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Care of New Tattoos

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How to Sleep with a New Tattoo
Co-authored by wikiHow Staff | 12 References

Updated: October 9, 2019

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Protecting the Tattoo
Making Yourself Comfortable
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You've researched a tattoo, found an artist, gone under the needle, and now it's
time to rest. If you got a tattoo on your back, chest, or side, you'll need to
protect the tattoo while you sleep. This means putting clean sheets on the bed,
letting air circulate around the tattoo, and changing your sleep position.
Fortunately, your tattoo will heal quickly if you get lots of quality rest and
you'll soon be sleeping like normal.
Method 1
Protecting the Tattoo

1
Put fresh sheets on your bed before you go to sleep. Old sheets contain dead
skin cells and bacteria that could cause infection, especially when you stop
covering your tattoo. Change your bedding before sleeping with your new tattoo.[1]
If you have enough sheets, put clean sheets on the bed every night.

Tip: Use dark bedding instead of light-colored sheets since ink from your
tattoo might stain the sheets.
2
Follow your tattoo artist's care recommendations about wrapping. Ask your
tattoo artist if you need to keep the tattoo covered while you sleep and when you
should remove the wrapping. They might advise you to keep their bandage on for the
first night before removing it. To put a new bandage on at home, you may be told to
put a sterile absorbent bandage on the tattoo.[2]
If the bandage doesn't have adhesive, use medical tape to secure the
bandage around the tattoo. Ensure that you don't apply tape to the tattoo, which
would be painful to remove.
Avoid wrapping the tattoo with plastic clingfilm because it traps sweat and
bacteria against the tattoo.
3
Choose a sleeping position that keeps you off of the tattoo. Your tattoo needs
circulating air in order to heal faster. If you lie on the tattoo, you'll irritate
the skin and trap moisture against it as you sleep. If you got a tattoo on your:[3]
Back, sleep on your belly.
Side, lie on your opposite side.
Chest, sleep on your back.
Leg, raise your leg with a pillow or cushion.
4
Wait 4 to 7 days before you sleep on your tattoo. Your tattoo will ooze and
bleed for a few days after you get it. Avoid sleeping on the tattoo at this point
since it needs air circulation. Once the new layer of skin has formed over your
tattoo, usually after 4 to 7 days, you can begin to sleep on it.[4]
You'll also see the old skin scab and flake off, which can make the tattoo
feel itchy.
5
Try to get at least 8 hours of sleep. Since your body treats a tattoo like a
wound, it's important to get more sleep than usual. This gives your body more time
to recover and helps your tattoo heal faster.[5]
Remember that your immune system is responding to the tattoo, so support it
by eating nutritious foods as well.
6
Wet any bedding that sticks to your tattoo during the night. If you wake up and
see that your top bedsheet is sticking to your tattoo, do not pull it off, which
could slow the healing process. Instead, hold the sheet and carefully walk to a
sink. Get the sheet wet to loosen it and then remove the sheet.[6]
To prevent the bottom fitted sheet from sticking to your tattoo, lay a
clean towel or cloth under you before you go to sleep. Then, replace the towel or
sheet if it sticks to you during the night.
If the sheet is stuck to a tattoo that's in a hard to reach place, such as
on your back, get in the shower with the sheet stuck to you.

Method 2
Making Yourself Comfortable

1
Wear loose clothing that doesn't rub against the tattoo. Your tattoo site is
extra sensitive and might still be painful, which can make it difficult to sleep.
Prevent scratchy fabric from pressing hard against the tattoo and wear loose, soft
clothing to bed instead.[7]
If you prefer, don't wear pajamas if they cover your tattoo.
2
Arrange pillows under your knees to make sleeping on your back more
comfortable. You're more likely to stay off of your tattoo if you have pillows or
cushions that support you as you sleep. If your tattoo is on your chest and you're
trying to sleep on your back, put small pillows or rolled-up towels under each of
your knees.[8]
Add extra pillows under your head if you feel like you're leaning too far
back on the bed.
Raising your knees with the pillows supports your lower back so it's more
comfortable.
3
Put a pillow under your chest if you need to sleep on your belly. If your
tattoo is on your back and you find that laying on your belly and chest is
uncomfortable, slide a pillow under your chest. The pillow raises you up a little
so you're not putting as much pressure on your chest.[9]
If you're still uncomfortable, buy a specialized stomach sleeper pillow or
a face-down pillow that has a hole for you to lay your head in.
 4
Place pillows in front and behind you if you're sleeping on your side. If you
got a tattoo on 1 of your sides, lie on your opposite side. To prevent you from
rolling over onto your other side, arrange a long pillow, bolster, or sleeping
wedge near your chest. Put another 1 right behind you along your back.[10]
If it's difficult for you to position the pillows, ask a friend to help.
5
Sleep alone for the first few nights after getting the tattoo. If you share
your bed with a partner, ask them to sleep in another room so you can get good
sleep. This is especially important if your partner is a restless sleeper or you're
getting used to different sleep positions.[11]
You might find that your support pillows take up a lot of space and there
isn't as much room for your partner.
If you have pets that get into bed with you, try to keep them out of your
bed for the first few days after getting your tattoo. This will prevent animal
dander and germs from getting into your new tattoo.
6
Create a soothing bedtime routine before you go to sleep. To help you fall
asleep easier, avoid bright light from televisions, phones, or computer screens in
the hour before you go to bed. Instead, do a relaxing activity, such as reading,
yoga, or talking with a friend.[12]

Tip: Consider cutting back on caffeine during the day so you have an easier
time drifting off to sleep.

Community Q&A
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Tips

If you're traveling or staying in a hotel after getting the tattoo, bring your
own clean bedding instead of relying on the hotel's cleanliness.

Things You'll Need

Clean bedsheets
Clean towel or cloth
Pillows, cushions, or rolled-up towels

Related wikiHows

How to
Care for a New Tattoo

How to
Take a Shower With a New Tattoo
References

↑ https://tiptopsleep.com/sleeping-with-a-new-tattoo/
↑ https://www.tattoodo.com/a/dos-donts-an-official-guide-in-healing-your-new-
tattoo-4647
↑ https://www.tattoodo.com/a/dos-donts-an-official-guide-in-healing-your-new-
tattoo-4647
↑ https://flo.health/menstrual-cycle/lifestyle/hygiene-and-beauty/how-long-
does-it-take-for-a-tattoo-to-heal
↑ https://tiptopsleep.com/sleeping-with-a-new-tattoo/
↑ https://tiptopsleep.com/sleeping-with-a-new-tattoo/
↑ https://www.tattoodo.com/a/dos-donts-an-official-guide-in-healing-your-new-
tattoo-4647
 ↑ https://tiptopsleep.com/sleeping-with-a-new-tattoo/
↑ https://tiptopsleep.com/sleeping-with-a-new-tattoo/

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Article Info

This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who
validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. Together, they cited information
from 12 references.

Categories: Care of New Tattoos

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Co-Authored By:
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Co-authors: 3
Updated: October 9, 2019
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