Unprotected fresh tattoos will not only bleed, but will also have seepage of ink. If your clothes stick to the tattoo, not only will you undo any healing, but you can cause damage to the overall end result once it has healed. It's best to wait until you have established scabs or the area is no longer moist.
Tattoo Tips
Your tattoo may be susceptible to sticking to your sheets or clothes. It is better that it sticks to you clothes rather than your sheets. If the tattoo sticks to your clothes, splash warm water on it and remove the clothing from the tattoo very gently. Remember, this is an open wound, so use common sense.
Avoid Tight Clothing
One of the most important things you should do to go through a smooth recovery is to let your fresh tattoo breathe. As you can imagine, tight clothing prevents this from happening and can, consequently, cause damage to your tattoo.
What should I wear after getting a tattoo? If your new tattoo is on a covered body part please try to wear loose clothing made of soft materials. For example, wearing jeans after you have a thigh tattoo is not recommended－sweat pants or shorts are much better choices.
Once unwrapped, keep your skin clean and follow proper tattoo aftercare instructions. This will ensure your new tattoo heals without getting infected. During tattoo healing, avoid touching your ink unless washing or applying aftercare.
It's a good idea to avoid tight clothing around the tattooed area. Things like waist bands and bra straps can rub and irritate the new tattoo, causing more trauma and stopping it from healing properly. Your tattoo artist will recommend sticking to loose fitting clothes until the tattoo heals completely.
Change your bedsheets and use old sheets for sleeping. It's not unusual for some seeping to take place. If your tattoo comes in touch with the sheets then you can ruin your bedsheets, ink is not designed to wash out. It's a good idea to sleep using old sheets you don't mind throwing away.
"If you wear clothes that fit tightly to the area where your tattoo is, the material may rub against it and cause it to fade quicker. Wear loose-fitted clothes around the tattoo whenever possible to prevent fading."
Don't wear any clothes that can constrain or rub against the tattoo (tight clothing) for at least one week after your session. Don't let your pets or children touch the tattoo for at least one week Again, do all you can to avoid the risk of infection.
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.
Wearing clothes that are tight or rub against the skin of the new tattoo can cause irritation and even distort or ruin the tattoo. Also, many items of clothing contain color dyes, which you certainly don't want touching your new tattoo, which is also an open wound trying to heal itself.
Don't worry, this is completely natural. It happens because the old skin, damaged during the tattooing process, forms a thin layer over your tattoo and masks its true appearance. In time this old skin will naturally exfoliate itself, revealing your tattoo underneath in all its vibrant glory.
Days 2 to 3
Over the next couple of days, you may notice that your tattoo looks dull and cloudy. No need to panic or start thinking about a touch-up. This happens as your skin heals and new skin starts to form. Excess ink and plasma may still ooze from your skin during this time.
The tattooing process prompts your body to kill off and shed the damaged skin cells, while it regenerates brand new skin over the tattooed area. As this old, damaged layer of skin dies, it sits on the surface for a while, forming a translucent layer over your tattoo, giving it a faded, milky appearance.
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.
The problem with wearing a bra that is directly on the skin (where you have the tattoo!) is that it could rub these scabs and even knock them off. It might sound a little gross, but it's true! Any good tattoo artist will warn you against picking the scabs as it can ruin the design.
You can definitely wear clothes over your new tattoo (depending on where you've been inked, you might have to). Just make sure to opt for loose, natural fabrics like cotton, and avoid tight clothing that could rub against the tattoo.
Do keep it moist, but let it breathe. Then, cover your whole tattoo with a thin layer of ointment or another approved product (see the list below for more options). If your tattoo is in an area that isn't covered by clothing, leave it uncovered to let your skin breathe and facilitate healing.
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.
Most sources indicate that tattoos generally take about 2 weeks to heal. However, it may take up to 4 weeks for the skin to fully recover. Some complications may prolong the healing process. The following is what a person can typically expect.
Weeks 5 and 6: completely healed
You'll know you're in this phase — and that your tattoo is fully healed — because all the dry skin and scabs have sloughed off to reveal new, smooth skin with a vibrant tattoo and you no longer feel the burning and itchiness because the body has repaired itself.