How Long Should You Wait Between Tattoo Sessions? (Explained)

Getting a tattoo (or multiple tattoos) is always a exciting experience, but knowing the ins and outs of when you can touch up your tattoo or book in your next session (after your first session) can be confusing. So I will clear up all of these questions you in this article.

Here Is How Long You Should Wait Between Tattoo Sessions:

It is dependant on five factors:

Size of your tattoo, amount of ink used, your skin type, and type of tattoo needle used by your artist. E.g the more ink used or the larger the tattoo the longer you will have to wait between sessions.

This is the short answer!

Please keep reading to find out in depth answers about waiting time between sessions, whether it is safe to get two tattoos in a week, and many more! Check it out.

How Long Should You Wait Between Tattoo Sessions?

The amount of time you should wait between tattoo sessions depends on a few factors: the size of the tattoo, how much ink was used, and your skin type. In general, you should wait at least four to six weeks between sessions.

Size Of Tattoo

The larger the tattoo, the longer it will take to heal. If you have a large piece done, you should wait ten weeks between sessions. For smaller tattoos, waiting around six weeks is fine.

Amount Of Ink Used

When someone has more ink done at once, their body takes longer to heal than it would if only had a few tattoos were done. If you have a lot of ink done, it’s best to wait around eight weeks between sessions.

Skin Type

If you have skin that is easily irritated, then you should definitely wait at least four weeks. Skin irritation can happen especially with tattoos on areas that are exposed to friction like ankles, armpits, and the inner arm.

You should also consider waiting longer if your artist used a lot of ink in one sitting or if this was your first tattoo session. It takes time for your body to absorb all of the pigment from an ink session so another session might not be successful due to lack of absorption.

Type Of Tattoo Needle

Different tattoo needles also come into play when determining how long should you wait between sessions. Titanium needles should add about three weeks to your waiting time while larger gauge and surgical needles add another two weeks.

Type Of Dye

The type of dye that is used also comes into play when figuring out how long you should wait between sessions. Organic dyes take a few extra weeks to be absorbed by the body while non-organic dyes can take less time depending on the pigment depth and size of the tattoo.

In general, it is best to wait at least four to six weeks before getting your next tattoo session. This will give your skin enough time to heal and the ink time to fully absorb into your skin.

If you have a sensitive skin type or if your artist used a lot of ink, then you might want to wait even longer.

By following these guidelines, you can help ensure that your tattoo heals properly and looks great for years to come!

Can I Get 2 Tattoos Within A Week?

No, you should not get two tattoos within a week. Getting more than one tattoo at a time can affect the way your skin heals and absorb ink because it is exposed to too much trauma.

Disadvantages Of Getting 2 Tattoos Within a Week

Absorption

Getting two tattoos in a very short amount of time can cause your skin to heal improperly because the ink will not have enough time to be fully absorbed by your skin.

For example, if you get a medium-sized tattoo and do it on Friday, you should wait at least six days before getting another one so that it doesn’t affect the healing process of the first tattoo.

Colour Mixing

When you get more than one tattoo at a time, it is likely that the colors from the tattoos will start to mix together. This can cause your tattoos to look blurry and not as crisp as they once did.

Increased Healing Time

If you get a tattoo on a Friday and another one by next Sunday, it will take your skin longer to recover from having two tattoos done. This can cause the ink to not be fully absorbed into your skin because of all of the trauma it endured during the process.

Increased Chance Of Infection

Getting multiple tattoos can increase your chance of infection because your skin will be open and susceptible to bacteria and other germs. If you do get an infection, it can cause serious damage to your tattoo and may even require laser treatment to fix it.

Increased Chance Of Scarring

If you don’t give your skin enough time to heal between tattoos, you are more likely to experience scarring. Scarring can occur when the skin is stretched too much or if it is healing improperly.

Disfigurement

In some cases, getting multiple tattoos in a short amount of time can cause your tattoos to start looking disfigured. This is often the result of poor healing and can be very difficult, and expensive, to fix.

So, it is not safe to get two tattoos within a week. If you are considering getting another tattoo, make sure to give yourself plenty of time for proper healing so that your skin can properly absorb the ink and the tattoo will look great for years to come!

Can You Start A Tattoo And Finish It The Next Day?

Yes, you can but it is not recommended. You should finish your tattoo in one sitting. If you have to stop in the middle, it can cause the ink to not be absorbed by your skin properly and can also increase your chances of getting an infection.

Here are 5 risks of not finishing a tattoo in one sitting:

Poor Healing

Stopping and picking up where you left off can cause your skin to heal improperly and can even lead to scarring. This is because the first part of the tattoo will likely be healed while the second part hasn’t even been started yet, so it won’t have enough time to properly heal.

Poor Ink Absorption

If you stop a tattoo in the middle, it can cause the ink from the first part to not be properly absorbed by your skin because there is no time for it to do so. This will make it seem like there are two different colours where one part of the tattoo ends and another one begins.

Increased Chance Of Infection

If you don’t finish your tattoo in one sitting, you are more likely to get an infection because your skin will be open and unprotected. An infection can cause serious damage to your tattoo and may even require laser treatment to fix it.

Increased Chance Of Scarring

If you don’t finish your tattoo in one sitting, you are also more likely to experience scarring. Scarring can occur when the skin is stretched too much or if it is healing improperly.

Disfigurement

In some cases, not finishing a tattoo in one sitting can cause the design to start looking disfigured. This is often the result of poor healing and can be very difficult, and expensive, to fix.

So, if you are considering getting a tattoo, it is best to make sure that you have enough time to finish it in one sitting so that you don’t have to worry about any of the risks associated with not doing so. It may take a little longer, but it is well worth it in the end!

Can You Get Another Tattoo While The Other One Is Healing?

You can but it is not recommended.

While the other tattoo is still healing, you should avoid getting too much sun or going into a tanning bed to keep from damaging it and ruining the design. This may be difficult if you have a job that requires you to do those things but there are ways around it, such as using sunscreen and wearing protective clothing.

Getting another tattoo while the first one is still healing may cause serious damage to your design, including scarring or other disfigurements.

Scarring can occur when the skin is stretched too much or if it is healing improperly.

How Long Do You Have To Wait To Get A Tattoo Redone?

You should wait at least a year to get a tattoo redone. During that time, you should avoid getting too much sun or going into a tanning bed. This will help keep your new tattoo looking great for years to come!

If you are not happy with the way your new tattoo is healing, you should wait at least six months to see how it heals before getting a redo.

Getting a redo while it is still healing can be damaging to the original design, including scarring or other disfigurements. Scarring can occur when the skin is stretched too much or if it is healing improperly.

One year sounds like a long time but you only have one chance to get it right!

Other factors such as having laser surgery can also affect the process.

If you plan on getting a redo, we recommend waiting at least six months to allow your tattoo time to heal and see how it turns out before going ahead with another appointment. This will give you enough time for it to heal and decrease the chances of needing a touch-up.