how do i take care of my tattoo?

Aftercare Instructions with Second Skin Bandage:

• Leave your bandage on your tattoo for 4-5 days without removing at any point.

• You might have some fluid build up between the tattoo and the bandage, causing a pocket of liquid. This is normal! Do not drain the fluid! Let the bandage run its course.

• You’re allowed to continue life as normal with caution as you wear the bandage. Do not expose it to direct sunlight for long periods of time or submerge it underwater. Showers are perfectly fine, but no pools, bath tubs, lakes, etc.

• After 4-5 days, remove the bandage in the shower as it’s easier to do under running water. Peel up a corner with one hand, hold your skin taught with the other, and quickly pull parallel to your body. No need to rush this process! It might be uncomfortable, but it shouldn’t be unbearable. Wash your tattoo off with a non scented, antibacterial hand soap. Pat dry.

• Over the next 2 weeks, wash your tattoo with your hand soap 1-2 times a day and moisturize it with a gentle, non scented lotion multiple times a day. Do not submerge your tattoo underwater during this time.

• Week 2, your tattoo will start to peel a thin layer of skin and feel very itchy. This is normal! Do not scratch your tattoo with your nails as this can cause scabbing. If it’s itchy, it’s probably dry. Lotion will help the itchy feeling.

• If your tattoo develops a scab, DO NOT continue to moisturize it and DO NOT pick your scab off. We want the scab to dry up and fall off naturally and as quickly as possible. Moisturizing the scab will be counterproductive in this process and picking your scab off will take the ink with it.

• Week 4, your tattoo should be fully healed! Apply sunscreen whenever outside to keep your tattoo looking nice and vibrant!

how do i prepere for my tattoo appointment?

• Please have a good meal before coming into your appointment to keep your energy up throughout the day. If we plan on having a longer session, we will be taking 1 to 2 breaks to eat mid session, so bring some snacks! You should bring a water bottle with you as well.

• You can also take an over the counter pain killer, like Advil or ibuprofen, before you come in.

• Please do not forget to bring a form of government issued identification for your consent form.

• I do allow clients to bring a maximum of one friend (they must be 18+) with them to their tattoo appointment if they’d like!

• Children are not allowed in the tattoo booth, please arrange to have a babysitter if you need to, do not bring your children with you to your tattoo appointment.

• Dress comfortably in something you won’t mind sitting in for long periods of time. Getting a tattoo can be messy, so wear clothing you don’t mind getting ink on.

• Be prepared to pay with the appropriate payment method. I accept cash, Venmo or PayPal. I DO NOT TAKE CREDIT/DEBIT CARDS OR CHECKS. Plan for this in advance if you need to install one of these two cash apps.

• DO NOT USE ANY KIND OF PRE-TATTOO NUMBING CREAM. These creams can change the texture of your skin, making it difficult to tattoo, and actually sabotage your longevity. If you come to your appointment with numbing cream already applied, I WILL be rescheduling your appointment and your deposit will be forfeited. I do offer a gentle lidocaine spray to be used throughout the tattoo that does not affect the tattoo process, so you will have that comfort provided during your session.

why can i not see my tattoo design before my appointment?

I draw my clients’ tattoo designs in the order that they are booked. Your design won’t be ready weeks before your appointment day since there are other designs I have scheduled before you. I draw your designs based off of the information provided during our consultation, my designs are almost always exactly what my clients are looking for. Any designs that require editing usually take me a few minutes to revise. If I were to send every client a preview of their design where I would then have to revise it based off of text conversation, I wouldn’t be able to efficiently keep up with my work load. It is always a better idea to discuss and review designs in person when I can focus my full attention on my client for that day. If you are uncomfortable with this system, we might not be a good fit.