PRE-APPOINTMENT CARE

 

- Please ensure you get a good sleep the night before your appointment.

- Make sure you eat a good meal within the hour before you come in. It doesn't hurt to bring some sugary snacks to keep your blood sugar up.

- DO NOT consume alcohol the night before your appointment.  

- DO drink lots of water leading up to your appointment to hydrate your skin.

-Please exfoliate the area & moisturize in the week leading up to your appointment to ensure your skin is in good condition for tattooing (especially during the winter months).

- Please wear something comfortable that also provides easy access to the area destined to be tattooed.

- People tend to get cold while being tattooed. So bring socks, mittens, a sweater, or even a blanket to ensure you stay cozy. 

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TATTOO AFTERCARE

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I use a clear second skin bandage for almost all of my tattoos. This bandage will stay on for a minimum of 3 days (72 hours). You may shower with this bandage on, it sticks to the skin very well. It is completely normal for there to be a goopy dark build up that forms underneath - this is just excess blood, plasma and ink seeping out of your fresh tattoo. If this starts to ooze out from under your bandage please remove it. After about 7 days you will have some peeling start to occur (similar to a sunburn.) DO NOT PICK AT SCABS.

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BANDAGE REMOVAL - When you are ready to remove your bandage I recommend doing so in the shower. Run the bandage under the water to help it along, start at the corner and pull at the edge away from the tattoo, stretching the second skin, this should slowly release it from your skin. DO NOT tear it off like a bandaid. This can cause damage to your delicate healing skin. Once the bandage is off, using an antibacterial unscented soap gently rub off any excess slime & goop. When you get out of the shower gently pat (do not rub) the tattoo dry with a clean paper towel and let it dry out naturally for the a few hours. If there is any sticky residue left on the skin apply some coconut oil, hemp oil or baby oil, and rub in circular motions to try and lift as much of the residue as possible. Be gentle with your tattoo and don't pick at the skin. If it is extra stubborn just keep the area clean and wash it regularly and it will come off on its own over the days.

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MOISTURIZING - Once your tattoo has had a chance to air dry you may start applying an UNSCENTED moisturizer. I personally recommend Lubriderm, Aquaphor, Aveeno or any other tattoo specific aftercare products. NEVER let your tattoo get so dry it cracks. Apply a small amount of moisturizer to saturate the tattoo area (but do not go overboard where it is moist and greasy as this will negatively affect healing.) You'll want to do this a couple times a day depending on your skins natural condition. 

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EXERCISE - I recommend not doing any serious exercise while the second skin is in place (3 days). You do not want to stretch or overwork your healing skin. Any sweat that accumulates underneath the bandage can run a risk of infection. I thoroughly clean the area with an antiseptic before application of the bandage, but there is still a risk.

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WATER/SUN EXPOSURE - Please do not fully submerge your tattoo in water until your tattoo is fully healed (no shiny areas or raised bits) and looks like normal skin again. This varies per person but normal healing time is 2-3 weeks. This means no baths, swimming, hot tubs or saunas. UV rays are damaging to tattoos especially while they're healing so please keep your tattoo covered from the sun during healing. Once the tattoo is healed always apply sunscreen if you'll be exposed to the sun to keep your tattoo looking fresh. 

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WHITE INK TATTOOS - White ink is an especially difficult pigment to work with, which means there are many variables to consider when wanting to get something like this added to your tattoo.  White generally looks the best when applied as small highlights in pieces. Please understand that depending on your natural skin tone and location on the body will affect how the white ink heals in and stays. White inks are best healed and kept when in areas on the body that do not get much exposure to the sun. UV rays are especially damaging to lighter pigments so protecting your tattoo from the sun is very important in the healing process and even after the healing process to keep the longevity of the white ink.  White ink has the potential to turn yellowish if exposed to the sun if proper care is not taken. White ink will never look as white as a sheet of paper once it is healed into the skin, this is because you are viewing it through your skin (which is not transparent). Your skin contains melanin and your melanin levels will affect how coloured inks show up on your skin tone.