Many times, our Virginia Beach tattoo shop artists will recommend that you keep your new tattoo covered until the following day - again, depending on the size and placement of the piece. Keeping your tattoo covered the first night is recommended to avoid your tattoo sticking to sheets or clothing. Not only does that hurt, but there could also be unwanted bacteria in your sheets that could enter your fresh tattoo - especially if you share a bed with pets. In most cases, your tattoo can be uncovered while sleeping after the first night. However, throughout the first week, you should do your best to keep your tattoo exposed to open air during the night to promote the healing process.

At Salt Water Tattoo, our Virginia Beach tattoo shop artists will coat your new tattoo with a protective lubricant and carefully wrap and cover your new piece before leaving the shop. How long to leave your new tattoo covered will depend on the size and style of your tattoo, but it is critical to follow the advice of your artist. As a general rule of thumb, you should leave your new tattoo covered around 12 hours to initiate the healing process. After your tattoo has been covered for the recommended period of time, you may carefully unwrap it and gently wash it with warm soapy water - over a sink or in the shower. We recommend using a soft cloth and gentle soap for your first few washes.

Laying in a tanning bed with a new tattoo is never recommended, and it is not a safe alternative for exposing your new tattoo to natural sunlight. As mentioned above, exposing your new tattoo to the UV lights of a tanning bed will be extremely painful and will interrupt the healing process. Laying in a tanning bed with a new tattoo can cause the tattoo to fade, heal unevenly, or blister. Once your tattoo is fully-healed and is no longer peeling, it is safe to lay in the tanning bed, but beware that the intense, repeated UV exposure will cause even your healed tattoos to fade much more quickly. To prevent this from happening, always use sunscreen on your work when laying in a tanning bed with exposed tattoos, or look for alternative tanning solutions such as spray tans.

Though we understand you might want to show of your new tattoo at the beach, it is not recommended to do so until it is fully healed for a number of reasons. Extended exposure to the sun will not only be painful on a new tattoo, but can cause fading, blistering, or excessive peeling. Ocean water is especially dangerous for a new tattoo given the high volumes of bacteria that could cause infection, as is also likely if you are to accidentally coat your new tattoo with sand. After a new tattoo, we recommend you wait at least 3-4 weeks before your next beach day. Once your tattoo has completed the healing process - meaning, it is no longer peeling, you should be safe to take it to the beach. But, please always remember to apply extra sunscreen to your fully-healed tattoos to prevent premature fading.

It is completely safe to shower with a new tattoo. For the first few days after getting a new tattoo, your skin may be sore or sensitive to hot water - this is normal. After your tattoo artist’s recommended amount of time has passed while wearing your tattoo covering, you may shower and wash your new tattoo with warm water and gentle soap.

Until your tattoo is fully-healed, it is not recommended to submerge your new work in water of any kind. Think of your new tattoo as an open wound. Any bacteria that may be in the water (including fresh water, ocean water, or even pool water) can irritate or infect the skin that you have just tattooed. There is also the chance that chemicals or salt in the water will lift some of the ink from your tattoo, resulting in fading or uneven color.

When your tattoo is complete, your tattoo artist will give you detailed instructions on the best ways to care for your tattoo. The most important thing to do when caring for a new tattoo is keeping it clean, moisturized, and protected from the sun. During the first few days of the healing process, we recommend using a moisturizing, healing ointment such as Aquaphor on your new tattoo. Applying a very thin layer twice per day is all you need. Be careful, as overuse of this type of ointment can lead to clogged pores during healing. After the first few days, you can switch to using a fragrance free lotion as needed throughout the day.

The tattoo healing process looks basically the same for everyone and all tattoos. In the first few days after getting a tattoo, the healing skin will feel tight and sensitive to the touch. Towards the end of the first week, the soreness will subside and your tattoo will have become dry and start to peel. A new tattoo that is peeling is completely normal and to-be-expected. Your tattoo will peel for another week or more depending how well you are keeping it moisturized. When the peeling has subsided, there will be another week or two in which your tattoo will appear shiny any potentially “wrinkled.” This is a normal part of the skin regrowth period. Once the texture and appearance of your tattooed skin matches that of your non-tattooed skin, your tattoo is fully-healed.

Tattoo healing time will vary depending on the size and placement of the tattoo. Full-color, large scale tattoos will take much longer to heal than smaller, thin-lined pieces. When you get a new tattoo, you can expect the healing time to take anywhere from one to three weeks. However, many factors, including your age, hydration, sun exposure and more can cause the healing time to vary.