioxidant vitamin E, and rosemary extract.
- MOISTURIZER & BRIGHTENER – With 98% natural healing ingredients including triglycerides, olive oil, lavender, cocoa butter, and wax ester beeswax to help soothe inflammation, lubricate and moisturize. Petroleum and lanolin-free, never tested on animals.
- AVOID DRIED OUT TATS – Using aftercare products does not allow the tattoo to “dry out.” It makes a tattoo softer and promotes quicker healing by keeping the area lubricated and moist. Compact tin makes it super convenient to apply whenever needed.
- CERTIFIED DERMATOLOGIST TESTED – The product is pharmacist developed and clinical studies confirm Tattoo Goo after care products are not associated with skin irritation or allergic dermatitis (inflammation of the skin). Apply with confidence!
Buy it here at a price of 6.29 usd
*As an Amazon Affiliate, Tatto Shops Near Me earns revenue from qualifying purchases that meet the applicable requirements.
Find out where to get your next tattoo
If you are interested in getting your first tattoo or getting the next one, you can check the nearest tattoo shop on our website, you can also use the search engine that we have enabled for you in the main menu. We inform you that in Tatto Shops Near Me we have more than 15 thousand registered tattoo shops.
More articles about the tattoo aftercare in our blog
If you liked the article and want to know more about tattoo care, here is a list of the articles we have written for tattoo aftercare. If you do not find what you are looking for, you can leave the information you need in comments, we will work to publish it as soon as possible and thus resolve your doubts.
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