So, you're thinking about getting another tattoo? I get it, tattoos are addictive. But before you rush off to the tattoo parlor, you should know that there are some important things to consider. One of the most common questions people ask is how long they should wait before getting their next tattoo.
Tattoos are fun, exciting, and addictive. Once you start decorating yourself with beautiful, personalized artwork, it can be hard to be satisfied with just a few pieces. Many people ask how long should I wait before my next tattoo? Tattooing has come a long way in recent years. It has become a fairly easy, clean, and worry-free process, but it is important to remember that it is still hard on your body.
Tattoos begin as a wound, and they need time to heal. Getting too many tattoos too fast will be extremely taxing on the body, and can be dangerous. There are many things to consider when deciding how long to wait between tattoos.
How soon after a tattoo can you get another?
So, you've just gotten a tattoo and you're already thinking about your next one? I know the feeling! It's easy to get addicted to the feeling of getting inked, but it's important to remember that getting a tattoo is a serious commitment. Not only is it a permanent addition to your body, but it also requires proper care and healing time.
Before you start planning your next tattoo, it's important to consider how long you should wait before getting another one. The healing process for a tattoo can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, depending on the size and placement of the tattoo. Rushing into another tattoo before your first one has properly healed can result in poor healing and even infection.
It's also important to consider the amount of pain and discomfort you experienced during your first tattoo. While some people can handle getting multiple tattoos in a short amount of time, others may need more time to recover both physically and mentally.
On average, a tattoo will be healed, on the surface, after about 2-3 weeks. This is the minimum amount of time you should wait in between tattoos.
This estimated healing time is for a tattoo that is perfectly taken care of and doesn’t experience any abnormal reactions or infections. There are many things that can prolong the healing process, and there are several factors that can contribute to the appropriate wait time in between new tattoos.
Higher Risks When you are Actively Healing
As your tattoo begins to heal you will experience lots of scabbing and peeling. This is entirely normal, and will only last around 2-3 weeks. After this period, your tattoo will begin to appear healed. It will become smooth and all the pain and itching will go away. This is when it becomes safer to go swimming, soak in a hot bath, etc. The skin on the surface will be healed, and this is the earliest that you should be thinking about a new tattoo.
However, it is important to consider that the deeper layers of skin will take longer to heal. Just because it starts to feel and look better on the surface, doesn’t mean you should stop taking care of it and paying attention to the condition of the skin. Total and complete healing of a tattoo can take up to six months. Despite the many regulations and safety precautions that have been put in place for tattoos, getting inked will always come with risks no matter how strong and healthy you are. Your body will be weaker and more vulnerable when you are actively healing a wound, and therefore the risk of infection will be higher if you get a new tattoo before an existing one is healed.
Infections Will Prolong the Healing Process
One of the most important things to consider when healing a tattoo is the risk of infection. If you have gotten your tattoo at a clean, professional, and reputable shop, then they have done their part. Doing your research and finding a good shop is the first step to being safe about getting a tattoo, but it doesn’t end there.
Once you leave the shop, you are responsible for the care of your new tattoo. It is imperative that you follow all of the after-care instructions carefully. These are designed to help you prevent infection and make sure your tattoo heals as nicely as possible.
Even if you are careful and take all the necessary precautions, you may still experience a mild infection. If this is the case, get in contact with your tattoo artist and/or doctor for further care instructions, and expect a longer overall healing time. If your tattoo has become infected, you definitely want to wait until the infection has been taken care of before getting another one.
Tattoo Size matters when comes to re-Tattoo
The size of your tattoo may affect healing times slightly. A very small tattoo that is well taken care of will probably heal pretty quickly - similarly to a small cut. If this is all you have gotten, getting a new tattoo soon after will not be a big deal.
Very large tattoos will take longer to heal, as there is more broken skin for your body to regenerate. Not only will it take longer, but it will be that much harder on the body. Your immune system will be hard at work on this large piece of surface area. If you get multiple large tattoos before any of them heal fully, your body will be weakened and the risk of infection will be higher.
If you are interested in a large piece - such as a full back or an entire sleeve - you will likely end up getting it done over multiple sessions. The same things should apply when you decide how long to wait in between sessions. It is all the same tattoo, but allowing the work done in each session to heal before continuing will be easier on your body and ultimately allow the tattoo as a whole to heal without compromising the image.
Tattoo Placement Matters
When it comes to tattoos, placement is key. Depending on the design and size of the tattoo, the placement can make a big difference in how it looks and how it ages. Here are some things to consider when choosing the placement of your tattoo:
- Visibility: Do you want your tattoo to be visible all the time or only when you choose to show it off? Consider the placement in relation to your clothing choices and work dress code.
- Pain: Some areas of the body are more painful to tattoo than others. If you have a low pain tolerance, you may want to avoid areas like the ribs, feet, and hands.
- Size: The size of your tattoo will also play a role in the placement. Large tattoos may be better suited for areas like the back, chest, or thigh, while smaller tattoos can be placed almost anywhere.
Another important factor to consider is the direction of the design. If the design has a face, it should either face inward or forward, depending on the placement. For example, a tattoo with a face on the chest should face inward toward the body's center line, while a tattoo with a face on the outer thigh should face forward.
It's also important to keep in mind that placement can affect how the tattoo ages. Areas of the body that experience a lot of movement or rubbing, such as the hands and feet, may cause the tattoo to fade or blur over time. Areas that are exposed to the sun, such as the arms and legs, may also cause the tattoo to fade more quickly.
Ultimately, the placement of your tattoo is a personal choice. Take the time to consider all of the factors and choose a placement that you will be happy with for years to come.
Your Immune System is Your Friend
When it comes to getting a tattoo, it's important to remember that your immune system plays a crucial role in the healing process. As someone who has gotten multiple tattoos over the years, I've learned that taking care of my immune system is key to ensuring that my tattoos heal properly and that I can get back in the chair for my next piece as soon as possible. One of the ways I take care of my immune system is by eating a healthy and balanced diet. This means consuming plenty of fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains.
These foods are packed with essential vitamins and minerals that help to support a strong immune system. In addition to eating well, I also make sure to get plenty of sleep and exercise regularly. Both of these habits have been shown to boost immune function and can help to reduce the risk of infection or complications during the healing process. Overall, taking care of your immune system is an important part of getting a tattoo. By supporting your body's natural defenses, you can help to ensure that your tattoo heals properly and that you're ready for your next piece in no time.
Getting Sick
You want your immune system to be operating at full capacity when you get your tattoo. This will optimize the healing process and minimize any risks involved. Getting a tattoo causes your body to go into healing mode, and you become more vulnerable. If you happen to get sick while healing a tattoo, you should take extra care to ensure your tattoo is kept clean and protected to avoid infection while your immune system is compromised.
In this case, it is a good idea to wait until your body is fully healed from sickness before considering another tattoo.
Pain Capacity
Your own level of pain tolerance is another thing to consider when deciding on the frequency of new tattoos. Of course getting the tattoo initially is going to hurt, and while this will be the worst of it, it is not the only pain and discomfort you will experience.
Everyone’s skin will react differently to a needle and ink. Factors such as health, strength, and skin sensitivity will all play a role. Sometimes a tattoo will be sore and sensitive for several days after the initial application. You may also experience some irritation and swelling that will cause discomfort. All tattoos will peel and be itchy for a time as well.
Choosing to get several tattoos close together may result in irritation, soreness, and discomfort in multiple places on your body. It may affect your ability to perform very active or physically demanding tasks. Waiting a while between tattoos will ensure that any level of residual pain and discomfort is concentrated to one area only.
Artist Availability
There may be some factors that are out of your control when it comes to tattoo scheduling. Many people find one tattoo artist that they like and trust, and they will want to get all of their tattoos from this person
If you have your heart set on one artist and don’t want to switch, you may have to wait quite a while between tattoos simply due to the artist’s limited availability.
Multiple Tattoos at Once
If you really have a lot of ink that you are anxious to get quickly, you may consider getting two tattoos at once to avoid the risks involved with applying a new tattoo during the healing process of another. This can work as long as you find a balance. Getting two large tattoos together is not advisable as this may put the body through more trauma and distress than it can reasonably handle. It will also create a lengthy healing process that may be compromised due to the huge amount of skin trying to heal all at once.
Two small-medium sized tattoos, however, may be a reasonable route to take. You will have to deal with two areas of soreness and itching, but if you are prepared and they are small it will likely be manageable. In addition to only having to go through the healing process once, having two done in the same session will save you money! Each tattoo session will have a minimum price as it requires set time up times and new inks and needles. If both are done at once, you save on set up and tear down.
Waiting for Touch Ups
Getting a tattoo touched up is not the same as getting a whole new tattoo, but it still requires some waiting. Touching up a tattoo will break into the skin again, but quite minimally. Tattoos don’t always heal 100 percent perfectly, therefore a touch up will likely be included in the cost of your tattoo, or be available for a low additional cost.
While there is very little risk involved in the touch-up itself, you do want to wait until the tattoo is sufficiently healed before having any part of it worked on again. If the skin is still raw or sensitive, then touching it up will only irritate it further. It is good to wait for the surface of the tattoo to heal completely and the skin to return to normal before going back for a touch-up. This will probably be a minimum of one month.
Tattoos are a beautiful and unique way to express yourself, and you may want to cover yourself in them. That is great, but remember - you’ve got your whole life! Tattoos are risky and it is not worth compromising your health just because you are in a rush. Take care of yourself and let things heal before you go back for more. It will be worth it in the long run.
Conclusion
After researching and considering my own experiences, I've come to the conclusion that there is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of how long to wait between tattoo sessions. It really depends on a variety of factors, including the size and placement of the tattoo, the amount of ink used, and your own pain threshold and healing abilities.
That being said, it's generally a good idea to wait at least a few weeks between sessions to give your skin time to heal and the ink time to settle. This will help ensure that your tattoos look their best and last as long as possible.
If you're planning a larger tattoo project, it's also important to consider the overall design and placement of your tattoos to ensure that they work well together and don't clash or overlap in a way that detracts from their overall impact.
Ultimately, the decision of when to get your next tattoo is a personal one that should be based on your own preferences and goals. Whether you're looking to create a cohesive sleeve or simply want to express yourself with a few well-placed tattoos, taking the time to plan and space out your sessions can help ensure that you're happy with the results.
