How long after getting a tattoo can I wear a bra?

Question

Three days ago I got a tattoo on my left shoulder blade and my bra strap would normally go straight through it. The artist told me not to wear straps over it until it is healed. This is my only tattoo, so I'm not sure what "healed" means. Everything I've read says when the tat stops pealing it is healed and I can start wearing a normal bra. However, there is no sign of the tat scabbing or pealing yet. One of my friends said the tattoo on her back never scabbed. I am using high quality moisturizer made specifically for tattoos, and so am hoping I have a similar experience with minimal pealing. If my tattoo doesn't peal, how do I know it is done healing?

Right now I am wearing strapless bras and criss-cross bras, but I am quite top heavy and these really don't give me as much support as I would like. Nubra is not an option because they don't make them for my size. So I really just want to know when I can have a bra strap over my shoulder again.

Answer 1

I can not give you a definite answer without looking, but based on the info you have given the tattoo seems to be healing well and I think you should be able to wear your bra in another 2 or 3 days. Ideally you should go to the tattoo shop and ask the artist if it has healed enough but if the shop is far away and going without a bra is uncomfortable then 5 or 6 days after the tattoo should be okay :)

Answer 2

You can wear a soft t-strap sports bra while your tattoo is healing, just not a regular every day bra. Tattoos can take any where from 2-6 weeks to heal depending on what you do to take care of it and the size of the tattoo. I did that while my tattoo was healing and it turned out just fine. When the tattoo is fully healed you can wear a regular bra again. Keep doing what your doing and only apply a light layer of the lotion to your tattoo when it starts to feel dry. It's strange but some people peel and some don't. Give it a few more weeks to heal after it starts to peel.

Answer 3

Everyone else's times are close. Around a week to 2 weeks. Avoid a sports bra, that can be very constricting. If you're feeling really uncomfortable w/o one, you can pick up some cheap, soft bra top types of shirts, as long as they're cotton or a very breathable fabric. It's not quite the same, but it can help without agitating the new tattoo like a bra strap would.