Your new tattoo wrapped in foil: What now?

Cling film

Cling film is a simple and inexpensive way to protect your tattoo. It is the exact same film you have in your kitchen drawer at home. It is usually removed after 2 to 4 hours, after which you need to clean the tattoo and apply an aftercare cream.

Cling film protects your tattoo from bacteria and other germs on your way home. And not to forget, to protect your clothes from blood, wound fluid, and excess tattoo ink, of course. How long the film should stay on depends on your artist's method.

Self-adhesive second skin tattoo film:

It works very differently with the second skin tattoo film. This is applied to your new tattoo after cleaning. Applied?! Yes. Tattoo care films are self-adhesive and fit like a second skin on your tattoo.

Unlike plastic wrap, the intention is for the film to remain on your fresh tattoo. As long as the tattoo film stays on your tattoo, you do not need to clean it or apply an aftercare cream.

Second skin tattoo films are specially developed to help your tattoo heal. By covering your tattoo with second skin tattoo film, you create a moist wound environment. In a moist wound environment, the healing process is faster. Second skin tattoo film is also called wound film and originates from modern wound care.

Cling film

How long the film should stay on depends entirely on which type of film was used.

Leave cling film on for 2 to 4 hours
If your artist uses cling film, you can generally remove the film after two to four hours. Don't be surprised if your artist tells you the film can be removed earlier or much later. For example, only after 24 hours.

Advice from your artist

Every artist has their own method and their own reasons for it. Usually, you will receive detailed aftercare instructions. So, listen especially to your artist's advice, even if you hear something different from others.

After tattooing you, your artist knows how your skin reacts to their method. Perhaps you lose a lot of blood or none at all. It also depends entirely on the type of tattoo, your skin, and the location where your tattoo was placed.

So, definitely do NOT let yourself be confused by the different stories you hear. This applies even more so to special aftercare film.

Amount of wound fluid

Is a lot of wound fluid coming from your tattoo? Then remove the film earlier and change the cling film if necessary. When in doubt, always consult your tattoo artist.

Tattoo film

With the tattoo aftercare film, the answer to the question is a completely different story. How long you can leave this film on depends on the type of film used. Or rather, on how thick the film is. The thinner the tattoo film, the longer you can leave it on.

The second skin tattoo film from TattooMed can be left on your tattoo for three to five days. Sometimes even longer! This tattoo film is much thinner and more flexible than thicker variants. This makes it more pleasant to use and easier to remove.

If your tattoo artist applies the tattoo film, they will tell you how long to leave it on.

Enjoy worry-free healing with tattoo film:

• Simple & comfortable: You don't have to take care of your tattoo for the first few days. The film does the work for you!

• Shower without worries: The film is waterproof, so you can shower as usual with your new tattoo

• Protected from friction: No more clothes rubbing against your tattoo

• Hygienic & safe: The film protects your tattoo from bacteria and dirt.

• Optimal healing: The moist wound environment promotes faster and better healing

• Freedom of movement: The film is flexible, so you can move freely

• Pet-friendly: No worries about pet hair sticking to your tattoo

Additional benefits:

• Transparent: You can admire your tattoo while it heals

• Breathable: The film lets your skin breathe

• Hypoallergenic: Suitable for all skin types

To enjoy these healing benefits, you should, of course, leave the second skin tattoo film on. So, leave the film on for as long as you are advised.

If you use the second skin tattoo film from TattooMed, we recommend leaving it on for at least three days. Preferably five days. The longer you leave it on, the further your tattoo will have healed.

Many of our customers even leave the tattoo film on for seven days!

Cling film

• Preparation:
  • Make sure you can wash your tattoo with clean water.
  • Wash your hands thoroughly.
  • Check the water temperature (lukewarm).
  • Use the correct soap for your new tattoo.
  • Have a clean towel or paper towel ready for drying.
  • Have tattoo aftercare cream at hand.
    
    
    
• Removal:
  • Carefully remove the tape holding the cling film.
  • Peel off the film slowly and carefully.
  • The film may be a bit messy with ink, blood plasma, and vaseline.
    
    
• Cleaning:
  • Wash the tattoo thoroughly with lukewarm water and the correct soap.
  • Remove all residues of ink, blood plasma, and vaseline. This prevents severe scabbing.
  • Pat the tattoo dry with a clean towel or paper towel.

💡TIP: To prevent severe scabbing, it is very important that you wash off all residues very thoroughly. Scabs form when blood plasma hardens. That's why it's so incredibly important to clean your new tattoo properly.

Removing tattoo film

• Preparation:
  • Make sure you can wash your tattoo with clean water
  • Wash your hands thoroughly
  • Check the water temperature (lukewarm)
  • Use the correct soap for your tattoo.
  • Have a clean towel or paper towel ready for drying
    
    
• Removal:
  Removing the second skin tattoo film is a completely different story. It's, of course, stuck on. You can remove it very easily by stretching the film. Just grab a loose piece somewhere and stretch the tattoo film. The thinner the tattoo film, the easier this process will be.
  
  
  If you hold the tattoo film under warm running water or simply take a warm shower, you can remove it even more easily.
• Cleaning:
  • Wash the tattoo thoroughly with lukewarm water and the correct soap
  • Remove all residues of ink, blood plasma, and vaseline. This prevents severe scabbing
  • Pat the tattoo dry with a clean towel or paper towel

Cling film

No, generally you should not re-wrap your tattoo with film. It is important that your tattoo is not sealed off, because oxygen is necessary for proper healing. Film prevents the supply of oxygen and creates a moist environment where bacteria thrive. So, avoid it as much as possible.

Exceptions:

• First 24 hours: Your tattoo artist may advise you to leave the film on for the first 24 hours, or even to sleep with the film on for the first night.
• Lots of wound fluid: If your tattoo is losing a lot of wound fluid, you can wrap it with cling film before going to bed. This prevents your bedding or clothes from sticking.

So, is it allowed? Yes. Your artist might even recommend leaving the film on for 24 hours and advise you to sleep with it on the first night.

If you're really losing a lot of wound fluid, you can wrap your tattoo with cling film before you go to sleep. This prevents your bedding or clothes from sticking to your tattoo.

If that should unexpectedly happen... just stay calm. What you absolutely SHOULD NOT do is try to pull it off in a panic. In our article All about tattoo aftercare, read what's best to do then.

With tattoo film, you won't have this problem at all.

If you go to sleep with the film, it's incredibly important that you thoroughly clean and care for your tattoo the next morning.

Tattoo film

Just like with cling film, the intention is not to re-wrap your tattoo with special tattoo film. Under that film, your own body creates the ideal wound climate for your tattoo to heal. That doesn't mean it doesn't happen sometimes 🙃

For example, if you produce a lot of wound fluid. So much so that it becomes uncomfortable to walk around with the film. That's not the intention. In that case, it's better to remove it and re-wrap it (or have it re-wrapped).

Want to know more about special tattoo film?

Original publication date: 2018-11-20
Last updated on: 2024-02-29