Men's Hairstyles Now
  • Fade Haircuts
  • Undercut Haircuts
  • Short Hair
  • Medium Hair
  • Long Hair
  • Boys Haircuts
  • Beard Styles
  • Product Reviews
  • Tattoo Ideas
  • Celebrity Styles
Follow Us!
Facebook 6K Fans
Pinterest 249K Followers
Men's Hairstyles Now
Men's Hairstyles Now
  • Fade
  • Undercut
  • Short
  • Medium
  • Long
  • Beard
  • Boys
  • Reviews
  • Tattoos

How Long Does It Take For A Tattoo To Heal?

  • Gary Peck
  • July 9, 2022
How Long Does It Take A Tattoo To Heal

On average, it takes a tattoo about 2-3 weeks to heal. While healing times may vary and there are many factors that can affect the healing process, your tattoo should look fully healed within a month.

Read on as we cover how long an average tattoo takes to scab, peel, and heal. We will also explain the differences in the healing process between big and small tattoos, and steps you can take to make your tattoo heal faster.

How Long Does A Tattoo Take To Heal

Contents

  • 1 How Long Does A Tattoo Take To Heal?
  • 2 Tattoo Healing Time
    • 2.1 Stage One: Days 1-6
    • 2.2 Stage Two: Days 7-14
    • 2.3 Stage Three: Days 15-30
    • 2.4 Stage Four: Days 31+
  • 3 How To Make A Tattoo Heal Faster
  • 4 How Long Does It Take For A Tattoo To Scab?
  • 5 How Long Does It Take For A Tattoo To Peel?
  • 6 Best Lotion For New Tattoo
    • 6.1 Hustle Butter Deluxe Tattoo Butter
  • 7 Tattoo Healing

How Long Does A Tattoo Take To Heal?

While your tattoo will look completely healed in 3 weeks, the body and skin below the surface will continue to heal for up to 4 months. This will result in the complete healing of all layers of the tattooed skin. Until then, you’ll want to take extra good care and precautions around this area.

However, healing times depend on a number of factors. Specifically, your health, age, lifestyle, and quality of aftercare can make your new tattoo heal faster or slower. This is why it is so important to look after and care for your skin.

How Long For A Tattoo To Heal

Another critical factor is the size of your tattoo and the amount of skin that needs to heal. While every tattoo goes through the same stages of recovery, small tattoo healing times are naturally shorter. You can expect a small tattoo to heal in 2 weeks.

On the other hand, a big tattoo can take 3 to 4 weeks to heal, and a medium-sized tattoo may require the full 2 to 3 weeks. Just remember that this is relative.

How Long Does A Small Tattoo Take To Heal

A full back tattoo and a full sleeve tattoo are both large pieces of ink, but naturally one covers much more skin than the the other. Similarly, ink on your hand versus wrist or inner forearm can differ in healing time because your hand is much more exposed and used, making it harder to protect.

Tattoo Healing Time

Here’s a basic overview of tattoo healing times, the stages of recovery, and what to expect during the process.

Fully Healed Tattoo

Stage One: Days 1-6

During the first week, you’ll experience oozing, swelling, and pain. Proper care requires keeping the tattooed skin clean to prevent infection and encourage scabbing. Scabs are the body’s way of closing open wounds and stopping bacteria. A few days after your tattoo starts to scab, you’ll notice peeling.

Tattoo Scabbing

Stage Two: Days 7-14

During the second week, your tattoo will itch and flake. Tattoo itch is a result of dry skin irritation. Stop the itch by applying a tattoo lotion that will moisturize and soothe the skin.

As the scabbed areas heal, you’ll see your tattoo peel. A flaking tattoo may be annoying, but the peeling process indicates the tattooed skin is healing. Your tattoo will peel for 7 to 10 days.

Do not pull off loose skin or try to accelerate the peeling of flakes; you can accidentally open a wound and cause your tattoo to take longer to heal. In bad cases, you can even mess up your design.

Ruin Your Tattoo By Peeling A Scab

Stage Three: Days 15-30

The tattoo will look fully healed, but may still appear scaly, shiny, or cloudy for a few weeks. During this time, deep layers of skin are still repairing themselves. This is not how your tattoo will look in the end.

Maintain a good aftercare routine, continue to gently rub tattoo cream on the skin, and avoid direct sun exposure.

Peeling Tattoo

Stage Four: Days 31+

With the tattoo completely healed and assuming there are no open sores or infections, it is safe to go swimming, take a bath, and generally enjoy an active lifestyle. You’ll still want to apply sunscreen when in the sunlight; this will stop your tattoo from fading.

How To Make A Tattoo Heal Faster

Ultimately, the fastest way to heal a tattoo is to exercise proper care. This means good personal hygiene, a healthy balanced diet with a multivitamin supplement, using the right products, and avoiding anything that may prolong your full recovery.

How To Make A Tattoo Heal Faster

Here are a few tips to make your tattoo heal faster and generally reduce the healing time for your new body art:

  • Always wash your hands before touching the tattooed skin.
  • After removing the plastic wrap, clean the area with unscented anti-bacterial soap and warm water.
  • Use a high-quality tattoo lotion with natural ingredients to keep your skin from drying out.
  • Keep your skin hydrated and moisturized for optimal recovery.
  • Do not scratch or peel off the scabs.
  • Protect your skin from brushing up against clothing.
  • Do not expose the tattooed skin to the sun.
  • Do not take a bath, go swimming, or get in a hot tub to avoid an infection or bacteria while your skin is healing.

It is important to keep in mind that you can not speed up the tattoo healing process. Based on your age, health and immune system, your body will heal as fast as it can naturally. These steps will maximize your body’s recovery time, but poor care can drastically slow it down.

Fastest Ways To Heal A Tattoo

Although some people heal quickly, it is a fact that the older you get, the longer it takes for your body to heal. Moreover, if you have underlying medical issues, this can extend your timeline.

Finally, if your skin takes forever to heal or you regularly scar up with basic cuts and scrapes, consider these health conditions before getting a tattoo.

How Long Does It Take For A Tattoo To Scab?

How Long Does It Take For A Tattoo To Scab

In most cases, it takes a tattoo 3 to 4 days to start scabbing. The formation of scabs is a normal and crucial step in the healing process because scabbing creates a protective layer over the tattooed skin that prevents bacteria from entering the body. Tattoo scabs last for a week.

Eventually, your new tattoo’s scabs will fall off and expose freshly healed skin. Ultimately, you’ll know that your tattoo is healed when the scabs are gone and the design is clean.

Extreme or unhealthy tattoo scabbing can be an indication that your artist penetrated too deeply with the needle.

How Long Does It Take For A Tattoo To Peel?

How Long Does It Take For A Tattoo To Peel

It takes a tattoo 3 to 7 days to peel, and the peeling will last for 7 to 10 days. At the end of this time, your tattoo should stop peeling and will likely be completely healed.

Peeling is normal and is how your body creates a new healthy skin layer. You may experience intense itching and dry flaky skin during the peeling process.

Make sure to gently apply a moisturizing cream to relieve the itchiness, but absolutely do not peel off any scabs or flakes to avoid opening up wounds.

Best Lotion For New Tattoo

Best Lotion For New Tattoo

Applying a good tattoo aftercare product is an essential part of the healing process. The best lotion for new tattoos will keep your skin hydrated, moisturized, soft and smooth, thereby accelerating the recovery period. The final result is a cool tattoo design that looks shiny, clear, and defined.

We recommend starting with a thick cream or ointment for the first week. Once your skin starts scabbing and peeling, you can switch to a fragrance-free lotion. You’ll want to continue using this aftercare lotion for months to keep the new tattoo looking fresh and vibrant.

The best creams and lotions are made of natural organic ingredients and come unscented. Artificial fragrances are created with chemicals, and this can cause skin irritations on wounds. A fragrance-free or unscented lotion ensures you avoid an infection or breakout.

Here is the best lotion to use on a tattoo!

Hustle Butter Deluxe Tattoo Butter

Hustle Butter Deluxe

Hustle Butter Deluxe makes the top-rated tattoo aftercare product on the market. Thick and creamy but spreads easily, it’s great for all stages of the tattoo healing process.

Made with natural organic ingredients and considered 100% vegan, this tattoo cream contains shea butter, mango butter, aloe butter, coconut oil, sunflower oil, rice brain oils, rosemary oil, green tea extract, vitamin E, and mint essential oil.

Clinically-tested and certified as a skin care product, this lotion keeps your tattooed area moisturized while reducing redness, swelling, itchiness, and flakes for faster healing. Plus, it soothes irritated skin for quick relief.

Easy to use, won’t clog your pores, and works well even with sensitive skin, Hustle Butter Deluxe comes highly-recommend from tattoo artists around the world. If you’re looking for the best aftercare cream on the market, this product should be your go-to choice.

Tattoo Healing

Although a tattoo can take some time to heal, with the average healing time at just 2 to 3 weeks, most men and women will agree the pain of the healing process has been worth it. If you’re considering your first tattoo and doing some research, check out the best tattoo ideas to find inspiration that may encourage you.

Previous Article
Best Cool Tattoos For Men

101 Cool Tattoos For Men

  • Gary Peck
  • July 9, 2022
View More
Next Article
Tattoo Healing Process Stages

Stages of Tattoo Healing Process

  • Gary Peck
  • July 9, 2022
View More
You May Also Like
Best Tattoo Ideas For Men
View More

101 Best Tattoo Ideas For Men

View More

125 Best Sleeve Tattoos For Men

View More

125 Best Arm Tattoos For Men

Best Half Sleeve Tattoos For Men
View More

125 Best Half Sleeve Tattoos For Men

Simple and Small Tattoos For Men
View More

101 Best Small, Simple Tattoos For Men

The Best Leg Tattoos For Men
View More

125 Best Leg Tattoos For Men

Popular Styles
  • Popular Haircuts For Men
    75 Popular Haircuts For Men
  • Fade Haircuts For Men
    50 Best Fade Haircuts
  • Short Haircuts For Men
    50 Best Short Haircuts For Men
  • Medium Length Haircuts For Men
    50 Best Medium Length Hairstyles For Men
  • Best Long Hairstyles For Men
    50 Long Hairstyles For Men
  • Best Taper Fade Haircuts For Men
    Taper Fade Haircuts
  • Haircut Numbers - Hair Clipper Sizes
    Haircut Numbers – Hair Clipper Sizes
  • The Undercut Hairstyle For Men
    59 Undercut Hairstyles For Men
  • Older Man Haircut Styles
    63 Best Hairstyles For Older Men
  • Best Asian Hairstyles For Men
    50 Asian Hairstyles For Men
Best Products
  • Make Your Hair Curly Men
    How To Get Curly Hair For Men
  • The Best Products For Curly Hair Men
    Best Products For Curly Hair Men
  • The Best Beard Trimmers For Men
    13 Best Beard Trimmers
  • Best Pomade For Men
    15 Best Pomades For Men
  • The Best Men’s Hair Products For Thin Hair
    10 Best Pomades + Men’s Hair Products For Thin Hair
  • Best DHT Blocking Shampoo
    7 Best DHT Blocker Shampoos
  • The Best Pomades For Asian Hair
    7 Best Pomades For Asian Hair
Popular Tattoos
  • Best Tattoo Ideas For Men
    101 Best Tattoo Ideas For Men
  • 125 Best Sleeve Tattoos For Men
  • 125 Best Arm Tattoos For Men
  • Best Half Sleeve Tattoos For Men
    125 Best Half Sleeve Tattoos For Men
  • Simple and Small Tattoos For Men
    101 Best Small, Simple Tattoos For Men
MensHairstylesNow.com
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclosure
© All Rights Reserved. | Do Not Sell My Information

Input your search keywords and press Enter.