When Is The Best Time To Get A Tattoo?

Getting tattooed is an exciting opportunity, and sometimes made on a whim.  With that being said, choosing when to schedule a tattoo appointment can make a bigger difference than most people realize.  While a talented artist can create an amazing tattoo all year round, your lifestyle, schedule, and even the seasons play a significant role on how comfortably your tattoo heals, and how big of an inconvenience a fresh one might play into your life.

If you’ve been contemplating your next appointment and can’t decide on the best time to book your next piece, here are a few things worth considering before you reserve your appointment.

Fall and Winter Are Prime Time Healing Periods

Ask almost any tattoo artist what their favorite time of year is for tattooing, and you’ll likely hear the same answer: fall and winter.

There are a few reasons why the cooler months tend to be ideal for healing tattoos:

1. Less UV Exposure.  Fresh tattoos and directly sunlight do NOT mix.  UVA rays penetrate through the dermis of the skin, which is where your ink resides.  Those lovely rays that make your skin refreshingly tan also break down the chemical bonds of the pigment molecules, causing fading of your ink (this is especially true for reds, yellows, and pastels).  While the sun chips away at your ink, it is simultaneously providing an open would a fresh surface burn that causes inflammation and irritation.

2. Swimming Is Not An Option.  The warmer weather becomes prime time for a beach vacation or a dip in the pool, which is exactly what needs to be avoided while your tattoo is healing.  Water submersion in any bodies that contain chemicals or a handful of other gunk can introduce bacteria into the tattoo, increasing your risk of infection tenfold.  We obviously encourage you to shower, but soaking in a pool, hot tub, ocean, river or any other bodies of water have to be put on pause.

3. No Sweat, No Problem.  Sweating is nearly impossible when you’re getting smacked with the heat waves we’ve experienced recently.  While sweating does go hand in hand with physical activity such as hitting the gym, the warmer weather likely means you’re sweating significantly more than usual.  Excessive sweating means your tattoo is constantly suffocating under moisture, which can encourage bacterial growth, delay the growth of healthy tissue, and irritate your skin.

A side-by-side comparison to how my tattoo has faded from 2020 to now. Check out that orange!

Think About Your Schedule, Not Just Your Tattoo

The first few weeks of healing require your attention outside of the shop, so it’s always worth looking at your calendar before booking.  Ask yourself if you have any of the following in the three weeks after your tattoo appointment:

• Do I have a vacation planned?

• Am I going camping or to the beach?

• Do I have a wedding or formal events where healing skin might be uncomfortable?

• Will I be traveling?

• Is my work schedule especially demanding?

• Do I have extracurriculars that could expose my tattoo to anything it shouldn’t be?

Choosing a quieter period in your life makes the healing process much easier, and makes you much more attentive to your body.

Weekends Fill Up Fast

Majority of tattoo clients ask for a Saturday.  Oftentimes, weekend dates are most convenient for a typical Monday through Friday work schedule.  Depending on the artist, Saturdays may book several months in advance.

If your schedule allows for a weekday appointment, you’ll often have much more flexibility and may be able to get in sooner.  However, if you’re working for a tight ship, it’s important to plan ahead so you don’t face disappointment.  Don’t be afraid to keep an eye out for last minute cancellation posts either!

Parents: Consider Your Child’s After School Activities

For our younger clients who meet the legal age requirement, timing around sports seasons is incredibly important.  Many sports involve physical contact, heavy sweating, strenuous workouts, and increased risk of bumps, scrapes, and impacts.  These factors can make healing much more uncomfortable and may eventually lead to a bigger problem.

If your teens play football, wrestling, basketball, swim, gymnastics, cheer, or any other physically demanding activities, it’s always best to schedule their tattoos during the off-season when they have enough recovery time before practices and competitions begin.

Cold & Flu Season: For My Immunocompromised Friends

Although fall and winter are generally excellent seasons for tattoos, they aren’t necessarily ideal for everyone.  If you’re immunocompromised or have a medical condition that makes you more susceptible to illness, cold and flu season deserves some extra consideration.

Your immune system plays a vital role in healing your tattoo.  If you’re already fighting off illness, or become sick shortly after getting tattooed, your recovery will be much more difficult.  Always discuss with your tattoo artist if you are feeling under the weather prior to coming into your appointment.  If you’re sick, have a fever, or coming down with something, your artist will likely suggest a reschedule.  Most artist would much rather tattoo you when you’re feeling your best then endure pain while your body is under stress — and even more so, not take anything home themselves.

The Holidays

Ah, yes.  The holidays.  For some, it’s the “most wonderful time of the year”.  For tattoo artists…well, let’s just say our favorite holiday is Tax Return Day.

Tattoo artists dread the end of the year because we all know that you’ve put off your holiday shopping until the last minute.  Suddenly you’re stressed you haven’t prepared your big Sunday dinner for your family gathering, you promised little Timmy that dirt bike for Christmas this year and poof, your tattoo budget is gone.

While booking around the holidays is much more ideal in terms of healing, many clients find themselves scrambling financially, which ultimately leaves your tattoo artists scrambling financially from last minute cancellations and empty schedules.  Prepare ahead of time by setting aside a designated budget, shop ahead for your holidays or if you know that it’s just not a good time, wait for cash you get in Grandma’s Christmas card to put down that deposit.

The Bottom Line

There’s no “wrong” time to get tattooed — but there is a best time for you.  If you can plan ahead, fall and winter often provide the easiest healing conditions thanks to reduced sunlight, fewer frolics in the sand and a nice breeze that brings a crisp to the air instead of suffocating humidity.  At the same time, your personal schedule, travel plans, and other commitments are just as important as the season itself.

The best tattoo experience starts long before the needle touches your skin.  Choosing the right time to book gives your tattoo the best opportunity to heal beautifully, and lets you enjoy your new piece without unnecessary stress.  When in doubt, always ask your artist!  We’re happy to help you choose a time that fits for you.