If following instructions your tattoo should take 2-4 weeks to heal.

• Keep glad-wrap on for 1-3 hours.

• If using second skin wrap, leave on for a maximum of 7 days. It will trap the plasma in the bandage and use your own fluid to heal the tattoo. Take it off in the shower, it is very sticky but will not rip your new tattoo or skin off. Start aftercare routine after removing. Second skin can dramatically speed up the healing process, sometimes the tattoo will be healed once taken off.

• Wash the area after unwrapping. Use a soap with no chemicals or perfume, or just water. Do not use hot water.

• Apply a thin layer of aftercare cream. If it looks wet there is too much cream, do not cake it on.

• Keep applying aftercare cream 2-4 times a day for the first week. 1-3 times a day for the second week. Do not over moisturise, but do not let it dry out.

• After a few days your tattoo may peel, or even scab up. This is a part of the healing process. Do NOT itch or pick at it, doing so will result in ink loss and/or infection. 

• Your tattoo for the first few days will appear to be 'leaking' ink. It is your skin releasing plasma to heal. The plasma is stained with the colour of the ink. Wipe clean as needed with a clean, non abrasive cloth.

• Be careful not to knock or injure the area of your new tattoo. Any germs on the object knocked may cause infection.

• For feet, hand and finger tattoos, or any tattoos on joints, be extremely careful in following your aftercare instructions. These areas are prone to fading and blowouts if not looked after correctly.

What NOT to do

• Do NOT submerge your tattoo in water (dish water, bathtub, pools, beach, etc). Doing so may cause infection. Showers are okay but don't soak your tattoo, and pat dry or air dry after.

• Try not to touch your tattoo while it is healing, unless applying cream.

• Limit exposure to the sun. Extended exposure to sunlight may fade your tattoo over time.

• Avoid exercise, or any activity resulting in excessive movement and sweat for the first 4 days. This may cause infection or ink spreading (blowouts).

• Do not wear tight clothes over your new tattoo. For feet wear something loose, thongs/sandals will rub on your tattoo, do not wear them if they touch the tattoo.

• Do NOT shave, apply fake tan, apply makeup, have any cosmetic procedure, on your new tattoo.

• Do NOT allow animals to touch your fresh tattoo.

AFTERCARE CREAMS

• Any balm made for tattoos, eg. Dr Pickles, Hustle Butter, Protat, etc

• Sorborlene

• Paw paw creams

• Coconut based balms or creams 

Do NOT use Bepanthem. Bepanthem has been known to cause ink to fade and in rare cases allergic reaction. It clogs the pores and suffocates the tattoo.

INFECTIONS/ALLERGIC REACTIONS

• Infections can be caused by a variety of things both inside the studio and after you leave the studio. Following your aftercare instructions will ensure this doesn't happen. Your new tattoo is an open wound until it heals, if any germs enter the skin it will be prone to infection. A doctor may prescribe antibiotics or a steroid cream if this happens.

• Allergic reactions are less common but can occur. Usually it is a result of an allergy to certain ink brands or colours (red, purple, blue usually). Steroid creams help soothe the pain, as well as ice packs (wrapped in glad wrap).

What is SECOND SKIN?

Second Skin is a nickname used for a medical bandage we sometimes use on your tattoos. It is exactly as the name suggests, a second skin. It’s a bandage that acts as another layer of skin to protect the wound that’s underneath it.

Second skin protects your tattoo from the outside world. While this extra layer is present, your body begins to heal the wound that lies underneath. It quickly forms a protective layer of skin over the top of your tattoo. This means, when you peel off the artificial second skin, your tattoo is protected by a naturally formed layer. 

It is latex free, vegan, breathable, waterproof. If you are allergic to any medical adhesives (band aids, medical tape, etc) please advise as you can not use second skin.

The tattoo will weep (leak) plasma within the first 72 hours as it begins the healing process. The second skin will trap this plasma underneath the bandage. It will mix with the colour of the ink so it will look unpleasant but this is completely normal.

The skin surrounding the bandage may become slightly red, this is normal with any medical adhesive. However, if the skin is painful, the redness is severe, any pimples or rash develop, or any blisters occur, take it off immediately as this is an allergic reaction. Please inform any tattoo artist you get work off if this happens to ensure we don't use it again.

Leave it on for 4-7 days.

How to take the bandage off:

Remove in the shower over running water (warm not hot). Hold the skin taut, grab an edge and pull up and away from the tattoo (similar to 3m hooks on the wall). If you peel with the tattoo it may hurt just like a bandaid. It shouldn't be painful at all to remove.

After removal, wash in the shower using a natural antibacterial soap.

Pat dry after the shower.

If your tattoo has no peeling skin, scabs, no raised areas or wrinkly lines, it is fully healed and does not require further aftercare. If it is not healed, follow normal aftercare instructions until fully healed.