AFTERCARE
Please follow the aftercare instructions carefully to give your new tattoo the best chance of healing
well with good results. These instructions are specific to the artists that have carried out your work
and come from years of experience, so listen to your artist.
1. Upon completion of your tattoo the artist will apply a dressing of cling film secured with cohesive tape or micropore tape where needed. This is to provide protection to your new piece of art until you get home.
Remember that your tattoo is an open wound and needs to be treated as such.
2. The dressing needs to be removed roughly 2 to 3 hours after application. In the case of a cling film dressing remove cling film and dispose of it accordingly. Where micropore tape has been used it is recommended to soak the tape in warm water before removal to help loosen the adhesive.
3. The newly tattooed area now requires cleaning. Make
sure to wash your hands first. Cleaning of your tattoo should be done using plain, warm
soapy water (no fancy soaps or shower gels, we recomend Simple soap or any kind of soap that is safe for use on babies. We stronly advise against the use of antibacterial soaps as we have found that they can sometimes have a detrimental effect on the healing process). Using warm water and the soap of your choosing give your tattoo a really good wash, make sure to get a good lather on your hands and give the tattoo a good clean. Don't scrub the Tattoo or be too rough with it, gently rubbing over it a few times with your hand will suffice. Once cleaned make sure to rinse all of the soap off the Tattoo with warm clean water.
4. Dry your newly washed tattoo with either a clean towel or kitchen roll, make sure to gently
dab/pat the tattoo dry rather than rubbing it.
5. After cleaning your tattoo let it dry out and let the air get to it for about 10 to 15 minutes, once you are satisfied the tattoo is dry you can apply a thin layer of the aftercare cream that you acquired after your session.
6. Apply a very thin layer of cream. Make sure that when
you apply the aftercare solution you apply the smallest amount possible and work it well into
the tattooed area. Applying too much cream can result in blocked pores, which stops your
skin from being able to breathe properly. When it comes to aftercare creams, less is
definitely more. NEVER use Sudacrem, Preparation H, Vaseline or Savlon as aftercare for a
tattoo. ONLY USE WHAT HAS BEEN RECOMMENDED BY YOUR ARTIST
7. From this point on aftercare should be applied between 3 to 5 times a day making sure
to wash hands before application. Be sure to wash the previous application of cream off
before applying more. If the aftercare you have been recommended at any point starts to
burn stop using it and consult the advice of the studio immediately, they will advise you the
best course of action.
8. Be conscious of the environment that you work in. It’s a proven fact clients working in an
office based environment have better healing tattoos than garage workers or tradesmen, for
example. Make sure you take this into account when keeping your new tattoo clean.
9. Make sure that while your tattoo is healing you do not soak it in water. It is fine to get the
tattooed area wet but submerging it in a bath for a prolonged period of time will drastically
effect how it heals. This also applies to swimming; do not go swimming until your tattoo is
completely healed.
10. If you follow all the above aftercare advice correctly your tattoo will be healed well within a
fortnight and look as good as the day it was done.
Things to take note of while your tattoo is healing
● Don’t constantly touch your new tattoo while it is healing.
● Healing tattoos can be feel itchy, do not scratch the tattoo.
● If your tattoo scabs over resist the urge to pick the scabs (this can result in a loss of colour).
● While healing, your tattoo may develop a silvery sheen which looks slightly wrinkled. This is
an entirely natural part of the healing process called silverskin. It does not mean your tattoo
is fading away, or that the colours are dulling, it is merely the skin healing itself.
If at any point you think your tattoo has become infected seek the advice of the artist that did the
work for you, they can advise you better than your local GP can.
As a final note, please be aware that the studio is fully licensed, uses single use disposable
equipment, with all equipment wrapped in barrier film and that all operators wear gloves. This
ensures the procedure you receive on premises is 100% sterile.
However, once you leave the studio your tattoo will only heal as well as you help it to. It is your
responsibility to look after it.
If you feel your tattoo has not healed to your expectations make sure
that you have followed the aftercare instructions stated above. The studio will not take accountability
for badly healed tattoos and any touch ups or recolouring that is required will be at your own
expense. In the case of any free touch ups offered, this must be booked within 6 weeks of the
original appointment, otherwise you will be charged for the touch up.
Keep in mind that 99% of infected tattoos can be accounted to bad aftercare and are not the fault of
the artist that completed your tattoo. A tattoo is a collaborative process, and one of your
responsibilities is to care for it properly.
If you have any questions regarding the aftercare of your tattoo please get in touch with us and we
will give you any help we can.