Tattoo wrapping seems to be ubiquitous around the world. Professional tattoo artists wrap a new tattoo with different types of wrappings to protect it and ensure it stops oozing and bleeding faster.

However, since the wrapping methods vary, we cannot help but wonder which wrapping method is the best, and how long can a tattoo really stay wrapped?

If you’ve just arrived home from a tattoo appointment, chances are your tattoo is wrapped in cling film. So, let’s start by discussing this topic at hand, and then we’ll tackle other wrapping information and recommendation for your future tattoo endeavors.

Tattoo Wrapping: 7 Things You Need to Know

1. Why Do Tattooists Wrap New Tattoos?

Generally speaking, tattooists wrap new tattoos for a few important reasons;

• To ensure the tattoo stops bleeding and oozing faster
• To protect the tattoo from external, infection-causing factors
• To help you not mess up your clothes, furniture, and bedding until the tattoo stops bleeding

Even though the reasons for tattoo wrapping are completely valid and helpful, the notion of tattoo wrapping is still one of the most debated topics in the tattoo community. Apparently, some tattoo artists don’t find tattoo wrapping necessary, while others can’t imagine not wrapping a new tattoo.

So, if you come across a tattoo artist that doesn’t, for some reason wrap tattoos, make sure to still ask them to wrap your tattoo. You don’t want to go home with bloody clothes sticking to your new tattoo. Nor do you want to transfer bacteria and germs to the tattoo and cause an infection.

Under certain legislation, the majority of countries require a new tattoo to be wrapped in a sterile bandage to prevent infection, so keep that in mind as well.

2. What Are The Benefits of Wrapping a Tattoo?

As we mentioned, one of the main reasons, and benefits as well, of wrapping a tattoo is the fact that there is something to protect a tattoo or a ‘fresh wound’ from bacteria, viruses, and germs. However, some of the benefits also include;