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One of the most common questions we see is “what should I wear for my tattoo?”
So, let’s break this down together. First, we will go over what you should wear to your appointment or bring to change into. Then we will go over what to wear after your appointment while in the stage of healing.
What to wear for your tattoo
The most important thing to keep in mind for this is not just your comfort but also your artist’s comfort. Also make sure to keep in mind that sometimes the area of the tattoo can get messy, and ink stains. Ink is super hard to get out of clothing. So making sure you are wearing something appropriate will save you a lot of time and elbow grease- take it from people who know.
Legs and Hips
If you are getting a lower leg (ankle to knee) tattoo wearing loose-fitting pants like sweatpants is a perfect option. Make sure that they can be hiked up above the area of the tattoo. Shorts can be a great option too!
Moving up to the knee/ lower thigh wearing a pair of comfy shorts will be your best bet.
If you are getting something on your upper thigh/hip a pair of loose fitting shorts that can be moved out of the way or tie bikinis are both great options.
Torso
What to wear for your tattoo on the torso can be broken down into 2 groups. The lower torso-being your stomach, lower back and going into the rib cage. Then we have the upper torso which will cover your back, shoulder blades, chest and sternum.
If you are getting a lower torso tattoo some great options are a loose t-shirt that can be adjusted, or a crop top. If the tattoo will be close to your pants line wear pants that can be moved or are low-rise.
For upper torso tattoos we recommend going for a loose fitting button up shirt or a zip up hoodie. Make sure to bring some chest tape or pasties with you as your artist might not always provide these. Remember even if you are comfortable letting things hang loose doesn’t always mean the shop or artist will be.
Arms and Shoulders
We are going to break this section of what to wear for your tattoo down into 3 parts: the forearm (wrist to elbow) , the upper arm (elbow to shoulder) and shoulder.
Beginning with the forearm, you have a lot of options for this placement, t-shirts, tank tops, loose fitting long sleeves. Pretty much anything that isn’t a tight-fitting long sleeve is perfect.
For the upper arm go for a tank top, strapless top or tube top. You want something that gives your artist access to the entire space without making a big mess of your clothes.
Finally for the shoulder, loose fitting button ups that you can pull your arm out of, or tube tops are both great options.
During Healing
After getting your tattoo if you are using saniderm or second skin you can pretty much go about business as usual and don’t have to worry too much until the wrap comes off.
What you wear after your appointment is even more important than what you wear for your tattoo. Once you take your wrap off – or in the case using cling film, make sure to wear something that is a looser fit and wont rub against the fresh tattoo. Wearing clothes that are tight fitting or have hardware that could rub against your fresh ink could result in scabbing, infections, fading, loss of pigment and lots more.
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