Pre-Care
it’s very important to come in physically prepared for your tattoo. Make sure you have rested well the night before, and you’ve had a good filling meal at least half an hour before arriving at the studio. It takes a lot out of you to get tattooed so you need your body to feel as strong as possible to sit for long sessions. Remember to bring a sugary drink, water and a snack with you to the session, in case you feel a dip in energy.
It will also help you with the whole experience, and healing, if your skin care regime is already in place! If you’re regularly exfoliating, and daily moisturising your skin, I cannot stress how much this helps the tattoo process, and how much easier you’ll find it to heal your tattoo. Healthy skin is the best pre-care! 🙌
After Care
At the end if your appointment I will apply a film called second skin. 4/5 days after your appointment remove the film. You will find it easiest to get the bottom corner and pull down to ease it away from the skin.
You can then start your daily care which is; wash your tattoo gently with a fragrance/ paraben/ sulphate free soap. I recommend Aveeno, which you can get from most pharmacies. I don’t recommend using antibacterial soaps, as you’ll dry the skin out and parched skin struggles to heal!
Pat the skin dry with a paper towel and apply a thin layer of cocoa, Shea butter - or any wood quality nourishing butter that is your preferred cream for tattoo healing.
Repeat this morning and night for the full month after your tattoo appointment.
Around the 4th day your tattoo will get a little bit dryer and look a bit ‘peely’ like sunburn, at this point you may want to moisturise an extra time in ththe day. Always apply the cream and allow it to sink into the skin. Don’t rub it into the skin - be gentle with your tattoo! The skin will be healing for a full month.
Avoid soaking the skin for that month - so no baths, swimming saunas etc.
A lot of my clients ask about using the gym; it’s fine to keep going to the gym but I’d avoid it for the first three days, and be careful after that if you skin is still visibly healing. If you are making the area where you have been tattooed expand and retract repeatedly you’ll be stressing the skin.
Avoid direct sunlight on the area for the first month- if you are in the sun make sure to apply factor 50 as a minimum SPF.
Wear loose clothing, as appropriate to where you’ve been tattooed; so if it’s on your bra line don’t wear a bra etc. for the first two weeks.
The skin will be very itchy around the first week after - never itch, scratch or aggravate the skin. If you do, you’ll damage parts of the tattoo, so just remember to be mindful of that part of your skin.
If you have any questions during healing don’t hesitate to message me!
Thanks! ❤️