How to heal your tattoo - Winter vs Summer
- tiggytattoos
- Sep 26
- 2 min read
The aftercare for healing your tattoo is always the same : keep it clean, keep it moisturised and keep it protected from the elements. But the season does make a difference to how you look after your new tattoo. Here's what to expect.
Healing a tattoo in Winter
Winter is often the preferred time to heal a tattoo - mainly because you don't need to worry about the sun and it's harmful UV rays! But there are still a few seasonal quirks to keep in mind.
The good stuff:
Less sun = less fading. UV rays are so harmful for fresh (and healed!) tattoos, so the short days and cosy nights work in our favour. Especially in the UK where we get less sun during these months anyway.
Cooler weather = less sweat. You're less likely to irritate the tattoo with excessive heat or sweating under the wrap.
Things to watch out for:
Dry air and central heating. Both can dry your skin pretty fast, this can make scabs form more, they might be thicker and itchier. To combat this, make sure you stay on top of using a nice and gentle, fragrance-free aftercare balm to keep your tattoo moisturised.
Lots of layers. Jumpers, coats, leggings, boots - all of these can rub against healing tattoos. Go for loose sleeves and soft fabrics whenever possible.
Healing a tattoo in Summer
Summer is my favourite time of the year, I love the sunshine! But the sun and it's harmful UV rays is not good for a fresh tattoo, or any tattoo.
The good stuff:
Loose clothing. In the summer we are much more likely to wear loose clothing every day anyway, this makes it easier to get tattooed and also you won't get irritation from your clothes rubbing on your new tattoo. Great.
Things to watch out for:
Sun Exposure. UV damage is real and it will fade your colours or change the hue of them irreversibly before you've even finished healing. This will happen to healed tattoos as well but fresh tattoos are so much more delicate and will suffer more than healed ones.
Sweating. The worst irritations I've seen from people healing a tattoo is where the skin gets sweaty underneath the protective tattoo wrap. Wrapping the tattoo is the best way to heal, but usually if it's very hot and sweaty then I'd recommend switching the wrap for frequent moisturising instead.
No holidays or swimming in the sea. Sunbathing and swimming is an absolute no go when healing a new tattoo. I know you wanna show it off but you need to wait a good couple of months before going away on holiday after your fresh tattoo.
Bottom line:
Winter = moisturise more, layer loosely
Summer = protect from the sun, avoid sweat, sand and swimming
With a little care, your tattoo will heal beautifully any time of the year, so theres no need to worry about waiting for the right season. But it's good to keep these things in mind when planning your new tattoo.
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