Getting a Tattoo Before a Holiday: Sun, Swimming and Flights

It is tempting to get a tattoo before a holiday so you can show it off on the beach. It is also one of the most common ways to ruin a fresh tattoo. Sun, sea, pools, sweat and long flights are all tough on healing skin.

Here is how long to wait, what each part of a holiday does to a new tattoo, and how to protect it if you really cannot wait.

The short answer: give it at least two to four weeks

A new tattoo is an open wound for the first days, and the surface usually takes around two to four weeks to heal, depending on size, placement and your skin. Deeper layers keep recovering for longer. Ideally, get tattooed at least a month before a beach or pool holiday. Our tattoo healing timeline explains each stage.

If you want a tattoo as a holiday souvenir, the safest option is often to get it when you come home, or book an artist at your destination near the end of your trip, not the start.

Why holidays are hard on new tattoos

Sun

Sunlight on a healing tattoo can cause burning, blistering and irritation, and UV fades ink. Sunscreen is not recommended on open, unhealed skin, so the only real protection for a fresh tattoo is covering it and staying in the shade. Once healed, use a high SPF sunscreen every time.

Swimming

Pools, the sea, lakes and hot tubs are the biggest risk. Soaking a fresh tattoo can introduce bacteria, and chlorine and salt water can irritate the skin and pull ink from healing areas. Most artists advise no swimming until the tattoo is fully healed, usually at least two to four weeks.

Sand and sweat

Sand gets into healing skin and rubs it, and heavy sweating in hot climates can irritate a fresh tattoo and slow healing.

Flying

Flying itself will not damage a tattoo, but long journeys bring their own issues: sitting still can make a leg tattoo swell, seatbelts and bags can rub, and it is harder to keep the area clean. Wear loose clothing, move around, and carry travel-size aftercare supplies in your hand luggage.

Alcohol and late nights

Heavy drinking and poor sleep can slow healing, and a tattoo that gets knocked or scratched on a night out is harder to look after.

Already have a fresh tattoo and a holiday booked?

• Cover it with loose, breathable clothing, and stay in the shade.
• Do not swim, even briefly. Waterproof dressings are not a guarantee against water getting in.
• Wash it gently with clean water and fragrance-free soap, and pat dry with clean paper towels.
• Moisturise lightly with your usual aftercare product.
• Pack your aftercare kit, and check liquid limits for hand luggage.
• Know the warning signs. Spreading redness, heat, pus, a bad smell or fever need medical attention, wherever you are.

Peeling and itching will probably happen while you are away, and that is normal. Our guide to tattoo peeling day by day explains what to expect.

Getting tattooed abroad

Getting tattooed on holiday can be a wonderful souvenir, but take extra care:

• Research the studio before you travel, and look at healed work and reviews.
• Check hygiene: single-use needles opened in front of you, gloves, covered surfaces. Our list of tattoo red flags applies everywhere.
• Avoid "black henna" stalls, which can contain PPD and cause serious skin reactions, as explained in our henna tattoo guide.
• Remember blood donation rules. Several blood services ask for a longer wait after tattoos done outside licensed studios in your own country. See our guide to donating blood with tattoos.
• Time it for the end of your trip so you are not swimming or sunbathing on a fresh tattoo.

Plan ahead, and your holiday tattoo can be something you love for life, rather than something you have to get touched up the moment you get home.