Prepare for your tattoo
Your skin is your largest organ & its health plays a part in the success of your tattoo. Proper preparation is so important! I can tell if someone’s skin is dehydrated since it makes your skin much harder to tattoo and can also cause the tattoo to not heal as well. Following these pointers can help you get the best tattoo possible and make my job easier.
- AVOID ALCOHOL & EXCESSIVE CAFFEINE
Drinking alcohol before your session, especially the night before, dehydrates you and thins your blood. This can make tattooing your skin very difficult and affects the quality and healing of your tattoo.
- STAY HYDRATED
Drink lots of water in the weeks leading up to your tattoo session. This helps to improve the moisture quality of your skin and hydrated skin is easier to tattoo!
- EXFOLIATE & MOISTURIZE
Exfoliate the week before your tattoo session, this will get help get rid of dead skins cells that can clog the needles and keep stencils from sticking to the skin well. Moisturize daily for at least a week prior to your tattoo session; don’t moisturize the day of your session. Exfoliating and moisturizing regularly can also help make existing tattoos look brighter.
- EAT
Eat a good meal before your session. A full stomach will help maintain your blood sugar and help you endure a long session. Eating also helps to prevent dizziness from nerves or hunger.
- SLEEP
Make sure to get plenty of sleep the night before your tattoo session! It makes a huge difference in how well you can sit for your tattoo.
Aftercare
Caring for your tattoo properly after your session is crucial to how your tattoo will heal and age over time. I do everything in my power to insure that your tattoo heals well and provide you with a complete aftercare kit that includes everything you will need to care for your tattoo. Once you leave the studio, the rest is up to you.
STEP 1 - REMOVE BANDAGE
Remove your bandage after 6 to 8 hours. The bandage absorbs excess plasma and ink from the tattoo area.
STEP 2 - CLEAN THE TATTOO
With clean hands and fragrance free soap, gently clean the tattoo. Either air dry or pat dry with a clean paper towel.
STEP 3 - OINTMENT & BANDAGE
Apply a small amount of ointment to the tattoo and wrap with bandage. Repeat the steps for 1-2 more days or until the bandage comes off clean with no ink or plasma.
STEP 4 - MOISTURIZE
Once you are done with the initial bandaging process and your bandage comes off clean, you’ll want to moisturize a lot! Make sure to still be washing your tattoo up to 2 times per day and moisturize using balm or unscented lotion as needed. Your tattoo will start to peel, do not pick at this! Once the tattoo is done peeling, it is healed, but make sure to keep moisturizing regularly as your body is still healing the deeper layers of skin.
REMINDERS
-Tattoos are an open wound while they are healing, this means there is always a risk of infection. Please reach out to your artist and consult a physician if you think your tattoo is infected. Symptoms of infection include redness, swelling, pain, fever, and yellow or green discharge.
-Avoid sun exposure, tanning, and submerging your new tattoo in water. Showers are fine, just be careful not to let your tattoo sit under the water for too long.
-Wear loose clothing. Tight clothing can rub the tattoo area and create irritation and cause poor healing.
-For soreness after your tattoo session, use an ice pack on the area. Make sure the ice pack and your tattoo are both covered to protect from skin irritation and infection.
-If your tattoo is itchy, don’t scratch it! Apply moisturizer or gently slap the area to get rid of the itchiness.
-Please follow your artists after care instructions. How well you take care of your new tattoo directly impacts the healing and longevity of your tattoo. A bright tattoo is up to you!