There's a tattoo for everyone, from vibrant pop culture to traditional Japanese style, fine line work to realistic. The art of tattooing has been around for a while, with examples being found from around 5,200 years ago! Still, it's experiencing an increase in popularity lately, with famous celebrities embracing the unique art form, from ex-footballer David Beckham to BTS' Jung Kook to actor Dwayne Johnson, and the general public following suit.
Just over a quarter (26%) of Britons have a tattoo, with over 10% featuring a visible tattoo such as one on their forearms, wrists, or neck. The younger generations are more likely to feel positive about tattoos, with 46% of 18-to 24-year-olds and 47% of 25-to 34-year-olds reporting positive opinions. It's unsurprising that with this warm reception, more people have or are considering a tattoo!
Getting a tattoo is often an experience that requires hours of patience from the receiver and hard work from the tattooist, but it doesn't stop there. Tattoo aftercare is just as important, including figuring out how to sleep with your new tattoo to keep it in the best condition possible.
We answer some of the most essential questions about sleeping with a new tattoo to ensure your tattoo remains clean, healthy, and vibrant!
Does the position of a tattoo matter for sleep?
Yes, the position of your new tattoo can significantly impact how and where you sleep. This is especially true the first night your tattoo is fresh and likely to leak excess ink, blood, and more. Not only that, but it's likely still hurting - especially if you've gone for a bigger piece. As such, you'll want to avoid laying on your new tattoo where possible.
If you've got a new chest piece, you'll want to sleep on your back, whereas a back piece will mean either side or front sleeping if you can. A lot of it will be common sense, but if you've chosen to get a big tattoo, discuss it with your tattoo artist to get the best professional advice!
Should I cover a new tattoo when I sleep?
Keeping your new tattoo covered for at least the first night or two will help reduce the risk of it leaking onto your bedding and lower the risk of infection. After your tattoo has been finished, it may have been wrapped in some form of protection, such as cling film or other protective material.
If this protection is intact and hasn't leaked, you might be able to sleep with it still on. Otherwise, you'll want to carefully clean it before rewrapping it in something like cling film. This will keep your tattoo clean while avoiding the very painful issue of it sticking to the sheets. If you wake up to find your tattoo has stuck to your sheets, imagine you're taking off a plaster – slow and steady! Removing it too fast could cause the ink to be pulled off!
How do you not scratch a tattoo in sleep?
Unfortunately, there's no way to control what your body does while you sleep, but keeping your new tattoo covered during the night will help mitigate the risk of causing any injuries by scratching it. This means that even if you try to itch your tattoo in your sleep, you'll only be touching the wrapping, not the tattoo itself!
Will sleeping on a tattoo ruin it?
As long as you take all the necessary precautions, sleeping with a new tattoo shouldn't ruin it, but you'll want to avoid putting pressure on it. As much as we'd all love to be able to dictate what we do during the night, you can't guarantee what you'll do while sleeping, and a fresh tattoo is pretty much an open wound. So, make sure to follow our helpful tips on how to reduce the risk of causing damage to your new tattoo.
Tips for sleeping with a new tattoo
1. Make sure your bedding is clean
To reduce the risk of irritating your tattoo, it's important to make sure you have clean bedding. As said before, a tattoo is an open wound, so you'll want to ensure that it is kept clean and you sleep in a hygienic environment. We'd recommend using old bedding that you don't mind possibly staining or entirely new bedding to keep your favourite set in the best shape.
Doing this will ensure you eliminate as much dust, dirt, and bacteria as possible, giving you healthier sleep and reducing the risk of infections. For types on cleaning your bedding, including how to make it last longer, check out our guide on how to care for bedding!
2. Get lots of high-quality sleep
Sleep, particularly deep sleep, is when your body gets to work repairing itself by releasing chemicals to strengthen your immune system. As your tattoo is classified as a wound, treating it like any other injury you'd receive and getting plenty of rest makes sense. By getting a lot of high-quality deep sleep, you'll be able to help speed up the recovery process for your new tattoo.
A great way to ensure you're comfortable enough for good sleep is to choose the right mattress. Many styles and types are available, from memory foam to pocket spring mattresses. Check out our mattress buying guide if you're looking for a new mattress, particularly if you plan on having a few tattoos!
3. Wear loose clothing
Most pyjamas should fit a little loose to allow plenty of movement during the night, but this is doubly important when sleeping with a new tattoo. You don't want your clothing to get too tight around your tattoo, as the pressure can cause pain, aggravate the skin, and make the healing process take longer.
Like with the bedding, we recommend choosing clothing you don't mind possibly getting stained if your tattoo leaks!
4. Clean your tattoo before going to sleep
Take a shower or bath before going to sleep, and clean the area that has been tattooed carefully. Don't be rough, as this can aggravate and possibly damage your tattoo. Your tattoo artist should give you aftercare advice on caring for it, but the main point will be to keep it clean to promote proper healing.
Make sure to use either an antibacterial or gentle soap on your tattoo, and dry it off thoroughly to allow it to breathe and prevent bacteria from growing. You'll then want to wrap it to keep it protected, though you can stop doing this after a few nights! Double-check with your tattoo artist before doing this; some may not recommend it or have other suggestions on keeping your tattoo clean and pain-free.
5. Make sure your pets stay out of bed
Some people love their pets sleeping in bed with them; others hate it. But no matter your thoughts, it's best to make sure your four-legged friend doesn't spend the night with you while your new tattoo heals. This is because animals can contribute a lot of hair and dirt to your bedding, which can be particularly dangerous to a new tattoo and run the risk of infection. There's also the chance they might accidentally scratch it, and their claws are much more likely to make it through a covering than ails!
6. Ask your tattoo artist for advice
Your tattoo artist is the number one resource for sleeping with a new tattoo. They will have plenty of information on how to care for your new tattoo, alongside tips on sleeping better with it and more. You'll also be able to ask them any questions that you have that we haven't been able to answer!
