For the first night, keep on the wrap or film your artist put on if they told you to, sleep on clean sheets, and lie so your weight isn't on the tattoo. Wash and moisturize it before bed, wear loose clothes, and keep pets off the bed. If you wake up stuck to the sheet, don't pull it. Wet the fabric with lukewarm water until it lets go.
Sources: Medical News Today, Tattoo aftercare tips (medically reviewed by Debra Sullivan, PhD, RN); Authority Tattoo, Sleeping With a New Tattoo (medically reviewed by Jennifer T. Haley, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist); Cleveland Clinic.
The first night
A new tattoo is an open wound, and on the first night it can still leak plasma, a little blood and extra ink. Medical News Today says artists usually suggest keeping the tattoo covered for at least the first night, to avoid staining your sheets and to keep pressure off it. It also says not to sleep with a new tattoo uncovered until your artist says it's OK.
Every artist has their own instructions for the first bandage or film, so follow theirs. If you have a clear film like Saniderm, see what to do after removing Saniderm.
Use sheets you don't mind marking. Authority Tattoo suggests keeping a spare set for this, because dried plasma and ink are hard to wash out.
Your bedtime routine with a new tattoo
- Wash your hands, then wash the tattoo gently with mild unscented soap and warm water.
- Pat it dry with a clean paper towel.
- Apply 1 to 2 pumps of Kavai in a thin layer and let it absorb.
- Put on loose, breathable clothes. Cleveland Clinic says breathable clothing helps the area air out and avoids sticking or rubbing.
- Sleep on freshly washed sheets.
The full daily routine is in how do I take care of my new tattoo?
How to sleep, by where your tattoo is
The aim is to keep your weight off the tattoo. Authority Tattoo says lying on a new tattoo so it presses into the mattress can make it stick to the sheets.
- Arm or shoulder: sleep on the other side.
- Back: sleep on your side or your front.
- Chest or stomach: sleep on your back or your side.
- Leg: sleep on the other side or on your back.
- Ribs or side: sleep on the opposite side or on your back.
If your tattoo sticks to the sheets
Don't pull. Ripping the sheet away can take scabs and ink with it and leave light, patchy spots. Authority Tattoo's advice is to take the sheet with you to the bathroom and run lukewarm water over the stuck area until it lets go. Cleveland Clinic gives the same advice for a bandage that sticks: soak it in warm water first, then peel it off gently.
Once it's free, wash the tattoo gently, pat it dry and apply a thin layer of oil. More on loose skin in tattoo peeling and flaking.
Pets and bedding
Keep pets out of the bedroom while the tattoo heals. Authority Tattoo notes that pets may lick the wound. Change your sheets often until the tattoo has healed.
When can I sleep on my tattoo again?
No health body gives a set number of days. Authority Tattoo advises keeping pressure off the tattoo for the first week or so. The surface usually looks healed in 2 to 4 weeks. Once there are no scabs, the peeling has stopped and the skin isn't tender, sleeping on it is fine. See the day-by-day healing timeline for what each stage looks like.
Healing times from Healthline (medically reviewed by Carissa Stephens, RN) and Medical News Today (medically reviewed by Debra Sullivan, PhD, RN).
Signs your tattoo needs a doctor
Some redness, swelling and tenderness in the first few days is normal. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) says to see a doctor or board-certified dermatologist right away for signs of infection:
- redness that gets darker or spreads instead of fading
- pain that keeps going or gets worse
- a rash of itchy, red, painful bumps in the tattoo
- fever, chills or shivering
- pus or open sores
Kavai at bedtime
I made Kavai for healing tattoos and for the years after. It has three ingredients: organic cold-pressed sesame oil, vetiver essential oil and a small amount of steam-distilled citrus oil. No water, no preservatives and no petroleum. A thin layer absorbs fully and isn't greasy, so it doesn't sit wet on the skin under your sheets.
A 2018 review in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences (Lin et al.) describes sesame oil's anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects and a possible effect on skin barrier repair.
It comes in an airless pump. Air and fingers never touch the oil inside, so it stays fresh and clean from the first pump to the last, and every press gives the same small amount. Keep it by the bed. When you're half asleep, there's no dipping into a tub or jar.
Kavai is vegan, and Kiwi Glow is Leaping Bunny certified cruelty-free.
Sesame is one of the FDA's major food allergens. If you're allergic to sesame or citrus, don't use Kavai. If you're not sure, patch test on a small area of healed skin first.
Shop Kavai Tattoo Oil ($45, free US shipping)
Every order comes with our 30-day money-back guarantee.
See the full guide: Tattoo aftercare guide: the best oil for tattoos and how to heal well
Sleeping with a new tattoo FAQ
Should I wrap my tattoo at night?
For the first night, follow your artist. Many artists suggest keeping it covered at least the first night. After that, ask your artist before re-wrapping it yourself.
Can I sleep on my new tattoo?
Try not to for the first week or so. Lying on it puts pressure on healing skin and makes it more likely to stick to the sheets.
I slept on my tattoo by accident. What now?
If nothing is stuck, wash it gently, pat it dry and moisturize as normal. If the sheet is stuck, wet it with lukewarm water until it lets go. Watch for the signs of infection listed above.
Is it normal for my new tattoo to leak onto the sheets?
Yes, in the first night or two a new tattoo can leak plasma, a little blood and extra ink. That's why artists suggest covering it and why old or dark sheets help.
Can my dog or cat sleep in the bed?
Not while the tattoo is healing. Pets may lick the wound.