PROCESS
Here is where you'll find most of my Information and Frequently Asked Questions.
PREPARATION DOS
Hydrate days/weeks in advance by drinking plenty of water and moisturizing your skin.
Eat foods that don't dry your skin out. Limit refined carbs.
Eat foods containing Vitamins E, C, and Omega-3.
Wash your bedsheets so that when you go home after your tattoo, you have a clean space to sleep in.
Shower and use deodorant on the day of your appointment.
Wear clean, looser, and comfortable clothing.
Do hydrate and eat well right before your appointment.
PREPARATION DON'TS
Don’t tan or burn your skin leading up to your appointment.
Don't drink heavily the night before your appointment. You could bleed more, and could cause body odor.
Don't drink a lot of caffeine on the day of your appointment.
Don’t work out right before your appointment. Especially the area getting tattooed as it could hurt more.
Don’t Shave. Body hair is normal. The artist needs to shave to ensure no abrasions, nicks, or cuts occur.
Don't come in with applied numbing cream unless you have discussed it with the artist beforehand.
Don't bring people with you to your appointment. Speak to the artist beforehand.
Don't arrive drunk or high.
BRING TO YOUR APPOINTMENT
Government-issued Photo ID
Clean Sweater / Blanket (Your body’s temperature fluctuates with adrenaline and you can get cold.)
Non-Alcoholic Drinks
Snacks
Book / Magazine
Phone / Tablet
Headphones
Charger
AFTERCARE
Be committed to good healing habits in order to take proper care of your new tattoo.
If you aren’t committed, more issues can arise such as infection, scaring, lightening, fading, vibrancy, and/or longevity.
DO NOT risk infection by placing a healing tattoo on or near gym equipment.
DO NOT risk infection by going swimming for a minimum of 2 weeks or exposing your healing tattoo to any open surface water (lakes, ocean, hot-tubbing, baths, or anything submersive).
DO NOT take too hot or too long of showers until your tattoo is healed.
DO NOT itch or scratch the tattoo, no matter the intensity of the itch. Instead, pat the area for relief. You may apply ice for less than 10 minutes to help alleviate some itching if need be.
DO NOT pick at the scabs or flakes. This can lead to infection, cause the area to fade or look patchy, or lose pigment completely. You could need a touchup where you perhaps would not have needed otherwise.
The tattoo area can remain tender, swollen, and red during the healing process.
DO NOT use any scented or fragranced products.
Only wash with unscented, antibacterial soap to wash your healing tattoo.
DO NOT use bar soap, lotion, washcloths, towels, or loofas. Only use single-use paper towels.
DO NOT smother your new tattoo in ointment. Apply a thin layer of unscented ointment.
Wear clean, looser clothing until the tattoo is healed. Sleep in clean bedsheets.
DO NOT allow pets to come in contact with a healing tattoo.
Long Term Aftercare: avoid burning your skin and apply sunscreen, moisturize your skin, and stay hydrated.
CLING METHOD (Plastic Wrap):
Keep the initial covering on for 3-6 hours.
Wash your hands first, then take the wrap off and discard.
With clean hands, gently lather soap onto the tattoo area and rinse with clean water.
Air dry, or pat dry with a clean, single-use paper towel.
Apply a thin layer of unscented ointment every time you wash.
Gently wash your tattoo in the morning, midday, and night.
(It is encouraged to wash your tattoo up to 3 times a day, and whenever the area gets dirty or compromised.)
Repeat the washing process for 10 days or until the tattoo is completely healed.
FILM METHOD (Secondary Skin):
Secondary Skin can also be known by brand names:
Saniderm, Tegaderm, Derm Shield, Recovery Derm Shield, etc.
The ‘derm’ part refers to dermatology or skin.
It is a breathable film barrier to prevent bacteria from getting directly on your new tattoo in the very beginning stages of healing.
1st Application applied by your artist: Keep it on for no more than 24 hours. It is normal if it fills up with blood and plasma.
The best way to remove the barrier: peel it off in a warm, not too hot, shower. (don’t keep the new tattoo in water for long periods of time.)
Like any sticky adhesive, Second Skin is easier to remove from its surface when it's heated up. Peel by pulling the barrier parallel (never perpendicular) to your skin, stretching it as you go.
2nd Application is applied yourself. Keep on for no more than 6 days. You must wash thoroughly beforehand, air dry, and make sure absolutely no bacteria is trapped when you put on the second application.
Remove if your skin is irritated in any way, and move to the Cling Method.
FAQs
WHO WILL YOU NOT TATTOO?
-I am currently not tattooing realism
-Intoxicated or high persons
-Anyone under the age of 18 years old
-Pregnant women
-Persons with increased health risks (diabetes, etc., and blood-borne pathogen diseases)
WHAT WILL YOU NOT TATTOO?
-Significant Other's names
-Demonic depictions
-Gang related designs
-Tattoos that have cremated ashes mixed in
-Other's exact art (Sure. I’ll copy most classic or generic pieces, basic pinterest-style art, or well-known characters. But…due to copyright infringement risks…and out of respect for the original artist and their client who received the one-of-a-kind piece…I will not be exactly copying anyone else’s original and specific art/photograph.)