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Welcome to my blog. I document my adventures in travel, style, and food. Hope you have a nice stay!
Welcome to my blog. I document my adventures in travel, style, and food. Hope you have a nice stay!
Before having a tattoo your skin is prepared and shaved to ensure it’s as clean as possible. During the process I use disposable gloves, anti bacterial and anti microbial products to ensure cleanliness alongside sterile disposable tattooing equipment.
This is to ensure your tattoo is as clean as possible and to prevent cross contamination and infection.
When you leave the studio your tattoo will be wrapped and you are given clear instructions on the aftercare of your tattoo, it is then your full responsibility to take control of the healing process.
I am not responsible for you failing to follow aftercare instructions - touch ups are carried out within the first 4 months of having the tattoo once the tattoo is fully healed. However if you haven’t followed aftercare advice you will be charged for your touch up.
Please refer to your specific aftercare instructions which can also be found repeated below for your convenience.
Baths, swimming, hot tubs, saunas are all a big no no for your tattoo, submerging your tattoo in any body of water can affect the healing process, softening healing skin and causing it to shed too soon. Swimming pools have chemicals in them like chlorine which can affect your tattoo. Open water such as lakes and the sea have higher bacteria levels which can cause infections. Bacteria can also more easily enter large open wounds like tattoos so please avoid any bathing for at least 3 weeks and use a shower instead.
Please ensure you have fresh clean bedding, towels and clothing for after your tattoo. This is necessary to avoid infection and aid healing.
Please avoid getting pet hair on or near your tattoo, this includes clothing with pet hair, don’t allow your pet near your tattoo or to lick your tattoo. Pets can scratch tattoos and introduce bacteria into your tattoo.
Avoid sunlight on your tattoo until it is fully healed. When it is healed sun damage including sun beds can adversely affect your tattoo making it fade and look less vibrant - so please use a sunscreen to avoid this- spf 50 on the tattooed area
If your work place is particularly dirty, wet, sunny, hot or very physical you may need to take some time off to allow your tattoo to heal. You need to think about how you will protect your tattoo whilst healing at work.
This is especially so if you can’t cover your tattoo, and prime examples of this include hand and finger tattoos.
Tattoos in these areas can be a struggle to heal well and aren’t helped if you have to wear gloves, or do repeated tasks that involve wet hands or repeatedly being knocked or physical use. In these instances your tattoo is at risk of becoming infected and or fading significantly, due to improper after care.
If you have an exercise routine you may be tempted to jump straight back into it after a tattoo, however I advise taking a week or two off after a big session, as tattooing can take a toll on the body. Sweat can also affect the healing of tattoos significantly and cause poor healing results so I recommend avoiding exercise that causes excess sweating.
When your ready to exercise be careful which activities you choose, as your tattooed area may be sore and tight. Avoid activities that put pressure on, stretch or knock the area.
Avoid potential dirty and bacteria ridden situations such as gyms, shared exercise equipment including exercise mats, and don’t forget no swimming pools.
If you do absolutely have to continue with a gym routine cover your tattoo fully with clean clothing, take a towel, anti bacterial gel and cleansing wipes to clean down equipment and disinfect your hands. Wash your hands throughly after leaving the gym, shower thoroughly and wash gym clothing.
If you exercise outside you will need to avoid this or fully cover the tattooed area until it is healed, and shower and wash all clothing post exercise.
Getting a tattoo can potentially take a toll on your health if your not careful.
If you sufferer from a medical condition or chronic illness you need to plan more carefully for you healing process - especially for keeping your tattoo clean and safe as a weakened immune system is no joke when getting tattooed.
Tattoo sessions can be painful and leave you feeling tired. So I recommend you drinking enough fluids prior to, during and after your tattoo.
Eat balanced meals before and after your tattoo, ensuring you eat plenty of fruit and vegetables. Being snacks and a sugary drink to you session.
Some people also like to take a general multi vitamin to help them through this period.
Tattooing can be a painful experience, I do my best to help you through the tattoo but sitting for long periods is tiring and uncomfortable, not just in the are being tattooed but holding your body still, and back and bum pain from sitting in one position. Be prepared for this
You may want to bring a pillow for your own comfort be extra layers to keep warm.
Please remember I’m always happy to break tattoos up into multiple sessions as that’s a valid option for dealing with the pain.
You can use a numbing cream for your tattoo session, however I prefer to know in advance so I can advise you on products and the best way to use them as they need to be applied at least an hour before the tattoo starts and wrapped carefully, They have risks for severe allergic reactions and chemical burns so a patch test way in advance and a few days before your appointment is necessary. Numbing creams are reported to affect the tattooing and healing process, and when they wear off clients can find the tattoo to be extremely uncomfortable, so please research before using products like this as you do it at your own risk.
However if you feel this is necessary just contact me before your appointment so we can discuss you using a product and how to apply it to be most effective.
I’ve found that CBD (legally derivied) products such as oils and edible lollies and sweets can help with anxiety and pain when getting tattooed - please contact me if you need a recommendation for a seller for these items.
After your tattoo you may be sore and swollen - you can use over the counter painkillers such as paracetamol and ibruprofen (If suited to you) in the recommended doses post procedure.
Tattoos can be painful for a few days and sometimes longer whilst healing so bare that in mind, you may need to reduce your activities to compensate.
Please do not scratch, rub or pick at your tattoo. I know it’s a very tempting proposition but doing this will definitely affect how your tattoo heals.
Tattoos can become very itchy whilst healing - I recommend just very gently tapping the area to relive the itching and ensuring your not using too much or too little aftercare cream.
Please be very careful with your tattoo, avoid knocking into anything as it can affect the tattoo.
If you do any of the above it can pull off a layer of healing skin pulling out the tattoo with it which will need to be touched up - in this instance a touch up will be charged.
This aftercare advice only applies when using a protective tattoo film such a Saniderm, Recovery Derm etc which are the products I use for certain tattoos.
This product is a vegan, hypoallergenic, breathable, waterproof adhesive film - made from polyurethane that you use for the first week of healing your tattoo. You can shower, exercise lightly and work knowing your tattoo is protected.
Your first piece of tattoo film has been applied by your artist - and this can be left on for 8 - 24 hours depending on how much your tattoo weeps.
If under the film your tattoo is leaking or has excessive ink and plasma you can change the film sooner.
Wash hands
Remove film - warm the skin with clean warm running water to help soften the films adhesive. Gently peel each corner of the film layer back towards the centre ensuring that your remain parallel to the skins surface. If the adhesive is difficult to remove continue using warm water to soften.
Once the film is off very gently clean skin and tattoo using an unscented hypoallergenic anti bacterial soap.
Pat tattoo and skin completely dry using clean kitchen roll.
Apply the film with the protective side facing down (peel off the paper layer to do this)
Press edges down to the skin
Leave at least 2.5cm of film margin around the tattoo
Then peel off the back cover using the pull tabs
Make sure the film is pressed down carefully
This second piece of film can be left on for up to 5 days
After 5 days remove the film as before through carefully warming under warm running water to loosen the adhesive. Pull the film perpendicular to your skin, don’t rip away as this is more painful.
Clean the tattoo carefully and ensure all adhesive is removed from your skin and pat dry with fresh kitchen towel.
Use cocoa butter on any adhesive residue this will soften to allow for easier removal.
Start using a tattoo aftercare cream such as palmers cocoa butter - applying a thin layer after washing with antibacterial soap 3 times a day.
Continue using your aftercare cream until the tattoo is fully healed and settled. Remember it takes a year for a tattoo to fully heal under the surface of the skin.
Disclaimer*
Tattoo film (second skin) is a hypoallergenic product, however if you suspect you could be allergic to this product and if you notice excessive itching, hives, bumps, blisters please stop using this product straight away and clean skin carefully, then use a thin layer of recommended tattoo aftercare cream.
Please do not use these adhesive films if you are unsure - do not apply and then take off repeatedly in a short amount of time as they will cause irritation to the skin if you use them like this. It’s a one time application in the studio and once again at home.
Aftercare creams recommended are Palmers Cocoa Butter, YAYO Familia aftercare butter, Butterluxe. You are responsible for your own aftercare and that includes purchasing and using a suitable product. I am not responsible for allergic reactions to creams or use of non recommended creams, if you suspect an allergic reaction to a cream discontinue straight away.
Please do not use Vaseline, Savlon, germolene, bepanthon, E45, or products containing lanolin or petroleum.
Recommended creams for healing your tattoo - Palmers Cocoa butter, Butterluxe, Yayo Familia tattoo butter.
Please do not use bepanthon, Vaseline, savlon, germolene, or products containing lanolin or petroleum.
Sorry Mum is sold in the studio as an aftercare product that many clients have used and had excellent healing results - but there are many other high quality products that I can recommend.
You will leave the studio with your tattoo wrapped in cling film, this is to keep it clean for your journey home to avoid dirty situations and cross contamination.
Remember your tattoo is an open wound and you must treat it carefully and seriously to avoid infection and poor healing.
Please don’t leave the cling film on for longer than 2 hours initially, if your travelling from further away - please remove and clean when you get home.
Step 1
Wash hands and dry using kitchen towel. Remove the cling film wrap and dispose of this straight away.
Gently wash the tattoo and surrounding skin using anti bacterial unscented soap - you can buy specific tattoo soaps for this or you can use anti bacterial hand wash. Gently but throroughly remove any plasma and ink from the skin and then carefully pat dry with fresh clean kitchen towel.
Allow your skin to breathe and fully dry for 5 minutes.
Then apply a thin even layer of your aftercare cream.
Before you go to bed on the first day rewash your tattoo again and apply another light layer of cream.
Sleeping - just for the first night of sleeping you may want to rewrap your tattoo with cling film, especially if it’s a large tattoo that’s still weeping. Only wrap with fresh cling film right before you go to bed. The next morning remove the cling film straight away and wash and clean and allow to air before applying aftercare.
Re wrapping in cling film is only to be used in this instance or when working in a dirty work situation as rewraping in cling film can create a moist warm non breathable environment which a breeding ground for bacteria and could cause infection.
Avoid lying on the tattoo whilst sleeping.
If you don’t rewrap which is fine, you need to make sure you don’t sleep on the tattoo as during the night the tattoo will weep a little and push out plasma and ink, this is normal, however you don’t want the tattoo to get stuck on your sheets. If this does happen do not rip off the sheets, take them to the bathroom and soak in warm water until they come away easily.
The day after your tattoo - when you wake up shower and clean your tattoo carefully using the antibacterial soap, making sure to remove any plasma and ink. Dry using kitchen towel and then apply your tattoo cream using a thin layer.
During the first day after getting tattooed you may still be pushing out plasma and ink from your tattoo and cleaning the tattoo at lunchtime and evening time may be necessarily and then putting a thin layer of aftercare on afterwards.
Don’t allow your tattoo to get wet and gooey with plasma and aftercare, as this becomes a breeding ground for bacteria and stops the tattoo from breathing and healing. This can clog pores and cause infections.
You need to moisturise your tattoo for at least the next 3 weeks depending on your skin type and how well you heal, this should be done 3 times a day using a thin layer. If your skin becomes very dry or itchy you can do this more but pay close attention to your skin and never over moisturise.
Do not allow your tattoo to get dry, but be aware a thick layer of cream is also not good for your tattoo.
Your shaved in preparation for your tattoo this can sometimes cause a shaving rash and will settle down after a few days. Also after a few days the shaved hair starts to regrow and this in some cases can cause pimples, a rash or ingrown hairs - again this normally settles down but if you have any worries please see your local pharmacist, nurse practitioner or GP.