A short shower is fine as soon as the film comes off. Wait until the surface of the tattoo has healed before going in the pool or sea, taking baths or using saunas. This usually takes a few weeks. Ease back into exercise gradually, keeping sweat and friction away from the fresh tattoo. Protect it from the sun with clothing at first and high-SPF sunscreen once it has healed.
The main rule
While your tattoo still has scabs or is peeling, the skin is still open. Anything that soaks, rubs, heats or dirties it can wait. Once the surface has healed, almost all the restrictions are lifted.
The timings below are general guidelines. Your skin will show how well it's healing, and your artist's aftercare instructions are a more reliable guide than a general list. For a day-by-day guide, see “Tattoo healing timeline”.
Showers, baths, pools and the sea
- Shower: yes, briefly and with warm water. Don't take a steamy shower or aim a strong jet of water straight at the tattoo.
- Bath: no, not until the tattoo has healed, as a long soak softens the scabs.
- Pool: no, as chlorine dries out and irritates fresh skin.
- Sea, lake, river: no, as open water is full of bacteria.
Sauna and steam room
Heat and steam soften the skin, worsen swelling and make you sweat, all of which interfere with healing. Wait until the tattoo has healed before using a sauna or steam room. After that, there are no restrictions.
Sport
Ease back into training gradually. The danger isn't the exercise itself but the sweat, the friction and dirty equipment.
- no strenuous workouts for the first few days;
- give the muscles under the tattoo a longer break than the rest;
- your clothes shouldn't rub the design;
- use a clean mat and clean machines, and bring your own towel;
- shower straight after training and wash the tattoo.
If exercise is important to you, tell me at the consultation. We'll choose a placement and date that make it easier to fit in a break.
Sun
UV light is the main reason tattoos fade. Keep a fresh tattoo covered with loose clothing, and once it has healed, put high-SPF sunscreen on the design every time you go out in the sun.
Tanning a fresh tattoo means burning an open wound. Keep it out of the sun and stay off sunbeds until it has healed.
How the sun affects a design over the years is covered in “How tattoos age”.
Shaving, cosmetics and massage
- Shaving the tattooed area: once it has healed.
- Scrubs, peels, acid creams, fake tan: not on healing skin.
- Massage on the tattooed area: once it has healed.
- Laser hair removal isn't done over the tattoo itself, as the laser reacts to the pigment. Let your hair removal specialist know.
Holidays and travel
The simplest way to avoid the hassle is to book your session after a trip, not before it. If you'd like a tattoo as a holiday souvenir, get it at the end of the trip, or at home once you're back. More on this in “Getting tattooed abroad”.
How to tell you're good to go
You can get back to your normal life when:
Frequently asked questions
What people ask when they're itching to get back to normal life. Can't find your question? Message me on Telegram or Instagram. I reply personally.
When can I go to the gym?
You can do light workouts after a few days, as long as nothing rubs the tattoo. Wait until the scabs have gone before training the muscles under it.
Can I swim in the sea if I cover the tattoo with film?
Film doesn't protect it completely: water seeps in around the edges. It's safer to wait.
Can I drink alcohol after the session?
Better not in the first few days: it makes swelling worse and slows healing.
When can I sunbathe?
Once it has fully healed, and only with sunscreen on the design.
