Tattoo Aftercare
  • Tattoo Aftercare

  • Information about aftercare packs and products are located at the bottom of the page 😁

     

    I use serveral different healing methods depending on your allergies and prefrences, below is a step by step guide of every method for you to follow.

    More tips and info at the bottom.

     

    FIRST METHOD

     
    Healing your tattoo with second skin.

    (A step by step guide)

     

    1. Leave the sex on that was placed on you at the end of our appointment for 24-48hr.

    If your dermalize starts to come off (a lot of peeling, the actual tattoo is exposed to air) then please take it off and follow the instructions for healing with cling film below.

    Sometimes it cannot stick properly due to the amount of plasma or moisture on your skin. 

    2. When you're ready to take off your dermalize please have a wwarm shower first to soften the adhesive and peel slowly off.

    When you are peeling it off please try to peel in a direction along your skin, peeling directly up at a right angle will hurt and damage your skin. Peel slowly and carefully, it may be uncomfortable but it should hurt.

    3. Clean your new tattoo with UNSCENTED soap and water 😊

     4. After 3-4 days your tattoo will start to feel dry and tight. This is your sign to start using a light moisturiser (I recommend a solid balm that I stock by itself or in a aftercare pack or to buy palmers coco butter) 

    When using dermalize this could be the day after your take the dermalize off.

    Please use as little cream as you can, a pea sized amount or enough to cover the tattoo lightly is more than enough.

    Using too much moisturiser can encourage infection and irritation. The signs of this are red and inflamed skin or white heads around the tattoo (NOT ON THE ACTUAL TATTOO) if you experience this please stop moisturising and let your skin dry out for 24hrs before putting on cream again very lightly. 

    You will need to moisturise for 2 weeks.

    PLEASE DO NOT USE

    BEPANTHEN/SAVLON/OILS/E45/CREAMS FOR SKIN CONDITIONS.

    These types of creams will not penetrate the skin properly and will smother your skins pores, increasing your discomfort and not actually moisturising your tattoo.

     

    When using dermalize you do not need to do anything extra!

    You can live your life as normal while wearing it, you are able to also shower with it on.

    Keep it out of the sun and don't soak it!

     

    SECOND METHOD

    Healing your tattoo with second skin (brand name dermalize) with a sterile pad underneath.

    (A step by step guide)


     

    1. Leave the dermalize and pad on that was placed on you at the end of our appointment for 24-48hr.

    If your dermalize starts to come off (a lot of peeling, the actual tattoo is exposed to air) then please take it off and follow the instructions for healing with cling film below.

    Sometimes it cannot stick properly due to the amount of plasma or moisture on your skin. 

    2. When you're ready to take off your dermalize and pad please have a warm shower first to soften the adhesive and peel slowly off. The pad will be sodden and abit gross, sorry!

    When you are peeling it off please try to peel in a direction along your skin, peeling directly up at a right angle will hurt and damage your skin. Peel slowly and carefully, it may be uncomfortable but it should hurt.

    The pad is non-adhesive, so only where the second skin touches your bare skin will it stick. 

    3. Clean your new tattoo with UNSCENTED soap and water 😊

     4. After 3-4 days your tattoo will start to feel dry and tight. This is your sign to start using a light moisturiser (I recommend a solid balm that I stock by itself or in a aftercare pack or to buy palmers coco butter) 

    When using dermalize and a pad this could be the day after your take the dermalize off.

    Please use as little cream as you can, a pea sized amount or enough to cover the tattoo lightly is more than enough.

    Using too much moisturiser can encourage infection and irritation. The signs of this are red and inflamed skin or white heads around the tattoo (NOT ON THE ACTUAL TATTOO) if you experience this please stop moisturising and let your skin dry out for 24hrs before putting on cream again very lightly. 

    You will need to moisturise for 2 weeks.

    PLEASE DO NOT USE

    BEPANTHEN/SAVLON/OILS/E45/CREAMS FOR SKIN CONDITIONS.

    These types of creams will not penetrate the skin properly and will smother your skins pores, increasing your discomfort and not actually moisturising your tattoo.

     

    When using dermalize and a pad you do not need to do anything extra!

    You can live your life as normal while wearing it, you are able to also shower with it on.

    When you shower please try to keep your pad out of too much water. The second skin is breathable and it may let water in for your pad to absorb, so take the pad off of this happens. The outer layer is waterproof not water tight.

    Keep it out of the sun and don't soak it!

     

    THIRD METHOD

    Healing your tattoo with cling film and sterile pad (A step by step guide)

    1. Keep on the cling film/bandage tape and sterile pad on you that was originally placed on you at your appointment until the next morning.

    if you wish to take the sterile pad off before this you can at any point. Please wrap with cling film after you take it off or use another pad if provided.

    Washing and drying your tattoo inbetween cling film changes if you decide to take off early. If kept on please keep following the steps.

    2. Take off your cling film or 2nd pad the morning after your appointment.
    Please wash your hands before hand and use UNSCENTED soap and warm water to wash the tattoo area.

    3. Either leave your tattoo to FULLY air dry or pat dry with a paper towel (kitchen roll). We say a paper towel because using a fabric/bath towel can be unclean and get fibres stuck in your new tattoo.

    4. Re wrap your new tattoo with FRESH cling film or a fresh pad if provided DO NOT reuse cling film.

    5. Repeat steps 2, 3 and 4 everyday for the first 3 days of having your tattoo.

    Use cling film if you are not provided with excess pads.
    you should be cleaning your tattoo 2-3 times a day, washing, drying and then re wrapping with clean cling film as instructed. 

    After 3-4 days your tattoo will start to feel dry and tight. This is your sign to start using a light moisturise (I recommend a solid balm that I stock by itself or in a aftercare pack or to buy palmers coco butter) 

    Please use as little cream as you can, a pea sized amount or enough to cover the tattoo lightly is more than enough.

    Using too much moisturiser can incourage infection and irritation. The signs of this are red and inflamed skin or white heads around the tattoo sign (NOT ON THE ACTUAL TATTOO) if you experience this please stop moisturising and let your skin dry out for 24hrs before putting on cream again very lightly. 

    You will need to moisturise for 2 weeks.

    PLEASE DO NOT USE

    BEPANTHEN/SAVLON/OILS/E45/CREAMS FOR SKIN CONDITIONS.

    These types of creams will not penetrate the skin properly and will smother your skins pores, increasing your discomfort and not actually moisturising your tattoo.

     FORTH METHOD 

    Healing your tattoo with a Dry lock pad (step by step guide) 

    1. You will have have the initial pad secured to you at your appointment. Please keep this pad on for up to 24hr.

    2. When 24hr have elapsed or you need to take the pad off, simply remove it and give your tattoo a quick wash with plain water or antibacterial soap.

    3. Please either air dry or pay dry with a KITCHEN TOWL

    4. Please then put on the spare pad given to you at your appointment and secure it to yourself.

    5. If you don't have the same cohesive bandage I use you can use tape or cling film to secure it on, please leave this another 24hr max.

    6. When the 24hr has elapsed please take off your pad again and wash you tattoo. 

    You no longer need to wrap your tattoo at this stage, please feel free to start using a small amount of moisturiser a few times a day to keep your skin hydrated.

    You will need to moisturise for 2 weeks.

    PLEASE DO NOT USE

    BEPANTHEN/SAVLON/OILS/E45/CREAMS FOR SKIN CONDITIONS.

    These types of creams will not penetrate the skin properly and will smother your skins pores, increasing your discomfort and not actually moisturising your tattoo.

     

     

  • Extra Tips

    - Please don't pick at your tattoo. This can lead to drop out (compromised areas of skin where the tattoo falls out) 

    - Please don't soak your tattoo in water. No baths or swimming for 2 weeks until your tattoos heals.

    - If you require touch ups please wait a month after your tattoo appointment to let your tattoo heal and settle into your skin. Your touch ups are free for 6 Months after your appointment only. 

    when requesting this please send me a photo of your tattoo in an email beforehand so we can discuss the touch up.

    Touch ups are done at my disgression, small little dots or very small imperfections won't be touched up I'm sorry! This can be part of a normal heal and the human body isn't perfect!

    If you have another appointment booked in with me and want a touch up, I will do it for free even if its small. Obviously please don't ask me to touch up work that is VERY old, I'm talking years! This is a rework and needs an appointment, tattoos age!

    - Avoid excess sweating (active activities such as the gym and exercise) for a week after your appointment.

    - Air out your tattoo if you're not doing anything around the house! Keep away from animal hair and dirt especially in the first few days.

     
    Common and not so common issues while healing 

    Shiny and wrinkled tattoo, even after the initial healing period of 2 weeks

    This is commonly called 'onion skin'. Don't worry, it just means your tattoo isn't quite fully healed yet! Sometimes tattoos can take anywhere from 2 weeks to a few months to heal and settle. This can be due to your overall health, your skin type, any skin conditions you may have or it can just be one of those things you experience for no reason. This usually heals by itself and just takes some time.

    Itchy and swollen tattoos, random raised lines

    This is caused by a histamine response, you don't need to do anything, it will either go away by itself or you can take medication to help with that (hay fever tablets) it won't change or damage your tattoo.

    Tattoo is still wet after a few days 

    The weeping stage of your healing is the most important. Your skin is closing the barrier and is most vulnerable to bacteria. This could be an early sign of infection if you're still weeping after 3 or 4 days. Your tattoo will weep for 2-3 days normally. If you're tattoo is still weeping please contact me with a photo and I can let you know if I think there is an issue.

    Drop out

    Drop out is a normal part of healing, tattoos don't always heal perfectly! Touch ups are always available if you feel you would like one! 
    They are free 6 months after your appointment date, please email me if you think you need a touch up and we can discuss it. Again, they are done at my digression.

    Infection 

    Infections can happen, they are not common but it is possible. I provide as extensive aftercare as I can for you as a client but sometimes infections happen!

    They usually happen for the following reasons, neglect of aftercare, dirty environment, being around animals, going on a night out after your appointment, clothes rubbing, over caring.

    Everything that enters your body as a client is STERILE and single use. Everything that is not single use is cleaned with medical grade chemicals. Most infections occur due to neglect! So please follow aftercare properly!

    Having irritated and red skin after your tattoo is normal, but if it persists after 3-4 days please pop me an email with a photo and I can advise further care if needed. This is usually a quick visit to your GP for some antibiotics.

     

    Allergic Reaction

    This is extremely rare, media will make you feel like this happens a lot more than it does. If you have any known allergies please let me know before hand. If this does occur please contact me with photos and I can explain what to do! 

     

    Most importantly, ENJOY YOUR NEW TATTOO!

     

     

     

  • Should be Empty: