Aftercare
-TATTOOS-
Take bandage off after about an hour, or when you get home.
Wash your hands with antibacterial soap.
Gently wash your tattoo with cold water (using your hand) and unscented antibacterial soap.
Do not scrub. Do not use a washcloth/loofah.
Pat dry with a clean paper towel and apply a THIN layer of A&D ointment, Aquaphor, or tattoo-specific aftercare product.
Do not use Neosporin.
Wash and apply aftercare 2-3 times per day until tattoo starts to peel.
When the tattoo starts to peel, continue to wash 2-3 times per day, but discontinue previous aftercare and switch to a plain, unscented lotion like Lubriderm, Aveeno etc. (unless otherwise specified on tattoo aftercare product instructions.)
Continue until tattoo is healed.
Make sure your sheets are clean while your tattoo is healing! Dirty sheets can cause infection.
Your tattoo may leave ink residue on sheets/clothing for the first few days. This is normal. If you get stuck to fabric, soak with warm water and get unstuck, then wash tattoo as usual.
Do not go swimming with a new tattoo! Consider it an open wound, the bacteria in the ocean/pool can cause an infection or other adverse reaction. Everyone heals at a different rate, so we recommend waiting 3-4 weeks to be sure.
Do not over-expose your new tattoo to the sun! Trust us, you won't like it.
After your tattoo is healed, protect your skin with sunscreen.
Never put sunscreen on a fresh tattoo.
Your tattoo will be tender the first few days, and will eventually become itchy. This is normal, remember- don't scratch.
Lightly slapping your tattoo is ok, but be sure your hands are clean!
-BODY PIERCINGS-
Always wash your hands before handling your piercing!
Touching a fresh piercing with dirty hands is the #1 cause of infection!
Saline solution- soak your piercing with warm saline solution 1-2 times per day. You can do this by filling a cup with the solution and putting it over the area forming a vacuum. For certain piercings it may be easier to soak gauze or q-tips and apply to the area.
Do not pick at crusties with your nails! Soak them away with warm saline solution, and use a q-tip if necessary.
If you wash your piercing with antibacterial soap, do so only once or twice per day, any more than this may irritate your piercing and delay healing time! Dry with clean disposable paper products, cloth towels can harbor bacteria. Repeat until healed.
Make sure bedding and clothing touching piercing is clean.
Avoid swimming for the duration of your healing process.
Avoid unnecessary friction, rubbing or other people's body fluids touching your fresh piercing.
Do not use beauty products such as makeup lotions or sprays on your fresh piercing.
Do not change your jewelry yourself until your piercing is healed.
If you want to change your jewelry, or have other questions about your piercing, contact us at the shop.
Some bleeding, crusties, swelling, tenderness or bruising is normal for new piercings. If you are concerned about something regarding your new piercing, come in so our professionals can take a look.
-ORAL PIERCINGS-
Rinse mouth with cleaning solution for 30 seconds after meals and before bed (4-5 times daily) during the entire healing process.
Cleaning too much or with a rinse that is too strong will irritate your piercing.
Swelling is normal, you can reduce swelling by letting small pieces of ice dissolve in your mouth. Ibuprofen also helps with pain/swelling.
Do not speak or play with your jewelry more than necessary.
Maintain good oral hygiene, brush, floss, rinse.
Once healed, you may brush jewelry.