Pre Tattoo Advice

​

• Begin to lotion the area you'll be getting tattooed every day for the week leading up to your appointment. Your skin will thank you later!

• Stay hydrated. Your skin will thank you for that too.

• Don't drink alcohol the night before your tattoo appointment. Alcohol thins out your blood and can affect the healing of your new tattoo.

• Get a good night of rest, especially if you are having a longer session.

​

Day Of Your Tattoo

​

• Eat a decent meal before your tattoo and bring some snacks and beverages with you. A little bit of sugar will go a long way!

• Avoid caffeinated beverages and any blood thinning over the counter medications.

• Dress comfortably and for the tattoo you plan on getting. If you are getting your back tattooed, bring a button down shirt you can wear backward. If you are getting your feet tattooed, maybe bring some flip flops or ballet flats. I guarantee you won't want to put on closed shoes afterward! Black clothing also recommended if you want to be 1000% sure it won't get ruined by ink. If you are getting your chest tattooed we have pasties we can provide and also room dividers for more privacy.

• Please come to your appointment alone, unless you have a medical condition requiring assistance. We can of course make exceptions!

• Please do not wear any perfume or cologne or heavily scented products. 

​

Post Tattoo Aftercare

​​

​THESE INSTRUCTIONS ARE FOR THE USE OF SECOND SKIN

• Leave the bandage on for 3-5 days. It can be left on for maximum 7 days.

• There will be a bubble of black liquid that forms underneath the bandage. This is totally normal and good and will assist in the healing of your tattoo. It is a combination of blood, plasma, and ink but it doesn't mean that your tattoo is losing ink. As long as the seal of the bandage remains intact, you're good. If you notice seepage happening from the bandage, remove it immediately. This means the integrity of the bandage has been compromised and now bacteria is able to reach your tattoo. If you leave it on after that, your tattoo could potentially become infected. If this happens follow the regular tattoo healing listed below.

• If your bandage starts to show signs of redness on the perimeter (ie: not on the tattoo itself) this could mean you are having an allergic reaction to the adhesive. Remove immediately, or the reaction can intensify and leave a scar so definitely keep an eye out for this. This most commonly happens in very sensitive parts of the body like your inner arm. I no longer will apply second skin to areas I know to be problematic. 

• The bandage is water resistant, so you can still wear it in the shower and it won't affect the integrity of the bandage. That being said, the easiest way to get the bandage off is in the shower. Start by peeling one corner slowly and let the water fall in between your skin and the bandage. Work slowly. It is not a band-aid. DON'T rip it off.

• Clean with a gentle, mild soap twice a day after bandage is removed. I recommend Dr. Bronners or Aveeno Body Wash.

• Use plain unscented lotion to moisturize your tattoo. Use a small amount and rub in until absorbed. Use as needed. Do not over moisturize by using an entire palm full of lotion. Over-moisturizing can affect the healing of your tattoo.

• Do not resume any heavy workouts or activities that will cause you to sweat excessively. The sweat will become trapped underneath the bandage and then can affect the healing of your tattoo. Exercise activities can resume after 1 week but be mindful of any potential damage you could do to your still healing tattoo (ie: if we've just tattooed your bicep maybe skip the bench presses and do legs or cardio instead).

​​

THESE INSTRUCTIONS ARE FOR REGULAR TATTOO BANDAGES

• Leave the bandage on for 2 hours and then remove. If you session ends later in the day, leave the bandage on and remove before going to bed. 

• Wash your tattoo with hot water, like... as hot as you can stand without burning yourself. This will loosen all of the dried blood and plasma that has seeped out of your tattoo. Your tattoo will look shiny, you want to make it look as flat and matte as possible, the shininess is excess plasma that will eventually turn into a scab. Wash gently, do not scrub.

• Clean with a gentle, mild soap twice a day after bandage is removed. I recommend Dr. Bronners or Aveeno Body Wash. Clean twice a day.

• Dry your tattoo with a clean paper towel or let air dry.

• After 1-2 days, or whenever the tattoo dries out a little bit, use coconut oil to moisturize your tattoo. Use a small amount to thinly coat the tattoo and rub in until absorbed. Moisturize at least 2 times a day, or as needed. After the tattoo is done flaking, if you prefer you can switch to plain unscented lotion. Do not over moisturize by using an entire palm full of oil/lotion. Over-moisturizing can affect the healing of your tattoo.

• Wait for 1 week after your appointment to resume physical activities that affect the tattooed area. Be mindful of any potential damage you could do to your still healing tattoo (ie: if we've just tattooed your bicep maybe skip the bench presses and do legs or cardio instead).

​

THESE INSTRUCTIONS ARE FOR EVERYBODY!

• I personally do not recommend the use of Aquaphor. Aquaphor is for extremely dry skin and is very thick which can clog your pores and not allow your fresh tattoo to breathe. Lotion is going to take care of your moisturizing needs 95% of the time.

• Do not scratch your tattoo when it becomes itchy. Use a bit of lotion for itch relief, or you can slap it with your open hand.

• Do not immerse your fresh tattoo in bodies of water including but not limited to bath tubs, hot tubs, pools, lakes, rivers, oceans for 1 month. Your tattoo is a wound that is vulnerable to bacteria and can also affect the healing of your tattoo.

• Keep your tattoo out of the direct sun for 1 month. This time is crucial to the longevity of your tattoo. Do not apply sunscreen to your fresh tattoo, give it at least 1 month. Seen those super blurry blue looking tattoos on people with leathery skin? Yeah... that's no sunscreen and a lot of sun exposure at work.

• Keep pets away from your fresh tattoo! We love our furry families, but getting pet hair or saliva in your fresh wound can cause infection and we don't want that!

​

If anything ever happens regarding the healing of your tattoo I can always be reached by email to answer your questions. I hope this page will make accessing aftercare instructions a lot easier for all! I know after getting tattooed we don't always retain information super well :)

​

​

And..... DON'T FORGET TO SEND ME HEALED PHOTOS! I will jump for joy when I receive them, plz make me jump for joy!

​

​

​