Sleeping with a fresh tattoo
A few simple preparations can help with the first night after a tattoo: choose your covering, have comfortable clothes and clean bedding ready, then find a position that suits the tattooed area.
The first night
One to two hours after your session, remove the covering I applied at the studio. With clean hands, wash the tattoo with mild soap and water at a comfortable temperature. Gently pat it dry with a disposable paper towel or let it air-dry.
If ink, blood or lymph fluid is still coming from your tattoo at bedtime, you can apply fresh food-grade cling film to the clean, dry area, or sleep in cotton clothing you don't mind marking.
If you apply fresh film, remove it when you wake up, then wash and dry the tattoo as you did after the first covering. This protection is for the first night. For ongoing care, follow the aftercare sheet and the instructions you received at the studio.
Clothing
Choose clean, black, soft cotton clothing with a loose fit. Cotton feels comfortable against your skin; the fit should leave room around the tattoo, with seams and elastic that don't press on the area.
Black makes ink or blood marks less visible, and these can be difficult to wash out. Choose clothes you don't mind staining, even if they're black.
If your clothing is stuck to the tattoo when you wake up, keep it on as you get into the shower. Let lukewarm water soak the fabric and soften what is holding it in place, then gently ease it away without pulling on your skin.
Bedding
Put on clean sheets and pillowcases before your session. If you use a cushion to support an arm or leg, give it a clean cover too, and choose bedding you don't mind marking in case it gets stained.
Keep pets out of your bed while your tattoo heals. This helps limit pet hair and dirt in the bedding, as well as licking of the area and accidental scratches.
Sleeping positions
Look for a position that limits direct pressure and rubbing on the tattooed area. The suggestions below are starting points to adapt to your piece and your comfort. A cushion can support nearby areas or help you settle into position, with a clean cover and without pressing on the tattoo.
Arm or forearm: try sleeping on your back or on the opposite side. Support your arm so the tattooed surface is free of pressure, taking into account whether the piece is on the inside or outside of the arm.
Shoulder: try the opposite side. Your back may also work if the rear of your shoulder isn't tattooed and the area stays clear of the mattress.
Back or shoulder blades: try your side, or your front if that feels comfortable. Choose the side that keeps pressure off the tattoo.
Chest or stomach: try sleeping on your back. A cushion under your knees may make this position more comfortable.
Ribs or flank: lie on the side opposite the tattoo. A cushion behind your back may help you stay comfortable in that position.
Hip, buttock or thigh: try the opposite side. For a thigh tattoo, adjust to the tattooed surface: your back may work for the front of the thigh; your side or front may keep the back of the thigh clearer.
Shin, calf or ankle: try your back for a shin tattoo. For a calf tattoo, try your side with the area free of pressure. For an ankle tattoo, check that the mattress, cushion and your other leg aren't rubbing against the piece.
The following nights
Skin tenderness, any fluid coming from the tattoo and its placement matter more than a fixed number of nights. Adjust your position while pressure or rubbing bothers the area, listen to your body and trust yourself.
While your tattoo heals, keep your bedding clean, wear clothes that rub as little as possible and keep pets out of your bed. Reapplying film every evening isn't part of the first-night routine.