Tattoo Prep & Aftercare

Before your Tattoo

Exciting isn’t it? While you may be super anxious be sure to drink plenty of water and get a good night’s sleep beforehand. Drinking the night before is never a good idea. No one wants to get tattooed during a hangover.

Day of the Appointment

I always tell clients to eat a full meal a few hours prior to the appointment and drink plenty of water to be hydrated. Being well fed and hydrated will help you sit better through the session. Feel free to bring some snacks for longer sessions as well.

Please dress accordingly depending on the location of the tattoo. I will work with whatever makes you most comfortable.

For chests and backs please shave prior to your appointment. If you have relatively coarse hair I would recommend shaving prior as my dollar store razors are sad and rather ineffective. :’)

I am also a relatively quiet tattooer so if you want to wear headphones and get in your zone that is 100% okay with me. My goal is that you are as comfortable as possible during the session.

During the Tattoo Session

Please bring a government issued ID (drivers license/passport) to fill out paperwork and please let me know of any allergies you may have prior to the appointment, as some of my equipment may cause allergic reactions (latex, coconut oil, mango, etc). After consenting to the tattoo design, we’ll go ahead and get you stenciled and start the procedure.

Depending on the size of the piece, I will take breaks every hour and a half, but please let me know if you ever need to use the restroom or need to stretch. Communication is key.

Aftercare

Unless you are allergic to medical adhesive I provide a bandage called Saniderm (Tegaderm/Second Skin) to use for the healing process. For small tattoos with minimal shading I provide a single sheet to stay on for roughly three to four days. You can shower with the bandage but you cannot submerge it in water or swim with it on. It is not sweat proof so take care when exercising.

For larger pieces with more shading I provide two pieces of saniderm. After 24 hours you can remove the saniderm I put on. Take it off in the shower to let the adhesive loosen. Do not take the saniderm off dry. (That’s gonna suck.) Wash the tattoo well with anti-bacterial soap and warm water and then dry it completely before putting on the new saniderm. DO NOT PUT ON LOTIONS BEFORE APPLYING THE SANIDERM.

If the saniderm peels off and exposes the tattoo before the three/four days, you can remove the saniderm sooner and simply wash your tattoo twice a day and moisturize it with Cereve or Lubriderm. After three to four days your tattoo will begin to scab. Please continue to keep it moisturized.

When applying the lotion use a pea sized amount. If you lotion your tattoo and ten minutes later it’s still goopy and slimy, you put too much. Wipe it off and apply a very thin layer. Your tattoo will begin to flake and peel. Do not rip this out or try to speed up the process or you will pull out ink. And no one wants that.

To maintain the longevity of your tattoo be sure to put sunscreen on it whenever you go out. Tattoos fade with time due to sun exposure and oftentimes ink bleeds out and lines thicken. It’s a beautiful process that can be enjoyed so long as you take care of it.

If you have any questions please contact me!