One of the most important things to do after having your new tattoo is the aftercare process. Regarding this aftercare guide, how long to keep your tattoo wrapped in cling film is one of the most frequently asked questions.
Wrapping tattoos in a cling film has been a common practice since the ’60s to ’70s by bikers groups. At the time, bikers used to rip off their freshly-new tattoo’s bandage to show off, splash blood and ink everywhere.
For a safer way to show off these tattoos without hurting themselves and causing infection fears, a biker came up with the idea of wrapping them with see-through cling film.
Image Source: Bangbangtattoo
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Now let’s dive into the meat of the article, in which we will discuss everything you need to know about the process.
Contents
- 1 Tattoo: To Wrap Or Not To Wrap
- 2 What Is A Tattoo Wrap?
- 3 What Does Wrapping Your New Tattoo Do?
- 4 When Should I Wrap My New Tattoo?
- 5 What Should I Wrap My New Tattoo With?
- 6 How Long Should I Wrap My New Tattoo?
- 7 Why To Avoid Using Cling Film or Plastic Wrap
- 8 Aftercare Tips For New Tattoos
- 9 Wrapping Up
Tattoo: To Wrap Or Not To Wrap
As we explained, the act of ripping bandages off new tattoos will splash blood everywhere. At this point, you should hear a warning rattling in the back of your head “INFECTION.” Yes, the most crucial function of a cling film for new tattoos is to restrict infection.
Please take into account that your new tattooing is, basically, an open wound. The needles puncture microtrauma on your skin to inject ink into the deeper layers. Depending on the body region, this wound can lead to minor bleeding, swelling, or itching.
What Is A Tattoo Wrap?
A tattoo wrap ranges from sterile bandages to see-through film or plastic wrap. After finishing your tattoo, the tattooist will use these tools to shield your artwork’s skin area to protect it.
Tattoo wraps can be transparent or not, depending on their material (cloth or plastic).
What Does Wrapping Your New Tattoo Do?
The cling film is there to protect this vulnerable area from harmful bacteria, dirt, or your nails if you can’t resist the itching or any touching. Let alone the fact that some countries require you to wrap the new tattoos to restrict infection. Hence, the question shouldn’t be “Should I wrap my tattoo?” but instead “How to wrap my tattoo right?”
When Should I Wrap My New Tattoo?
Keep in mind that you don’t need to wrap 24/24 after getting it. The only times you need this protection is:
- On your way home from the studio
- When you sleep
- When there are chances of contact
- Wearing tight clothes
- In a dirty/polluted environment
Image Source: Headinablender
On the other hand, don’t wrap it when:
- Getting a shower
- After getting home and your wound has recovered a bit
- In loose clothes
- Regular, daily activities with no risk of infection
What Should I Wrap My New Tattoo With?
It may surprise you, but far from everyone’s prediction, cling film or plastic wrap are not the best choice for wrapping your tattoo. The best and preferable choices by tattooists and experts are sterile bandages.
Though not showcasing your new art, these designated medical bandages are the best-in-class at preventing infection. Additionally, they won’t block airflows to your wounded area.
Image Source: Mediademocracy
How Long Should I Wrap My New Tattoo?
If you need to stick with see-through film, the aftercare for a couple of days after being tattooed is crucial for your health and the art’s quality. However, this process sparks so many debates and confusion online that it makes finding a definite answer difficult.
The first thing you have to remember is always to trust your tattooists. They should be responsible for the hygiene and wellbeing of you and your piece of art and are the first to ask when you are in doubt.
After wrapping your tattoo in the studio, the artist should give you clear instructions on how to take care of it, when to take the film off and how to change it altogether. Their advice is far more valuable than any online expert’s as they have solid experience and know your skin conditions.
Though there’s no concrete standard for time to wrap, there are some minor things you need to remember.
Image Source: Mediademocracy
- First, depending on your skin and the art’s skin area, you should wait until you are entirely back home and wait for a couple of hours to no more than a day to remove the film. Take the tattooist’s advice on this.
- Second, after removing the initial layer of film wrap, you should keep your skin clean and sterile by using soap and washing it gently.
- Last, we don’t recommend you rewrap on your own. The sterile condition at your home is no way near the conditions at a decent studio, and you shouldn’t expect yourself to be as professional as tattooists.
Still, suppose you feel urgent to shield the area as for the situations above. In that case, we suggest consulting your tattooist before doing so.
Try not to use secondary wraps as much as possible since your skin needs fresh air to recover, and it takes a few weeks before this happens.
Why To Avoid Using Cling Film or Plastic Wrap
Cling film should be the last resort to use if there are no other choices or you are too eager to show your tattoo. Due to the nature of plastic, it will block any airflows from your tattoo. Though it will also prevent any microparticles or dirt, fresh air is essential for healthy wound recovery.
What’s more, cling film messes with the natural growth and development of the skin’s top layer, preventing it from forming new cells and creating an environment that nurtures harmful bacteria.
Last but not least, it heats the area while creating a vacuum. A hot environment is the best thing for infection and germs to grow in your wound. Hence, if you must wrap your tattoos with film, make it as short of a period as possible.
Aftercare Tips For New Tattoos
Here are some valuable tips for your aftercare process that you should take into account:
- Always keep your wounded area clean by using soap
- Use moisturizer if needed to help with recovery
- Never wrap your tattoos for more than a few days
- Always follow your tattooist’s instruction
- Never scratch or touch your wound with unclean hands and objects
Wrapping Up
We hope that our aftercare guide: how long to keep tattoo wrapped in cling film is enough to answer your confusion. Cling film is still one of the available ways to protect your fresh tattoo while showcasing them to everyone regardless of its drawbacks.
That said, always use it with conscious consideration for your health. In conclusion, you always need to remember to take your piece of art with care, decent hygiene and always adhere to your tattooist’s recommendations!