• Even if you got a tattoo before please read and follow the instructions. 

  •  Before the appointment  

    Very important!

    •     Please start moisturizing your skin at least two weeks prior to the appointment.
    •     Six and three days before the appointment gently exfoliate your skin so you remove the dead skin buildup.
    •     Please use SPF 50 so you don't get sunburnt.
    •     Do not go to sunbeds, suntanning or use tanning cosmetics on your skin for at least a month before your appointment.
    •     Eat, hydrate and sleep well on the day before your appointment so you come well rested.
    •     Do not use use drugs or alcohol for at least two days prior to the appointment.
    •     It's very important to let me know if you are on any medication that causes blood thinning.
    •     It's best to prepare cash for the appointment since most of the studios don't accept cards.

  • On the day of the appointment 

    •    Do not shave the area, that task will be handed to me so we can avoid damaging the skin before the tattoo.
    •    Eat well before the appointment as well as hydrate yourself.
    •    Make sure to bring some sugary snacks and or drinks with you. Some studios offer these things but some do not so better to be ready.
    •    Wear comfortable clothes especially where the tattoo will be.
    •    Please feel free to bring a book, headphones, plushy toy, whatever you think would make you more comfortable.
    •    Please, do not come sick to the appointment! You could infect others in the studio and there is a high chance the tattoo won't heal well since you immune system is working overtime.
    •    A lot of the studios don't allow additional company, if you would like to bring someone for moral support please write me so I can see if the studios could accommodate.

    I will do my best that you are comfortable and relaxed as much as you can be. We can take as many breaks as you need, I can walk you through each step of the way and you can ask me any questions.

    Please feel free to tell me if you would like a silent appointment. If you're on the spectrum, anxious or anything else and it's all getting a bit too much, we could just work in silence or you could zone out with your headphones.

  • Tattoo aftercare 

    Depending on the tattoo you got, you will either have second skin or a tattoo pad on. If you have any reactions to adhesive (used in second skin that is similar to a band-Aid/hansaplast) on your skin, you can let me know on the day of the appointment.

    Second skin will be used for tattoos that have little to no black saturated areas while tattoo pads will be used for large scale pieces and pieces that have large saturated black areas. 

    No matter if you have second skin or the pad, make sure to wear loose clothes so they don't cause tension and friction until the tattoo peels/flakes off.

    Do not drink alcohol or use drugs in the following 1-2 days after the tattoo. It will disrupt the healing process.

    During the healing process, the tattoo will be itchy and flaking. Do not pick, scratch or remove the scabs/flakes by yourself!

    Please postpone your sport activities for at least 2 weeks after the tattoo, movements stretch the skin that could cause tearing and additional sweating and infection.

    Again, depending on the tattoo you get the healing process and time will vary. Large black areas and large scale pieces might even take up to six months to fully heal.

     

    Second skin

    • After getting the tattoo, I will put second skin that you will leave on for three days. Please do not poke holes in it. It will get filled with plasma, blood, and excess ink and will look like a black blob until you take it off. It is perfectly normal, no need to fright.
    • If you notice that the second skin is causing any reactions on the day or night after putting it on please take it off and contact me through email with photos so we can take action right away.
    • Take the second skin off if it starts to come off by itself. Follow the instructions how to wash it and do not moisturize until the day 4 after getting the tattoo.
    • You can shower with it, but if you think the water came inside, please take it off. There will be a noticeable difference between it getting water inside and getting filled with plasma, blood and excess ink.
    • After the third day take the second skin off in the shower with lukewarm water. Do it very gently as not to damage the fresh tattoo.
    • Do not touch the fresh tattoo with dirty hands.
    • Do not put any moisturizer after you take off the second skin only the day after.

     

    Tattoo pads

    Tattoo pads, or also known as absorbent pads, quickly absorb and lock fluids and keep the wound/tattoo clean as well as prevent infections and irritations.

    I will email you before the appointment if we're gonna be using the tattoo pad so you can gather the supplies in time which is paper tape, antibacterial soap and the paper/kitchen towels.

    • After getting the tattoo. I will put on the pad on you and you will leave it on until the evening when you will take it off, wash it and put the new one on which you will leave on until the morning after.
    • While I put the pad on you, I will explain and show how to do it yourself.
    • After taking the pad off wash the tattoo (see "how to properly wash tattoo" instructions) and put a new pad on every morning and evening for the next 3 days.
    • After the third day, there is no need for the pad anymore and you can start moisturizing ( see the "how to moisturize" instructions).

     

    -How to properly wash the tattoo-

    • Use antibacterial or plain baby soap, make sure there are no perfumes or oils in them.
    • Make sure to double wash the tattoo with lukewarm or cold water and do it gently.
    • Sometimes even after double washing you will still feel a slimy surface on the tattoo. Wash the tattoo until that slimy surface is gone.
    • Dab the tattoo dry with a high-quality kitchen roll/paper towel. The lower-end ones can leave residue on the tattoo.
    • Wash the tattoo 2-3 times per day.

     

    -How to moisturize-

    • On the 4th day after getting the tattoo start moisturizing.
    • I highly recommend Hustle butter , Cicaplast baume B5 (La Roche Posay) and Argan oil.
    • Put a very thin layer on the skin, and do this 3-4 times per day and always with clean hands.
    • Keep doing this religiously for the next 4 weeks.

     
    Please contact me by mail if you think you're having problems with the tattoo healing.

     ophelias.tattoos@gmail.com

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