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One of my favorite things about getting tattooed is that it never really feels the same way twice. Different parts of the body (and different people) have differing levels of pain tolerance, and the healing process can go so many ways depending on where a tattoo is located. Hand and finger tattoos are perfect examples.
Location aside, it's extremely important to take good care of hand and finger tattoos, both old and new. Doing that and keeping a few other things in mind can help extend the life of that artwork in the long run. Below, you'll learn all about hand and finger tattoo aftercare straight from the pros.
- Johnny Dagger is a Los Angeles-based tattoo artist.
- Ron Mor is a New York City-based tattoo artist.
- Melanie Palm, MD, is a San Diego-based, board-certified dermatologist.
- Mona Gohara, MD, is a Connecticut-based, board-certified dermatologist.
- Do finger tattoos and hand tattoos heal well?
- Can you wash your hands after getting a finger or hand tattoo?
- How do you preserve a finger tattoo or hand tattoo?
Do finger tattoos and hand tattoos heal well?
As Los Angeles-based tattoo artist Johnny Dagger will tell you, the process of healing hand and finger tattoos can differ from those on other areas of the body. "Depending on the exact area of the hands, it can heal completely differently," he explains to Allure. "The best bet for hand tattoos are the top of the fingers and top of hands. Those two areas will heal well and will not fade quickly. When you tattoo other parts of the hands, it can definitely be a roll of the dice to see if the tattoo stays or not." The hands have lots of joints and creases, so they can bend and move properly, and those areas will be more prone to patchiness and fading.
The palm, the side of the hand, or in-between the fingers are good examples, New York City-based tattoo artist Ron Mor explains. "I've found that this type of skin doesn't hold the ink as well in the long or short term," he says. "It might look good when freshly tattooed but… much of the tattoo can ‘fall out’ or disappear [or] there can be a shadowy appearance to the tattoo. There’s also a chance that it could fade much quicker over the years compared to a tattoo on a bicep or thigh."
Think about it this way: If you were painting a canvas that had a bunch of big, moving crinkles, it would be hard to effectively get paint into those creases. And that's only half of what makes hand and finger tattoos different. Compared to the rest of our bodies, hands are subject to a lot more daily wear and tear and they're almost always exposed to the elements.
"Movement of the hands over decades causes exaggerated skin lines over joints, and laxity over the back of the hand increases as we lose fat volume and underlying tendons and vessels become more prominent," explains San Diego-based, board-certified dermatologist Melanie Palm. "All of this can affect how the tattoo ages and appears over the hand’s underlying anatomical structures."
Can you wash your hands after getting a finger or hand tattoo?
Yes, you can and should wash your hands after getting a tattoo. Mor tells his clients to wash the area three times a day (once in the morning, afternoon, and once right before bed) with liquid pump soap. "Using bar soaps might not be ideal because these soaps are usually left exposed and sometimes sitting in water, which could be collecting bacteria and isn’t worth the risk," he explains. Connecticut-based, board-certified dermatologist Mona Gohara recommends Dove Beauty & Care Protect Antibacterial Hand Wash, which fights bacteria and nourishes hands.
To moisturize, Mor recommends applying a small amount of a water-based healing ointment like Aquaphor for the first few days of healing. After that, moisturize with a simple formula like Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion.
You can always ask your tattoo artist for specific soap and moisturizer recommendations (they should be running you through the aftercare process), but if you forget, just keep it simple when shopping for aftercare supplies. Dr. Gohara recommends sticking to fragrance-free products to avoid further irritation to a healing tattoo, as do Dr. Palm and Mor. Recently, more skin-care brands that specifically focus on tattoo care have launched, helping to take the guesswork out of which products to buy. One Allure editor favorite is Mad Rabbit, which sells a fragrance-free body lotion that can help keep the area hydrated.
Unscented soap and moisturizer are a standard aftercare combo that basically all tattoo artists share, but Dr. Gohara recommends adding one more product to the mix for added healing power: "Lube up with barrier repair creams," she says. "I love Avène Ciclafate+ Restorative Protective Cream."
How do you preserve a finger tattoo or hand tattoo?
This is tattoo aftercare 101, folks, and the process for hand tattoos is essentially the same as it is for body art anywhere. "As with most tattoos, it is best to keep the area clean and prevent it from drying too much," Mor advises. "This is usually difficult with hands because we use them so much. A gentle approach is best."
Tattoos can get super itchy during the healing process, so this one's easier said than done, but it's a good rule of thumb for all tattoos. Picking and scratching a tattoo that's still healing can compromise the integrity of the colors or the crispness of the lines (take it from this writer, who's mucked up several tattoos by picking them).
Moisturizers and barrier creams can help keep itching at bay. And it's a good idea to keep fresh hand tattoos covered (this also provides the added benefit of shielding that new tattoo from daily wear and tear).
“The skin should be kept covered and moist while healing,” Dr. Palm says. Of course, this isn't super easy for parts of the hand like the palm or fingers, but the back of the hand can benefit greatly from a flexible, breathable covering. "I prefer Hypafix for a bandage," adds Dr. Palm, and a "hydrogel bandage is also a good option, especially if wetwork is unavoidable."
Another thing that makes hand tattoos so tricky is the fact that they're frequently exposed to the sun and that's never good. "Ink can immediately begin to fade with UV light exposure," says Dr. Gohara.
The best solution to that is to stock up on sunscreen and apply it liberally throughout the day. Dr. Gohara recommends looking for a physical sunscreen with at least SPF 30. Some Allure editor and dermatologist recommendations include EltaMD Active, Dr. Jart+ Every Sun Day Mineral Sunscreen, and Neutrogena Clear Body Lotion SPF 30.
Read more stories about tattoos:
- The Secret, Chronic Pain of Tattoo Artists
- Melanin Should Not Be an Obstacle for Tattoo Artists
- How the Pandemic Changed the Tattoo Industry for Good
Now, watch 100 years of tattoos:
