Can You Shave Over A Tattoo?

Whether it’s your first tattoo or your hundredth, you always have questions about caring for your skin, and most of the time, these questions come to mind after you leave the shop.

A common question that many of us forget to ask is about shaving and waxing our recently tattooed skin. When can you shave over a new tattoo? Shaving a new tattoo should only be done after the tattoo has fully healed.

More and more men want to shave their chest, legs, or arms, or even want to wax their hands. But more and more men are also getting tattoos on these body parts. And yet, we all have a big fear when we talk about tattooing: damaging it. So with a razor blade, it’s not easy. In short, we are wondering about the best way to shave over a tattoo.

Here are my tips for shaving over a tattoo.

Tattoo healing: how long and what stages?

You just got a tattoo, you’re so happy! Now begins an important phase: the healing phase of your tattoo. Indeed, to make your tattoo, the tattoo artist introduced the ink into your skin using needles that stung, stung, and still stung your skin. Imagine the number of micro-perforations your skin has suffered! Your tattoo is therefore at this stage an open wound that must be treated and taken care of. We tell you everything about the different phases until complete healing.

1st step : Your freshly tattooed skin is inflamed

Right after your session, your fresh tattoo is like a scratch and will burn a little. The tattoo artist had to protect your tattoo with a plastic film that you can remove after 24 hours (or keep the time indicated by your tattoo artist). When you remove the film, you will see that the tattoo will have oozed out. It’s normal, it’s your body rejecting lymph and expelling germs and excess ink. You feel a warm sensation on your skin. This stage lasts approximately 1 to 4 days.

Throughout the healing process, you must have very strict hygiene and clean your tattoo well with a neutral PH cleansing gel. You will also need to apply a healing cream after tattooing at least twice a day.

2nd step: Your skin is dry and tight

The tattoo begins to dry out: this can cause itching. But above all, do not scratch! Scratching can damage the tattoo and risk bacterial infection. You must therefore be patient and continue to clean the tattoo and apply a healing cream. Your tattoo may still be tender at this point and hurt to the touch.

3rd stage : the skin begins to heal

Scabs should begin to appear and underneath, your skin begins to heal. Your skin is still very fragile, so we treat it and protect it! No swimming, no sun exposure, no sauna.

And above all, we do not tear off the scabs. If you scratch or remove the scab, a new sore will form which will delay the healing process. It’s not good for your skin or your tattoo! They will leave on their own when the skin underneath is ready.

4th stage : the upper layer of your skin is healed, but not the lower layers

About 3 weeks after the session, the scabs should have completely disappeared. The superficial layer of your skin is repaired. However, the healing process is not over; it will take several more weeks for the lower layers of skin to also heal and for the ink to set.

Should You Shave Before Getting a Tattoo?

Attention tattoo newbies! There is no way around shaving before tattooing. The affected part of the body must be hairless, because: If the hair is not removed, painful hair root inflammation could occur. So don’t be surprised if your tattoo artist has razors and shaving cream ready.

Our tip: For an optimal result, you should shave the body part in question the evening before the tattooing. This has the advantage that the skin can recover from the shave overnight if you are prone to redness. Another plus point: If you reach for the razor yourself, the result will really meet your requirements in the end.

For example, if you have to shave your leg for your tattoo, it is best to use a razor with an integrated trimmer such as the HYDRO 5 Groomer. This trims the hair before you actually shave. This gives you a really smooth and thorough end result – and the new body art really comes into its own after the piercing!

In your case, the needle artist immortalized himself on the back, chest or arm? If you want to know how to optimally depilate the respective body region, take a look at our blog post on body hair removal for men.

How to Tell If It’s Safe to Shave

Not sure if your tattoo is fully healed? Try this simple skin test to see if it’s safe to shave again:

Close your eyes and run your fingertips over and around your tattoo. If there are bumps, raised spots, or hard scabs, you know your skin isn’t back to normal. The area should feel the same as the skin around it. If you can tell by touch where your tattoo begins and ends, or feel skin imperfections, you may need to wait a little longer.

Ways to Remove Hair on Tattooed Area

Want to shave hair off a tattoo, but don’t know how? Don’t worry, there are tips for waxing those tricky areas. In this guide, we present tips to put into practice to avoid any irritation or injury.

Shaving with a razor over a healed tattoo

If you decide to shave with a razor on your tattoo, you will have to avoid the cut at all costs! So here are the things to consider:

• Be careful to master your shaving tool. Don’t use a straight razor or safety razor if you’re not used to using them. Prefer a razor specially adapted for sensitive skin. In any case, pay close attention to the quality of the razor blade: it must be clean, not damaged because it could snag your skin.
• Use a transparent shaving product, which will allow you to clearly see your tattoo and any pimples you may have. Be careful when shaving over pimples or acne. Forget the shaving foam, which completely hides the tattooed skin. Prefer a shaving gel or shaving oil that are transparent.
• Shave gently over your tattoo, so you don’t get razor cuts. Similarly, on certain parts of the body, such as the fingers for example if you have a tattoo on your arms, you will have to stretch the skin well.

Use hair removal cream on your tattoo

If you are afraid of using a razor and cutting yourself on your tattoo, you can alternatively use a hair removal cream on your tattoo to remove the hair. But it is necessary to respect certain instructions:

• Use a depilatory cream without ammonia or with as few chemical ingredients as possible! Otherwise, it may directly affect the colors of your tattoo.
• Do not leave the depilatory cream on your tattoo for too long: it could burn your skin. I advise you to test the depilatory cream on a part of non-tattooed skin, to know how your skin will react.

Laser hair removal

The use of a laser for hair removal of a tattooed area is in no way recommended. Whether your tattoo is recent or you haven’t had it in years. Laser hair removal can distort your tattoo and cause burns and blisters on your skin, which can lead to permanent skin damage.

If you’re considering laser hair removal, do it before you get a tattoo or do it around the tattooed area so you don’t damage it.

Use wax for depilation of tattooed areas

Waxing is a great way to remove hair from a tattoo once it has healed. When wax is used to remove unwanted hair, it is applied only along the hairline, on the outermost layer of the skin (the epidermis). With the location of the wax successfully removing hair, you don’t have to worry about your tattoo.

The wax does not touch the tattoo and does not come close to it. The ink that is deposited into the skin to create your tattoo is found further in the deeper layers of the skin (dermis). If waxing is your go-to method for hair removal, feel free to wax freely without damaging your tattoo.

Remember to wax only when your tattoo is completely healed. Waxing an unhealed tattoo can damage the tattooed skin by ripping off scabs and scarred skin, which can lead to scarring and discoloration.

Will my tattoo fade if I use one of these methods?

Your tattoo won’t fade as long as you continue to shave, wax, or use hair removal cream. Your tattoo ink is deposited deep in the skin and does not come into contact with these hair removal methods. Your tattoo will therefore not fade if you use one of these three methods.

Laser hair removal will damage your tattoo. Not only will it make it pale, but it will also discolor it and can cause permanent damage to the tattooed skin. Avoid laser hair removal on all parts of the body that have been tattooed. No matter how old the tattoo is, one year or fifty years, the laser will always cause significant damage to your skin.

Do tattoos prevent hair growth?

Sorry everyone, tattoos don’t prevent hair growth. The hair follicle is located deep below the surface of the skin. The ink is deposited into the skin so your tattoo is much closer to the surface of the skin and doesn’t even begin to go as deep as a hair follicle.

Now that we know that our hair will continue to grow on the tattooed areas of our body, let’s see what to keep in mind to remove hair from tattoos.

The key to having a great tattoo is to be patient with the healing process. Don’t rush it by using a hair removal method too soon. Follow aftercare instructions and keep the tattoo clean to avoid infection and irritation.

Your tattoo is a part of you and will be part of your body for the rest of your life. In the grand scheme of things, 4-6 weeks is a tiny fraction of the time to give something to properly heal when it will be a part of you for life.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

If you still have some clouds of doubts left, let me brush them away. Here are a few common queries people often ask before shave Over A Tattoo:

What can’t you do when you have a tattoo?

It is best to wear airy clothing and avoid friction. Avoid direct sunlight. UV rays will fade your tattoo, so experts recommend getting tattoos done in the fall or spring. Visits to the swimming pool or sauna and solarium are taboo for you in the first two weeks.

Why shave before tattooing?

Shave the area that is to be tattooed extensively the evening before the appointment. A shave irritates the skin and overnights the skin has enough time to recover sufficiently.

Are there exceptions?

Great question. Although rare, a tattoo can sometimes remain slightly raised for a few months. In this case, if the tattoo is otherwise completely healed with no open sores or scabs, an electric razor is your best bet.

You can even use a chemical epilator at this point, but be sure to leave it on for only the minimum time needed to remove unwanted hair. Also, if you choose to use a razor blade, exercise extreme caution as your tattoo is so close to being successfully healed at this point, so the last thing you want to do is open it up.

The Final Coin in the Bag

There’s always a chance of irritation when a routine is broken, but preparing the area by gently exfoliating and moisturizing a few days before tattooing can minimize ingrown hairs, irritation, or dry skin.

“If the skin in the area is healthy and the hair is removed properly, this should not interfere with the healing process of the tattoo. However, if any nicks or ingrown hairs appear from shaving, these issues can cause excessive irritation and scabbing, which can result in premature precipitation or ink fading.”