The way you look after your tattoo before, during and after its application will affect how it looks for the rest of your life.

Before

A tattoo is an open wound, and causes a small level of trauma to the body. Therefore we recommend you consider these factors:

1. Health: Get some rest before getting tattooed, the closer your body is to full mental and physical strength the better it will cope with the experience. Your tattoo will heal better and will hurt less if you are in good health
2. Drugs / Alcohol: Please avoid the night before an appointment. A hangover increases the pain and alcohol thins the blood which can result in more ink being pushed out of the body
3. Food: The better your diet prior to and during the healing process, the better your body will recover. Before and after try to get a balance of vitamins and minerals (lots of fruit and veggies!) and make sure you eat before your appointment to ensure your body has the energy it needs to get you through. It’s always a good idea to bring some chocolate or fruit with you on the day to keep your energy levels up, it really helps
4. Hydration: Drink plenty of water. When your body and skin is hydrated it can heal better and withstand longer sessions. Healed tattoos look more vibrant on healthy hydrated skin
5. No tanning: No sunbeds, chemical peels or sunburn on the tattoo area for a month before, otherwise your skin won’t heal properly. Please also remove any fake tan from your skin before your appointment
6. Moisturise: In the lead up to your tattoo moisturise your skin daily with an all natural lotion. This will help keep your skin in good condition and will aid with healing and the look of your tattoo
7. Be Prepared: Make sure you have your aftercare routine ready in place, you will need: clingfilm, medical tape, clean kitchen towels, antibacterial soap and a suitable aftercare lotion

During

On the day of your appointment:

1. Please bring proof of age identification to your appointment
2. Dress comfortably and appropriately so that the area being tattooed is accessible; for convenience you may get changed before your appointment at the studio
3. To help time pass by, you may bring entertainment such as a book, Kindle, iPod, iPad, etc. with your own headphones or ear buds
4. We will not tattoo anyone who appears to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol
5. Do not touch any of the tattoo equipment or work space, and do not touch your fresh tattoo
6. Talking during your appointment is fine, but do not gesture with your hands or make sudden movements as you need to stay perfectly still while you are being tattooed
7. If you need to take a break, or stop for food/drink food during your appointment, just let your artist know
8. If you feel unwell at any point during your appointment please inform your artist immediately

After

We wrap most tattoos with a medical adhesive dressing commonly used in post-surgery treatment. The flexible dressing is slightly breathable and will prevent your tattoo coming into contact with bacteria which could lead to an infection. 

On leaving the studio, leave the protective wrap on for three days (or as advised by your artist) then follow these instructions:

• Wash your hands
• Carefully remove the protective wrap in the shower by loosening the adhesive bond with warm water, peeling back a little at a time
• Gently rinse the tattoo under lukewarm water with a mild anti-bacterial soap
• Ensure the soap is rinsed away and allow the tattoo to air dry
• Apply a thin layer of aftercare cream, 2-3 times a day until healed

Please note that it is perfectly normal for a fresh tattoo to ooze an unsightly brown goo which fills the dressing. This tattoo goo naturally supports the healing of wounds due to the special healing enzymes contained within. 

Some larger full-colour tattoos can exude a lot of goo and cause the dressing to slip off. Your artist will give you a spare dressing where this is likely to happen. If you do need to change the dressing, wash your hands, clean the tattoo and allow it to air dry before applying the new dressing.

If the tattoo goo leaks from the dressing, use some tissue to mop it up but leave the wrap on to keep the tattoo protected.

SHOWERING

You can shower normally as the dressing is waterproof and will stay put on the skin, however, please refrain from taking a bath or submerging the tattoo in water for prolonged periods as excessive water exposure can weaken the adhesive bond.

If you experience any complications, please contact your artist immediately.

These tips apply to the first 2-4 weeks after getting tattooed:

1. Do not swim: If your tattoo becomes too moist ink will leach from your skin, chlorinated water will also react badly with your tattoo. Also avoid hot tubs, saunas, steam rooms, and baths (showering is fine)
2. Do not scratch: If your tattoo itches during the healing process do not scratch it, you could cause a hole in your tattoo
3. Do not sunbathe: Keep your new tattoo out of direct sunlight for 2-3 weeks, and after that use sunblock to keep your tattoo in good condition. It is also worth applying moisturiser or tattoo aftercare product afterwards
4. With regards exercise, it is a good idea to avoid anything that is going to make you sweat whilst the tattoo is still oozing, and moderate it for the duration of the healing process. Once healed you may continue with your usual exercise routine

Infection Prevention

Following our aftercare advice is important to promote good healing and prevent the risk of infection. For the first week or so it is normal for the area to be red and tender, and a degree of swelling is also quite common for large or ink intensive tattoos. As with all body art, infection is a risk. The risk can be greatly reduced by good general hygiene including:

1. Hand washing
   Hand washing is the single most important method of reducing infection. Hands must be washed prior to touching the affected area, therefore reducing the risk of infection. Wash your hands in warm water and liquid soap, always dry your hands thoroughly with a clean towel or paper towel. This should remove most germs and prevent them from being transferred to the affected area. We recommend following the World Health Organisation guidance on hand washing, which you can view by clicking here
2. Keeping the tattooed area wrapped and secured with medical tape
   A tattoo is an open wound, but by wrapping the tattoo during the healing process you can prevent dirt, debris and bacteria from coming into contact with the affected area which can increase the risk of infection

Signs of infection

If appropriate aftercare is not followed infection may occur. The signs of infection are:

1. Swelling and redness that increases around the wound
2. Severe burning and throbbing sensation around the site
3. Increased tenderness and increasingly painful to touch
4. An unusual discharge (yellow or green) with an offensive smell

Speak to your artist or seek medical attention immediately if you suffer from any of the above or have any concerns regarding infection in your tattoo.