• 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!

• Stay hydrated. Don't drink alcohol the night before your tattoo appointment.  Alcohol thins out your blood and can affect the healing of your new tattoo. You also don’t want to be hungover during your tattoo, this also significantly increases your chances of passing out.

• Get a good night of rest the night before your appointment.

• Go to the bank or hit up an ATM and set your cash aside for the day of your appointment.

• Eat a decent meal before your appointment. Bring snacks and water to sustain you through the session.

• Wear loose and comfortable clothing that is appropriate for the area you are getting tattooed e.g. if you are getting a back piece, wear a button down shirt that you can wear backwards or bring shorts that you can change into if you are getting your legs tattooed.

• I recommend that you wear dark/ black clothes that you are not precious about to prevent damage from ink.

• Bring a “tattoo bag” with you. I recommend packing: water, snacks, clothes to change into for your tattoo (if necessary), a book or headphones for longer sessions, and a charger.

• Please come alone.

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

• DO NOT wear numbing to your appointment.

Wearing the bandage:

• Leave the bandage on for 24-72 hours.

• The bandage can be left on for a maximum of 7 days.

• The bandage is waterproof, so you can shower with it and the integrity of the bandage won’t be compromised.

• There will be a sac of liquid that will build up underneath the bandage, this is normal. The liquid is blood, plasma and ink. This doesn’t mean your tattoo is losing ink. This liquid concoction actually helps your tattoo’s healing.

• Keep an eye on your bandage and make sure that it’s fully sealed. It’s normal that the parameter of the bandage will start to lift off as time passes.

⚠️ WARNING

If you notice that your bandage has been compromised and liquid is seeping through, TAKE IT OFF! This means that your bandage is no longer sealed and bacteria can get to your tattoo and your tattoo can get infected if the bandage is left on.

If your bandage starts to feel itchy around the parameter or becomes red and irritated, go ahead and take your bandage off. This could mean that you are having an allergic reaction to the adhesive. Please remove the bandage immediately. Even if you have never had an issues with these types of bandages before, these reactions can happen. Leaving the bandage on can escalate to skin blister and scar.

Taking off the bandage:

• I recommend that you take your bandage off in the shower.

• To remove your bandage, start by taking a corner and very gently tugging on it in a downwards motion (like a 3M strip). It’s likely that the bandage will snap. if this happens, start over and repeat this process until the bandage is fully off.

• Work slowly. DO NOT rip the bandage off!

• Once the bandage is off you don’t rebandage the tattoo and you begin your aftercare.

Tattoo aftercare:

• Run lukewarm water over your new tattoo. Gently lather some mild, unscented soap and rinse. I recommend Dr. Bronner’s baby blue soap.

  • Liquid soap is preferred to slid soap bars. Solid soap bars, if improperly stored can harbor bacteria that can infect your tattoo.

• Pat the tattoo dry with a clean paper towel. DO NOT a regular towel as they can harbor bacteria and irritate the healing skin.

• Moisturize your skin/ tattoo with some unscented lotion. A small amount will do. Gently rub the lotion in until it is absorbed. Don’t overdo it, this can affect the healing of your tattoo.

• You’ll do this 1-2 times a day for 2-3 weeks or until the surface of the tattoo is fully healed and no longer appears raw or scabbing.

Wearing the bandage:

• Leave your bandage on for 2-4 hours.

• If your bandage starts to feel tight or uncomfortable due to swelling, feeling too sweaty, or it’s falling off go ahead and take it off.

Taking off the bandage:

• I recommend that you take the bandage off in the shower

• Once the bandage is removed you do not re-bandage.

Tattoo aftercare:

• Run lukewarm to hot water (without burning yourself) over your new tattoo. Gently lather some mild, unscented soap and rinse. For gentle, unscented soaps I recommend Dr. Bronner’s baby blue soap.

• Liquid soap is preferred to slid soap bars. Solid soap bars, if improperly stored can harbor bacteria that can infect your tattoo.

• Pat the tattoo dry with a clean paper towel. DO NOT a regular towel as they can harbor bacteria and irritate the healing skin.

• Moisturize your skin/ tattoo with some unscented lotion. A small amount will do. Gently rub the lotion in until it is absorbed. Don’t overdo it, this can affect the healing of your tattoo.

• You’ll do this 1-2 times a day for 2-3 weeks or until the surface of the tattoo is fully healed and no longer appears raw or scabbing.

☺ Keep in mind your sick, new tattoo is an open wound. As a rule of thumb, you want to leave your tattoo alone, avoid situations that could lead to infection, and be gentle + caring with your body and yourself during the four (4) weeks that it takes to heal your new tattoo.

✅ Wear loose clothing while healing your tattoo.

✅ Keep your tattoo out of direct sunlight for four (4) weeks.

✅ Use sunscreen on your new tattoo after four (4) weeks.

✅ Use clean bedsheets.

✅ Keep animal pals away from your fresh tattoo. If their hair or saliva get on your new tattoo, that could cause an infection.

✅ Wait for one (1) week to resume physical activities. After that, be mindful of any damage that could happen to your still healing tattoo (eg, If you just got the back of your arm tattooed, you wouldn’t want to go to the gym and use an arm curl machine).

✅ Hydrate, eat nourishing foods, and get a good night’s sleep.

❌ DO NOT immerse your fresh tattoo in bodies of water for 4 weeks. That means no pools, hot tubs, tubs, lakes, rivers, oceans, etc.

❌ DO NOT use the sauna

❌ DO NOT wax or shave over your new tattoo

❌ DO NOT touch your tattoo with dirty hands / let others touch your new tattoo

❌ DO NOT wear tight clothing while healing your tattoo

❌ DO NOT scratch or pick at your tattoo. This can compromise the healing and remove ink from the tattoo. I know, it can be super tempting when your tattoo is dry and flaky. As tempting as it can be, when your tattoo is dry and flaky, use a small amount of unscented lotion to relieve the itchiness and flakiness.

It’s normal to experience some pain, redness, swelling, itching, and other slight to moderate discomforts after your tattoo, especially during the first 48-72 hours.

Symptoms should be mild and completely subside within a week or so. If you are experiencing discomfort, I recommend using Bacitracin. This ointment helps to prevent infections. Clean your tattoo before applying this. A thin layer will do.

If these conditions persist or worsen GO TO THE DOCTOR.

Signs of an infected tattoo include:

• Redness: Persistent or spreading redness beyond the tattoo area.

• Swelling: Puffiness or swelling of the tattooed area.

• Pain: Increased pain or tenderness that worsens over time.

• Warmth: The tattoo feels warm to the touch.

• Pus: Yellow or green discharge from the tattoo site.

• Bumps or nodules: Small, raised bumps that may contain pus.

• Fever: A high body temperature.

• Chills: Shivering or chills.

• Open sores: The tattoo develops open wounds or ulcers.

• Bad odor: A foul or unpleasant smell coming from the tattoo. 

Please seek medical assistance if you have any doubts. Tattoo infections are real and can be dangerous!