Can you shower with a new tattoo?

Whether you can shower with your new tattoo is one of the most frequently asked questions we receive. And? Of course you can! You are allowed to shower with your new tattoo. However, there are a number of important conditions to prevent your tattoo from getting infected or damaged. In this blog post, we explain step-by-step how to safely shower with your new tattoo.

How long you have to wait before showering depends on when your tattoo artist says you can remove the film. You can only shower once you're allowed to remove the cling film. Usually, the film can be removed after 2 to 4 hours.

But pay attention!

Sometimes it can be longer than four hours. Not every artist works in the same way. Listen carefully to your tattoo artist's advice.

If your tattoo is wrapped with a second skin tattoo film, you do not need to remove the film when you shower. This film should remain on for 3 to 5 days.

Before showering with your new tattoo, you need to pay attention to a few things:

That's right! You can also just wash your hands in the shower. That's not the problem. As long as you do it BEFORE you touch your tattoo. Especially in the first few weeks after getting it. Your tattoo is very vulnerable to all bacteria then. You wash your tattoo with your hands, after all.

Absolutely do not forget this! Water that is too hot will definitely not feel nice on your tattoo. Not only that. Water that is too hot, and the steam that comes with it, will open up your pores wide again. This puts you at risk of the ink leaking out and your tattoo becoming less beautiful. Lukewarm works best.

You absolutely do not want to be surprised by a jet spray on your new tattoo. That is painful and not good for the ink. Ensure a gentle spray and avoid directing it too directly onto your tattoo.

You clean your tattoo not only with water, but also with a mild, gentle, alcohol-free soap. By soap, we preferably mean a soap-free soap or wash gel with a skin-friendly pH value.

The tattoo soap from TattooMed is antibacterial and specifically developed for cleaning tattoos. The Panthenol helps your freshly tattooed skin heal faster and also soothes itching and burning.
Benefits:
- soothes itching
- reduces redness
- absolutely does not dry out your tattoo!
- helps heal faster

After showering, you can't just grab your towel from the drying rack and rub your tattoo dry. Please don't! It's important to gently pat your tattoo dry with a clean, lint-free cloth.

After showering, you should immediately start caring for your tattoo. Decide beforehand which tattoo cream or ointment you want to use for your tattoo. Rubbing it with a standard body lotion is absolutely out of the question. It contains substances that are not good for your tattoo and certainly do not contribute to the healing process of your tattoo. Use a cream or ointment specifically developed for tattoo care

And then the showering itself, of course! The most important rule is that you don't do it for TOO LONG. Especially not in the first few days. Clean your tattoo thoroughly. Rinse off the soap carefully and get out.

You don't have to break any showering speed records, but for the first few weeks, five minutes is really long enough. We've already told you that too much heat isn't good for your fresh tattoo, but too much water isn't good either.

That makes the tattoo soft, which also opens your pores and can easily cause ink to leak out.

It's very simple! You can basically shower as often as you need to clean your new tattoo. Hmm, let me think... that's at least twice a day. Of course, you don't always feel like doing that. Unless your tattoo is in a spot that you can only properly clean in the shower. In that case, just hop in the shower. That will certainly benefit the healing process of your tattoo.

• Always wash your hands first
• Check the water temperature (lukewarm)
• Check the shower spray (not too strong!)
• Use the right tattoo soap
• Don't shower for too long!
• Dry your tattoo with a clean cloth
• Apply a tattoo aftercare cream to your tattoo

☀️ TIP: Are you getting a new tattoo soon?
Then prepare yourself before you go to the tattoo studio. That way, after getting tattooed, you can immediately start caring for your new tattoo. Many of our customers immediately choose our complete tattoo care bundle, the All-in bundle.

A complete aftercare bundle for cleaning, caring for, and protecting against the sun. Then you are fully prepared for your tattoo aftercare in one go. And after healing, you can protect your tattoo from fading ☀️ with our Daily tattoo care

Also discover our other blogs about tattoo aftercare:

• How to care for your tattoo without complications?
• Tattoo aftercare - all the ins and outs
• Can you apply sunscreen to your new tattoo?
• My tattoo keeps itching. How do I get rid of it?
• Help, my tattoo is bleeding!
• How long does a finger tattoo last?
• How to prepare for your first tattoo?
• What to consider for a tattoo cover-up?
• Alcohol and your new tattoo. Do they mix?
• Applying cream to your new tattoo
• When is your tattoo healed?
• How to use tattoo film?
• Sunbathing with your new tattoo. Do's & don'ts
• How to keep your tattoo beautiful in the sun?
• Swimming with your new tattoo. Do's & don'ts
• Cleaning your tattoo
• Exercising with your new tattoo. Do's & don'ts
• Sleeping with your new tattoo
• What is a tattoo blowout?
• Aging and tattoos