Every tattoo requires proper healing. The process you choose affects the tattoo’s long-term color saturation and overall appearance. Selecting a safe healing method that works for you is crucial to the appearance of your ink.
Controversy exists over which healing method, wet or dry, is the “right” one to heal your tattoos, with varying methods questioned. So, let’s talk about dry healing. What does it entail? Should you try it? Does it work?
HUSH is here to give you all the deets on dry healing tattoos so you can make an informed decision for yourself.
What Is Dry Healing?
Dry healing is an uncomplicated and more natural approach to tattoo healing. Dry healing a tattoo means that you do not use lotions, ointments, or other topical moisturizing creams during the healing process. You follow the traditional healing processes but allow the tattoo to heal in the open air. The tattoo artist places a removable bandage over your tattoo before leaving the shop. When you remove this bandage, the typical cleaning procedure involving anti-bacterial soap remains in place to prevent infection. Besides that, as long as you are mindful of sun protection and water exposure, there isn’t anything else to do during the dry healing process.Why Choose the Dry Healing Approach?
The dry healing approach may work well for some people, but may not work as well for others. That said, there can be benefits to this healing method. Some people have sensitive skin that reacts to many things such as soaps, alcohol, mineral oil, fragrances, lotion, and even sun exposure. Dry healing prevents your already sensitive skin from becoming even more irritated on top of being freshly inked. Additionally, remembering to apply aftercare products is a daily habit that is non-negotiable if you choose not to dry heal. Consider whether or not you can maintain the daily practice of using a moisturizing agent. Some tattoo enthusiasts swear by the dry heal approach. They consider the skin a “force field” that protects the deeply embedded tattoo ink. Qué padre, no? Well, according to this ideology, should anything, including moisturizers, penetrate the top layer of skin, it may lessen the color saturation and vibrancy of their latest work of art.What Are the Pros of Dry Healing a Tattoo?
You should make a confident and informed decision on which healing method you prefer to take. There are several things to consider:- No Additional Cost - Dry healing tattoos requires no costs for moisturizers or other skincare solutions.
- No Skin Reactions - Irritation and allergic reactions from creams and lotions do not occur when dry healing is the chosen tattoo healing method.
- Saves Time & Effort - Dry healing your new ink saves the time and effort of applying a moisturizer several times per day.
What Are the Cons of Dry Healing a Tattoo?
Regardless of which tattoo healing process you choose, the risks remain the same. A needle injects tiny bits of ink into your skin during the tattoo process, and this causes an open wound on the skin, prone to infection and irritation. Here are the cons of dry tattoo healing:- Dry Skin, Cracking Skin - The skin becomes dry and tight during the healing process and sometimes causes skin cracking. Some claim this affects the way the tattoo looks after it heals. Using moisturizers can help prevent dry skin and itching, alleviating this uncomfortable stage of the healing process.
- Itching, Flaking, Scabbing, and Peeling - Some people can’t resist picking or scratching at the dry, flaking skin on and around the tattoo. But doing so affects the skin's dermis (inner layer), where the ink deposits. When the skin is removed prematurely in this area, it also removes bits of ink saturation, thus affecting the appearance of the tattoo after it heals.
- Scarring- Never scratch your tattoo, regardless of how much it itches. If you scratch a dry tattoo and remove a layer of the scab, you may remove deeper layers of skin without even realizing it, causing eventual deep scarring and a less than perfect tattoo.
Dry Healing: Do You Still Have To Clean Your Tattoo?
Cleaning your tattoo is never optional—it’s a must. Consider the area of tattooed skin like you would consider an open wound. If not properly cleaned, it is prone to infection due to bacteria and germs. Always use a gentle, tattoo-specific soap and warm water to carefully clean that delicate area two to three times per day. Love and care for that new ink—if you put in the love, that ink will give you some love right back in the form of an everlasting masterpiece.How Should I Dry Heal Tattoos?
Follow these simple, yet crucial steps to keep your tattoo healthy and clean during dry healing:- Avoid all lotions, creams, balms, ointments, and other topical moisturizing agents.
- Keep it clean by using gentle anti-bacterial soap and warm water two to three times per day. Dry it with a clean, lint-free towel or air dry. Seriously. Keep it clean.
- Drink plenty of water to hydrate your skin from the inside out.
- Don’t touch your tattoo. Touching your tattoo introduces bacteria and germs into the open wound, causing possible infection.
- Wear loose, breathable cotton clothing to prevent lint and other debris from clinging to the open wound.