You should wrap your tattoo in cling film, even while sleeping for the first couple of nights. This helps keep the germs out and helps with keeping fabric off of the tattoo to reduce rubbing/chafing.
You'll want to keep the tattoo wrapped for at least the first night because it will take a while for it to settle down and stop leaking. You don't want an open wound like that touching your bed sheets, getting blood everywhere, or dirt and dust getting into the wound itself.
Fresh tattoos should be wrapped with a sterile bandage. The best options are medical-grade adhesive bandages and protective tattoo films like Saniderm or Dermalize.
Knowing how long and when you should cover your tattoo plays a large role in effective aftercare. So, how long should I have my tattoo wrapped? Keep your tattoo wrapped for 2-4 hours after leaving the tattoo shop. If using protective tattoo film instead of plastic foil, keep the wrap on for 3-4 days.
Unfortunately, fun in the sun is kind of out of bounds if you have a fresh tattoo. Prolonged sun exposure can be damaging to all tattoos, but especially freshies. Don't ever sit out in the sun with a tattoo still under cling film, all the sweat build up is just asking for a rough healing process.
Cover the tattoo with clothing or a bandage, and use sunscreen, preferably with mineral screens. Indeed, unlike chemical filters, they block UV rays at the surface of the skin.
Should I cover my tattoo with cling film when I sleep? You should wrap your tattoo in cling film, even while sleeping for the first couple of nights. This helps keep the germs out and helps with keeping fabric off of the tattoo to reduce rubbing/chafing.
During healing do NOT: Wrap the tattoo after the first night (wearing breathable clothes over it is fine as long as they are not causing friction. (Keeping tattoos wrapped in plastic or bandages will stop air from getting to the tattoo, slow healing, and make gross stuff grow in there.)
Your first piece of Saniderm applied by the artist must be worn for 24 hours, do not remove it early. You will have irritation, redness, bleeding, seeping, and ink collect under the bandage.
It is important to wash the tattoo every 4-6 hours or after any period of sweating, letting it completely air-dry afterwards, and applying a new piece of plastic wrap each time. It's also important not to over-wrap the area, unnecessarily covering untattooed skin, which can trap excess moisture.
You may have heard some rumours that Bepanthen shouldn't be used on new tattoos, but this absolutely isn't the case. Bepanthen is by far one of the most highly recommended tattoo aftercare products and is the go-to ointment for most tattoo artists and studios.
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.
Be sure your artist covers your new tattoo in a thin layer of petroleum jelly and a bandage. Remove the bandage after 24 hours. Gently wash the tattoo with antimicrobial soap and water and be sure to pat dry. Apply a layer of antibacterial/Vaseline ointment twice a day, but don't put on another bandage.
DO NOT RE-BANDAGE THE TATTOO. DAY 1 ( STANDARD AFTERCARE): 1. If your artist bandaged your tattoo with ointment, plastic wrap, and tape then REMOVE THE BANDAGE AFTER ONE TO TWO HOURS and be sure to take it off before you go to bed!
The next time you get a tattoo, don't be surprised if your artist puts cling wrap or plastic wrap over the area before inking it. This common practice serves two important purposes: protecting you from infection and keeping the area clean.
While the majority of tattoo artists believe that wrapping your new tattoo is necessary, some believe otherwise. They think that wrapping your new tattoo will cause more harm than good. They believe that the plastic wrap might trap the moisture from your healing tattoo, which could lead to more complications.
The wrapping around the tattoo serves as protection as it heals, especially since the tattoo artist uses needles to apply it on your body, resulting in what feels like a fresh wound. The most common wrap tattoo artists use is Saran wraps.
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.
KEEP THE ADHESIVE WRAP ON OVERNIGHT
If your artist sent you home with adhesive wrap, you can leave that on the tattoo overnight and it should protect both the ink of your new tattoo and your bed sheets.
Tattoo Aftercare Pointers
Your bandage (Saniderm, Tegaderm, or RxDerm) is waterproof and breathable, so you can leave it on for 2–3 days without worrying about it. You may see ink seepage and plasma building up underneath your bandage. Do not panic! It is part of the healing process.
Once the tattoos' initial bandage is removed, DO NOT cover it again during the healing process. The tattoo will need to be exposed to air in order to heal.
Air dry. Let your tattoo air dry. You can pat the tattoo gently with a clean paper towel, but you must let the tattoo dry, uncovered, for 15 to 20 minutes after each cleaning. Any extra moisture trapped by immediately covering the tattoo is an invitation for bacteria to multiply.