All health and public safety measures are strictly enforced.
For your best experience:
Arrive 5-10 minutes early early to get checked in and prepared. You must have your drivers’ license, state identification card, or passport to confirm identify for our legal consent form.
SLEEP/NUTRITION
We highly recommend getting good sleep and nutrition in the days leading up to and following your tattoo appointment. A healthy, hydrated and rested body will endure the stress of a tattoo session resulting in a better experience during your visit and throughout the healing process.
Eat a full meal and drink plenty of water before you come in. Calorie and nutrient-rich foods will help you stay satiated during your time here.
The studio offers complimentary spring water, coffee, and some light snacks like granola and cereal bars but you can bring your own if you’d like. Bringing some quick and easy snacks can be especially helpful if you are booked for a long appointment.
Don’t drink alcohol 24-48 hours before your tattoo. If you have caffeine before your session, keep it minimal.
FAMILY/FRIENDS/VISITORS
Most clients choose to come alone to their tattoo session. We understand that some people may need or want to bring a family member or friend to the tattoo session. If you do decide to bring a companion, please make sure that they are respectful of the creative space and limit it to one person. No children.
HYGIENE / WHAT TO WEAR
Brush your teeth, shower with soap, wear clean clothing. Do not overdo it with perfumes/colognes, and skip the skin moisturizer on the area that will be tattooed.
Wear comfy; casual clothes with easy access to the area that is being tattooed. Be aware that clothing and undergarments may need to be removed so that we can make your tattoo fit and flow perfectly with your body. There is no reason to be shy or embarrassed. Our tattoo rooms can be completely private. If you are getting a large tattoo, you should get ready to embrace your naked beauty.
Bring a sweater or sweatshirt, and/or small blanket, and/or comfy socks to help keep your temperature up, especially during a long session and if you will have a significant amount of skin exposed during the process.
The tattoo stencil, inks, and pigments that are used during the tattoo process can/will stain in the unfortunate event that they make contact with your clothing so wear something that you won’t be devastated by if it ends up with an ink splat. We do our best to keep a clean and controlled environment, but accidents happen.
GETTING SICK?
If you are sick/getting sick, please email or call ahead of time to reschedule. Not only is it unfair to expose others to your sick germs but it may also hinder the proper healing of your tattoo.
WHAT ABOUT THE PAIN?
Tattoos hurt, but probably not as bad as you think it will. Unless you don’t believe that it will hurt at all, then it might hurt terribly, lol. Just come and be prepared to embrace the pain. Many years of experience has led us to a method of tattooing that is kind and gentle. We will do everything that we can to help keep you comfortable, but you need to bring your mental “A-Game” to endure a long session.
HATE PAIN? We do carry a few tattoo numbing products that can be applied before/during/after the process. If you have been tattooed before and know that you want to use these products let us know. If you are not sure, tell us and we can discuss your options.
Don’t be afraid to ask for assistance if you are nauseous, dizzy, or feel confused about anything. Sometimes people feel faint when getting tattooed, particularly during the first few minutes, (sometimes even if it’s not their first time!) there’s no need to be embarrassed or afraid. Let us know if you are feeling anything unusual.
PAYMENT/TIPPING
Your session balance will be due at the time of your appointment. Please be sure to have the appropriate amount of funds available. You can pay in the studio with a credit card or cash. We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover. No checks.
Tipping is not required or expected, though it is always appreciated. If you choose to add a tip to your payment, the average tipping percentage is around the same amount expected for other service industries.
AFTER YOUR TATTOO EXPERIENCE
If you had a great experience, please help us by telling others. Tag your artist and the studio in your social posts and photos.
If you had a an experience that you are not happy with, please contact us directly. We put a lot of love into what we do, and we never want any person to go away feeling like they are dissatisfied. Of course, tattoos are permanent, so please be vocal about any concerns during the process if you have anything that is bothering you.
Either way, we would love to hear your feedback on your experience. If there is ANYTHING that you think we can improve upon PLEASE let us know so that we can address the issue.
TATTOO AFTERCARE
Once you arrive home, remove the bandage slowly and carefully from your new tattoo after 3 to 6 hours. If it is late in the day, you can sleep with your bandage on and remove first thing in the morning. You will not re-bandage your tattoo. All wounds need to breathe if they are to heal properly. If the bandage has adhered to the tattoo, run clean, lukewarm water over the bandage until you can easily remove the dressing.
Wash the tattoo using a mild antibacterial soap (such as Dial Foaming Antibacterial) and warm water. Gently take care to remove all traces of blood and plasma as this will cause scabbing. Don’t be afraid to give your tattoo good wash, but do not scrub your fresh tattoo with a washcloth or similar. Pat the tattoo dry with a clean paper towel and allow the area to dry for 10 to 20 minutes. During this time the skin will become slightly tight and will allow the moisture introduced during washing to evaporate out.
Once the tattooed area is dry, apply a very thin coat of ointment to the tattoo. Only use enough ointment to make the area shine; a little goes a long way. Too much ointment may trap germs into your new tattoo which can potentially lead to infection. Work the product in well and dab off excess with a clean paper towel. There should be just enough to keep the tattoo moist and to prevent it from scabbing. Again, do not re-bandage the tattoo.
Repeat the cycle of washing, drying, and applying ointment to the tattoo three times per day for the first three days (while the tattoo feels tender). Remember to thoroughly clean your hands and fingernails with an anti-bacterial soap before applying ointment, to avoid cross contamination. Using a clean paper towel instead of your bath towel to dry the area is also imperative as bath towels can harbor infection inducing bacteria.
The ointment can and should be applied whenever the tattoo is feeling stiff or dry but beware of over-moisturizing. Your body will absorb what it needs where it needs it. Apply ointment three times a day for two to three days. After the initial three day period, apply moisturizer twice a day for 3-5 weeks. Please do not use any lotions that contain colors, fragrances, aloe, or excessive alcohol at all until the healing is complete. These additional ingredients can highly irritate an already very sensitive healing process.
Moisturizing is key to preventing excess scabbing. When your tattoo is kept properly clean and moist, it will have less of a chance to form a scab. You may form a scab or membrane over the tattoo while it heals. This protective layer will eventually flake or peel off on its own. It is typical to see flakes of colored skin falling off during this stage of healing. It is important to resist the urge to pick, scratch, or manually peel the tattoo yourself. Doing so may pull the ink out of the skin or in some cases permanently scar the area. When the area itches, place a clean paper towel over the area and lightly tap the area to alleviate the itching sensation.
While keeping the tattooed area clean is important, long showers or baths must be avoided for 3 to 4 weeks. Prolonged soaking can and will loosen the protective scab formed. You may risk losing the tattoo from such activities like swimming, bathing, or soaking in hot tubs and saunas. During the healing process, 10 minute or shorter showers are best. Refrain from using your everyday towel to dry off your tattoo. Cross contamination is possible, and you will be best served to dab your tattoo with a fresh paper towel after your shower.
Vigorous sweating or working out is best avoided for the first 1–2 weeks of the healing process. You don’t have to skip the gym, just take it easy for the first few days and use caution after that while the tattoo is still healing. Excess sweating will retard the healing process and could lead to infection.
Whether the tattoo is new or old, if you want your masterpiece to look brand-new and heal properly, take the time to avoid the sun. Additionally, sunburn on a fresh tattoo can destroy a new tattoo. Even mild exposure to UV rays will excessively dry out your tattoo and may cause the area tattooed to form a destructive scab resulting in fading and pocking before the area has had a chance to heal. UV ray exposure from a tanning bed will prohibit the new tattoo to heal properly. Also, the area will take much longer to heal and may promote scarring of the skin in a new tattoo. Wait until the tattooed skin is fully healed before sun or UV ray exposure. While you should never use sunblock on a healing tattoo, using a high-quality sunblock with an SPF of 30 or higher after the tattoo has healed is an extra step that will help your tattoo last for years.
Clothing, Bed Linens, & Pets: Please insure that all clothing that is worn over your fresh tattoo to be completely dry, clean, and loose. After receiving your tattoo, please ensure that ALL bed linens are freshly washed. If you do have pets, please take care not to expose your tattoo to any pet dander or hair. I advise all of our clients who sleep with their pets to make other sleeping arrangements for them for the first two weeks of the healing process to avoid any chance of infection.
Following all of these easy to follow tips will help to ensure that you end up with the best healing results with minimal complications. Should you have further questions about tattoo aftercare, do not hesitate to contact us directly, 540-376-7663.