Your first night sleeping, your artist might recommend you re-wrap the tattoo with plastic wrap (like Saran Wrap) to sleep without the tattoo sticking to your sheets. This is generally for larger or solid-color tattoos. If your artist did not recommend re-wrapping, just let the tattoo stay exposed to air overnight.
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.
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. Relieving extra worry about getting residue or ointment on your sheets makes for a better night's sleep…and that is the ultimate goal!
Wrapping a tattoo at night is not a necessity and may pose more problems than solutions to the healing of a new tattoo. You should not rewrap your tattoo for bed for more than three nights in a row, and after the first 72 hours, your tattoo is already significantly less vulnerable to issues when sleeping.
Wrapping a fresh tattoo is essential to help the initial healing while providing protection from environmental contaminants like dirt, germs or anything else that should not go near an open wound.
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.
This bandage should be left on anywhere between 3 and 24 hours after getting your tattoo – depending on the bandage used and the size of your piece. Tattoo bandages often come off before going to bed the first night. Usually, you should remove your tattoo bandage after 3-4 hours.
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.
Wait 4 to 7 days before you sleep on your tattoo.
Your tattoo will ooze and bleed for a few days after you get it. Avoid sleeping on the tattoo at this point since it needs air circulation. Once the new layer of skin has formed over your tattoo, usually after 4 to 7 days, you can begin to sleep on it.
So what product should you use? 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.
“I'll recommend to keep the tattoo covered with cling film for anywhere between two and four hours,” advises Sarah.
The body's natural response to pain is to release endorphins, which can provide temporary pain relief. However, endorphins can also cause feelings of tiredness and drowsiness, which can make you feel even more fatigued after the tattoo process.
Wash the tattoo with soap and water once the appropriate time period has passed and gently apply a layer of lotion.7 It's best to wash and moisturize a couple of times each day until the skin has healed, which might take anywhere from two to four weeks.8 However, it's best to check in with your tattoo artist, who may ...
Cling wrap or plastic wrap helps to create a barrier between your skin and the outside world, which helps to reduce the risk of infection. Another reason why tattoo shops use cling wrap or plastic wrap is to keep the area clean.
How To Care For A Tattoo On The First Day. When you first get your tattoo, your artist will commonly treat it with an antibacterial ointment and bandage it with plastic wrap, paper towels, and sometimes tape. Warn your artist if you have an allergy to adhesive so that they can use a different kind of tape for you.
After the first 24 hours, you can shower, but you need to take some precautions to avoid damaging your tattoo. Hot water can damage your tattoo and cause it to fade or peel. Avoid using hot water and opt for lukewarm water instead.
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.
Avoid sleeping directly on your new tattoo, at least the first 4 days. The goal is to try your best not to put any pressure on your tattoo and to keep it from touching anything, at least as much as possible. A healing tattoo needs lots of fresh air and oxygen, so try not to smother it while sleeping.
Drunken behaviour could ruin your new tattoo
You need to be aware of keeping your tattoo clean and dry while it is fresh, so a night out might not be the best option. It's generally recommended that you wait at least 48 hours after your new tattoo before you start drinking alcohol again.
As already mentioned, the main goal of having your new ink wrapped and covered is to help keep harmful germs and bacteria out of your healing skin. These germs can pose a serious infection risk; not only to your tattoo but also to your general health.
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.
Your tattoo will still be weeping some ink/blood/other fluid for the first day or so. This discharge can get stuck under the bandage and cause it to look blurry or even like there is a thick colored film over the entire area. This is ok!
You skin needs air to heal, too much use of petroleum jelly / or any aftercare product can suffocate skin and may lead to infection. Tattooed skin is like any open wound (like scratch wound), too much dust around, or too much water can let bacteria to enter the wound and multiply fast.