Tattoo Aftercare.
Your new tattoo will be wrapped up after completion. Please keep the cover in for 2/3 hours after leaving.
Your artist will advise you on the best aftercare for your tattoo, which will be either one of the next 2 methods.

• Always keep your new tattoo clean.
• Do not swim with your new tattoo for a week or until healed, and do not expose to the sun. Always use strong sun protection when healed.

Method 1 –
Remove the cling film after 2/3 hours, wash the tattooed area gently, pat dry, and apply the designated tattoo cream thinly over the tattoo, following the instructions on the cream tube. Continue this method until your tattoo has healed up.

Method 2 –

1. Remove the cling film after 2/3 hours, wash the tattooed area gently, pat dry, air dry for 10 minutes, then re wrap with new cling film for another 5/6 hours. Remove this cling film, wash the tattoo again, removing any goo that has formed, pat dry, air dry for 10 minutes, and re wrap with new cling film again.
2. Continue to wash, dry and rewrap your tattoo 3 times a day for 48/72 hours as directed by your artist. Do not apply any cream under the cling film.
3. After the 48/72 hour cling film stage, apply a gentle moisturiser or designated tattoo balm until your tattoo has healed.

POTENTIAL PROBLEMS:

1. Drop out.
The most common problem – patchy, uneven colour, occurs during healing
and is apparent once the tattoo has healed fully.
A. Exposure to sunlight – causes colours to appear faint and uneven.
B. Over-soaking in water, ie: swimming, long baths/showers, also applyingtoo much cream, too frequently – causes the scab to soak off, drawing out pigment. The scab over a healing tattoo should feel dry and slightly
soft to the touch. If it has become too moist/weepy, keep it dry for1-2 days and it should return to normal.
C. Not applying cream – causes the scab to dry out, contracting, becoming more sore and cracking, leaving unpigmented scar tissue.
D. Excessive movement, ie: exercise – causes the scab to split, leaving unpigmented scar tissue.
E. Chafing of scab inside clothing – tears portions of the scab away,leaving unpigmented scar tissue.
2. Histamine reaction.
Swelling of the tissue around a healing tattoo is caused by cells in the ‘damaged’ area producing histamine, which promotes inflamation as part of the healing process – blood capillaries also become enlarged, allowing more blood,containing healing agents, to reach the area.A healing tattoo will often swell slightly, although some locations, such as the ankle, may occasionally become excessively and painfully inflamed. This swelling will go down within 1-2 weeks and application of cold compresses and anti-histamine creams will help.
3. Infection.
Infection of a healing tattoo, as with any wound, is caused only if the area is allowed to become dirty; matter containing bacteria collects around and inside the wound and the area becomes swollen and very sore. Stringent cleaning or a course of antibiotics should clear up any infection, but the tattoo will almost certainly appear faint and patchy when healed.