Tattoo Prep
TATTOO PREP
How to prepare for your tattoo appointment.
✔ 24 hours prior, avoid drugs and alcohol - stay hydrated with plenty of water. Get a good night's sleep so your well rested and ready.
✔ Lightly exfoliate and moisturise your skin.
✔ Eat a good breakfast/lunch before your appointment. Feel free to also pack your own drinks, snacks or lunch to keep you going. The studio provides access to a fridge, as well as a range of cold drinks and a fully stocked snack & lolly trolley.
✔ If the area to be tattooed is very large or has thick hair, please shave prior to your appointment. Be sure to use warm water with shaving cream or conditioner, to avoid irritating your skin.
✔ Wear suitable, comfy clothing. Old or dark clothes are usually best, as there's always the risk of stencil or ink stains. The area being tattooed needs to be easily accessible so please keep that in mind when picking out an outfit.
Tattoo Care
TATTOO AFTERCARE
How to care for your new tattoo!
✔ Keep your new tattoo wrapped for 1-2 hours after leaving the studio.
✔ A tattoo is a wound - cling wrap provides a barrier to stop anything nasty from getting in until you're safely home.
✔ Remove the cling wrap and gently pat the tattoo surface dry with clean paper towel to remove any excess ink, blood or plasma.
✔ That night, wash your tattoo with clean hands under warm (not hot) running water, or while showering - use a gentle soap or antibacterial wash.
✔ Pat dry with clean paper towel and apply a thin layer of aftercare balm.
✔ Repeat this process 2-3 times a day until fully healed (minimum two weeks).
✘ Do not submerge in stagnant water until healed (baths, spas, pools, rivers, ocean). This water contains bacteria, leading to infection.
✘ Do not expose it the sun. Wear long sleeves/pants if needed - never apply sunscreen to a FRESH tattoo.
✔ Your tattoo will itch and peel while healing - no picking or scratching! This is normal.
✔ Once healed keep your tattoos looking their best with moisturiser and sunscreen daily.
❤️Heavy blackwork or colour packing? You can rewrap your tattoo in cling wrap for the first few nights to help speed up healing and stop your tattoo from making a mess in bed! Be sure to thoroughly wash and dry prior to applying balm and wrapping, to prevent trapping any bacteria or water.
Products
PRODUCTS
Tattoo aftercare products, and where to find them.
the following products are readily available at selective supermarkets / chemists.
Use whichever works best with your skin;
❤️ Dr Pickles Foaming Wash
❤️ Dr Pickles Tattoo Balm
❤️ Bepanthen
❤️ Bepanthen Tattoo
❤️ Paw Paw Ointment
❤️ Second Skin
Other tattoo balms (such as Dragon's Blood, Hustle Butter etc.) can be purchased online.
Infected?
INFECTED?
No matter how many precautions are taken, tattoos are a wound and infection can happen. Follow the aftercare guidelines above carefully, to minimize this risk!
Check the signs;
❤️ Increasing soreness.
❤️ Redness that is spreading.
❤️ Chills, fever, sweats.
❤️ Bumps or pustules.
❤️ Hot to the touch.
❤️ Intense itching.
❤️ Oozing yellow/green.
Tattoo infection requires antibiotics! Don't mess around!
✓ Some soreness, swelling, itching and even bruising is completely normal.
