When Can I Stop Washing My Tattoo with Soap

Tattoo aftercare is really important for a tattoo. In the United States of America however, only 7 states are legally required to give aftercare instruction to clients. These states are North Dakota, Alabama, Delaware, Arkansas, Louisiana, Michigan, and Massachusetts. So chances are if you are not from any of these 7 states you won’t be receiving any aftercare instruction for your tattoo artist. Lack of aftercare instruction leads to ruined tattoos and one of the most important of aftercare is washing tattoos.

But when can I stop washing my tattoo? Anyone getting a new tattoo should know that washing the tattoo regularly in a proper way is a must. But what most people stop to wonder is when should they stop doing so. That is why I am here to elaborate on when to wash, how to wash and when can you stop washing your tattoo in this piece.

Key Takeaways

• Do not stop washing routine until you the scabbing phase is over or the epidermis layer of the skin is completely healed.
• It may take around 2 weeks to completely heal the first layer of the skin and then you can stop the washing routine.
• Stopping the washing routine does not mean you will no longer wash the tattoo. It means you can stop with the routine washing and from now on you can wash it like any other body part during the shower.
• Washing the tattoo regularly protects against infection, and speeds up the healing time.

Right Time to Stop Washing Tattoos

You should keep washing it until the first layer of the skin is healed which takes about 14 days and sometimes a month. Notice the peeling of your tattoo, when the peeling is completely gone it means the first layer of the skin is healed and you can stop washing your tattoo now. Afterward, you can wash your tattoo normally in the shower, no need to follow the routine to wash the tattoo multiple times anymore.

That said, don’t go rubbing too much on the tattooed area with washing cloth as you can damage the epidermis or first layer of the skin which will expose the ink. Make sure to gently wash the tattoo in the shower even after the peeling phase is over. And do not soak the tattoo for too long until it is 21-28 days old, or else you may end up losing some of the ink which will result in a faded tattoo. When your tattoo becomes old which is around 3-6 months, then you can wash your tattoo just like any body part using a washcloth and submerge it underwater for as long as you want.

Some people have weak immune systems and require more time to heal wounds. In that case, it may take more than a month to stop the washing routine. Even after stopping the washing routine, avoid submerging the tattoo in water for some time as it may fade the tattoo. So when you shower, try your best not to soak the tattoo area too much. You have to avoid showering in a swimming pool, river, pond, or sea. With a strong immune system, it should be fine to submerge the tattoo in water after a month but sometimes it may take more than a month.

6 Steps for First Time Washing Your Tattoo

After finishing your tattoo, your tattoo artist will bandage the area with plastic wrap or something similar. It is to keep the area safe from bacteria as you travel to your house. After reaching your house you can take the bandage off and wash the tattoo. Let me give you a head up, the first tattoo wash will hurt. For some, it may hurt as much as the pain they go through during the tattooing procedure! But in general, the pain is not that bad. So mentally prepare yourself for the discomfort and don’t stop midway when washing your tattoo because of the pain. Just imagine a literal wound on your body, so of course it will hurt a bit but you push through with the washing.

 For the first tattoo wash follow the steps below:

1. Take off the bandage
   You can take off the bandage after 3-12 hours of getting the tattoo. Remember to wash immediately after taking off the bandage. Because the tattooed area will be super sensitive and will have multiple gooey stuff on it which will attract bacteria. So wash the tattoo without any delay after taking off the bandage.
2. Wash your hand
   You can either wash your hand before taking the bandage off or after taking off the bandage. Either way, make sure you don’t start washing your tattoo using your dirty hand. As the tattoo wound is new, it will be prone to bacteria and germs. It is better to wash your hand with antibacterial soap.
3. Wet the tattoo
   You can use a cup to pour lukewarm water into your tattoo. Using a cup ensures you don’t submerge the tattoo in water. Submerging a new tattoo can cause the ink to come out with the water and fade the tattoo.
4. Rub soap
   Use an antibacterial soap to gently rub on the tattoo. This is your first tattoo wash, so there will be plasma, excess ink, and a Vaseline-like substance on the tattoo. You have to wash all these greasy things so make sure to rub the soap properly.
5. Wash all the filth
   After rubbing the soap, use your hand to gently do a circular motion and keep pouring water to wash all the filth.
6. Pat the area dry and don’t bandage it again
   After washing, pat the area dry, and don’t bandage the tattoo again. Remember that first bandage wash to protect your tattoo from bacteria as you travel to your house, that’s all. No need to bandage it again, as bandaging it can delay healing and cause other issues.

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5 Steps for Washing New Tattoo Regularly

After the first wash, you may still see some plasma or liquid leaking from the tattoo. As long as it is in a very small amount it is completely fine, but if it is in an excessive amount you must see a doctor. Washing a new tattoo or healing a tattoo regularly is important. You should wash your healing tattoo 2-3 times per day.

To wash your healing tattoo, follow these steps:

1. Wash your hand
   Wash your hand using antibacterial or normal soap. It is to wash away any germ or bacteria that may get into the tattoo.

2. Use cupping to wet the area
   Remember I said not the submerge the tattoo in water to avoid fading? Well, you need to follow that rule until the tattoo is 21-28 days old. You can use cups to pour water and wet the tattoo. Using lukewarm water will soothe the area and reduce discomfort.

3. Apply moisturizing soap
   If you do not have a bacterial infection, it is not necessary to use anti-bacterial soap. But make sure the soap does not have fragrance and contains moisturizing properties.

4. Use hand/fingers to rub
   You still can’t use any washing cloth as the epidermis layer is not healed yet. So use your fingers to gently rub the tattoo and wash any greasy stuff left on it.

5. Pat dry
   Use a paper towel to pat dry the tattoo. Make sure not to use a random cloth or towel as it may contain germs.

Things to Do After Washing Your Tattoo

After washing and patting the tattoo dry, you can apply a very thin layer of moisturizing lotion or healing ointment to keep the tattoo moist and speed up the healing process. Do not use any scented lotion as scent or fragrance mean it has strong chemicals that may burn or irritate the tattoo.

For lotion, you can choose one with vitamins and minerals that will keep the skin healthy and help with the scabbing process while keeping the skin supple. I personally recommend aloe vera-based lotions to my clients as it has multiple benefits when applied to your tattoo. An aloe vera-based lotion can soothe the skin, reduce inflammation, provide the skin with essential vitamins and minerals to keep it healthy, and speed up the healing process.  The purpose of lotion is first to keep the area moist. A dry tattooed area can cause multiple complex problems, such as:

Reason Behind Washing a Tattoo

It might not seem much, but washing the tattoo is crucial, but why is that? I have listed the reasons below:

FAQs

When can I stop washing my tattoo after 2 weeks?

If the scabbing phase is over and the epidermis layer of the skin is healed, you can stop washing your tattoo.

Can I wash my tattoo as many times as I want?

No, washing a healing tattoo more than 2-3 times can cause harm. It can cause irritation, inflammation, and delayed healing.

How long after a tattoo can I wash it with soap?

You can wash the tattoo the first time after 3-12 hours of getting it.

Final Thoughts

Washing a healing tattoo is crucial to prevent infection and speed up the healing time. But many people don’t get proper aftercare instructions. Your tattoo artist knows best how to heal and take care of their art the best. Regardless you can follow the washing steps I mentioned in this article as washing is pretty much the same for all sorts of tattoos. Follow the washing routine until the first layer of the skin is completely healed. Which is around 14 days after getting your tattoo. And after that, you can take shower and wash the tattooed area like any other body part. Just don’t submerge it until 21-28 days to avoid fading. After the 28-day mark or after a month you can take shower in the swimming pool, or sea for as long as you like. Submerging the tattoo will no longer have the risk of fading.

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