Aftercare

 

Things To Purchase: 

  • Non Scented, Liquid Antibacterial Handsoap (Dial Gold is great!)

  • Non Scented Lotion 

  • Single Use Paper Products (ex: paper towels)

  • Ointment : We prefer Aquaphor or Hustle Butter

Before Your Appointment: 

  • Make sure you are well rested the morning of your appointment, and eat a good meal. 

  • Do not drink alcohol 24 hours prior to your appointment as it will thin your blood, and make the process more difficult for you and your artist.

  • Make sure you have your government issues photo ID on hand. Your artist will not be able to tattoo you without it. 

  • Grab a light snack, and a beverage to bring with you to your appointment. 

  • Feel free to bring a book, or headphones with you. Whatever you feel will make you the most comfortable!

At Your Appointment: 

  • Be sure to answer all questions and fill out all information on the release form accurately, to the best of your ability. Having a client’s medical history, and possible conditions or allergies is imperative to us being able to give you the best tattoo possible. 

  • Alert your artist if you have a history of becoming nauseated, or passing out during tattoo procedures, or in circumstances involving needles and blood. We want to be as prepared as we possibly can to help you feel comfortable were these circumstances to arise. 

  • Ask your artist for clarification on the process or any questions you might have otherwise. Communication is very important to us, and we never mind clarifying.

After You Get Tattooed: 

*If your artist used second skin on your tattoo, please follow these instructions (If your artist did not, please follow the standard care instructions below):

• During the first 24 hours after receiving your tattoo, you may notice a build up of plasma or blood under your bandage- this is normal, especially if you got a significant amount of solid shading or color work done! If you notice a build up after 24 hours of having your bandage on, remove your bandage (remove by gently peeling up and out from the bottom of your tattoo, slowly, under running water), thoroughly clean your tattoo and reapply a new sheet of Second Skin. Your artist will have provided you with one if it is needed! We will link the steps for re-application here.

• If you notice any leakage from the bandage outside of the confines of the edges of your bandage at any time after the initial or reapplication, remove the bandage and follow the standard healing aftercare instructions below.

• You may leave your bandage (either primary if you do not experience plasma build up, or secondary) on for 2-4 days at this point. After removal, you may experience some flaking and dryness, and you will want to combat this by keeping your tattoo lightly moisturized with a very thin layer of non-scented lotion twice a day for the remainder of the healing process.

• It is normal for your tattoo to itch and peel lightly, so NOT scratch or pick at it- use lotion as needed and let it to it’s thing!

• You cannot shave the area you’ve been tattooed in until it is fully healed (4 weeks is considered surface level healed).

• Once your tattoo is healed (4 weeks is considered surface level healed), regular use of sunscreen will preserve its longevity and boldness. 

• If you experience any signs of itching, redness or a rash around the edges of your Second Skin bandage, this may be a reaction to the adhesive. If this occurs, remove the bandage, clean the tattoo well with non scented antibacterial soap and continue following the standard healing instructions below. If you have any concerns at all, please contact your doctor for guidance.

STANDARD CARE INSTRUCTIONS:

• After your tattoo appointment, leave your bandage on for 1-4 hours. When you remove your bandage, you’ll likely notice some seeping of ink tinged blood. This is completely normal, and expected!

• Wash your tattoo with non scented, liquid, antibacterial hand soap (no bar soap here, as it harbors bacteria) gently in cool water with your fingertips. The cool water will help restrict your blood vessels and encourage your tattoo to stop bleeding. 

• Let the tattoo air dry. Avoid drying your tattoo with household towels, and stick to single use products only, such as paper towels, during the healing period. This helps minimize any potential contact with irritants and bacteria. We recommend avoiding ointment, and leaving your tattoo dry for the first day/night to allow it to breathe, and settle. If need be, wash your tattoo one more time using the process outlined above before you go to bed, to clear off any remaining fluids.

• It’s not unusual for your tattoo to seep a bit overnight- be aware of this if you’re sleeping in something you care about, or on sheets you don’t want to get stained. Considering laying down a clean sheet, or tshirt over your bed in the area your tattoo will make contact. NEVER rebandage your tattoo.

The First 3 Days After Your Appointment:

Wash your tattoo once again when you wake up in the morning, using the same method described above. If you wake up and find that your tattoo has seeped overnight, and become stuck to fabric, do not pull the fabric off. Gently dampen the fabric in question with a small amount of water, to unstick it from your tattoo. Removing the fabric with force could cause serious irritation to your piece. After you’ve washed your tattoo, and let it air dry, gently apply a small amount of ointment with your fingertips. We recommend Aquaphor, and encourage you to use no more product than is absolutely necessary. A little goes a long way, and it is important to allow your tattoo to breathe. Too much use of ointment could lead to clogged pores and causes the potential for infection. Dab off any excess ointment after application with a single use paper product, and leave your tattoo be for the day! Wash and apply ointment once more before you go to bed. 

If you are able to, leave your tattoo uncovered by clothing for these first three days. If you are unable, loose, breathable fabrics are the best. Again, NEVER rebandage your tattoo. It is much more conducive for healing to allow some contact with clothing, than it is to bandage the tattoo again.

Repeat these steps, washing and ointment application, morning and night for the full three days after your appointment.

Day 4: 

We recommend switching over to a non scented lotion on the fourth day of healing. It is imperative that there is no fragrance in the lotion you are using. At this point, your tattoo may become flaky, and itchy. The lotion helps to keep the tattoo from drying out too heavily, and helps any flakes that might exist to stay in place until they’re ready to fall off naturally. Again, a little goes a long way, and we recommend applying a very small amount morning and night. If your tattoo is making contact with clothing, it may dry out quicker, and a third mid day application may be beneficial for you. 

The Remainder of The Healing Process: 

It will take up to three weeks for your tattoo to fully heal. During this time, continue applying lotion as needed. While your tattoo is in this stage, remember: 

  • Do not scratch your tattoo, even though it may feel itchy.

  • Do not pick at any flakes of skin, or small scabs that form. They will come off when they are ready, and early removal can pull color from your tattoo and cause scarring. 

  • Do not soak your tattoo in water. This means no baths, hot tubs or swimming of any kind during the healing period. Once your tattoo has been settled for three weeks, feel free to resume these activities.

  • Do not let your tattoo have direct sun contact. You cannot apply sunscreen until your tattoo is fully healed, which means you must cover your tattoo lightly with clothing if you expect you will have sun exposure. 

Important Things to Note:

  • It’s okay to shower with your fresh tattoo! The hot water may sting a bit at first, but it will not harm your art. Avoid using any scented body wash products on the area that you’ve been tattooed in, and always rinse the area after you’ve used shampoo/conditioner/etc in case any excess has travelled down your body. 

  • You cannot shave the area you’ve been tattooed in until it is fully healed (4 weeks is considered surface level healed).

  • Once your tattoo is healed (4 weeks is considered surface level healed), regular use of sunscreen will preserve its longevity and boldness. 

  • NEVER use any antibiotic cream on your healing tattoo unless directed to do so by a medical professional. NEVER apply hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol.

If you ever have any questions regarding the healing process, please contact your artist, or the shop, directly! No question is too small, or too silly, and we’re here to help.