Tattoo Aftercare

1. Always Wash your hands before touching your new Tattoo.
2. Remove bandage 6-12 hours or otherwise instructed by your Tattoo Artist.
3. Do not use a wash cloth, sponge, or bath puff. Lather and rinse lightly with your hands.
4. Wash your tattoo with a mild soap. Please use a soap that does not have perfume in it. We recommend Lever 2000, Baby’s Own, or Oil of Olay.
5. Pat dry, do not rub.
6. Apply a thin layer of Tattoo Goo, Keri Lotion, Lubraderm Unscented, 2 times daily.
7. Do not re-bandage your Tattoo.
8. Wash and moisturize your Tattoo 2 or 3 times a day.
9. When scabs form, DO NOT PICK, DO NOT SCRATCH, your Tattoo.
10. Avoid soaking your Tattoo in the bathtub. It is also recommended that you do not let the shower hit it directly.
11. Do not go swimming, do not go in hot tubs for at least 2 weeks.
12. Do not expose your Tattoo to Direct Sun Light or a Tanning bed for at least 2 weeks.

Piercing Aftercare

A Normal Piercing

• May be tender, sore, itchy, and/or uncomfortable for a few days.
• May secrete a whitish-yellowish fluid which crusts on jewelry.
• May be red or bruise slightly around piercing area.
• May tighten around the jewlery as it heals, making it uncomfortable to turn.

Cleaning of Piercing

• RUBBING ALCOHOL AND HYDROGEN PEROXIDE should NEVER be used. Both products are harsh and prolong healing time.
• You may use: Dragon Mist, Sea Salt, Epsom Salts, Witch Hazel, or Saline Solution.
• Always wash hands thoroughly before touching or cleaning piercing.
• Ensure piercing is last item cleaned in the shower.
• Using water in shower at a warm temperature allow encrusted matter to soften and rinse away from piercing.
• Using a mild, antibacterial soap, gently lather area.
• Hold ring gently and slide back and forth.
• Rinse with plenty of water.
• Pat dry with cleaning towel.
• Clean piercig TWICE daily, cleaning more only causes problems. Less cleaning will invite infection.

Care of Oral Piercings

• Suck on CRUSHED ICE for the first 24-48 hours to reduce swelling.
• Advil (Ibuprofen) or Midol may be taken to help reduce swelling as well.
• Check beads on all jewelry frequently to make sure they are tight.
• Each time you eat, drink, or smoke you MUST rinse your mouth with antibacterial mouthwash. ORIGINAL LISTERINE (yellow) is the MOST EFFECTIVE.
• If you have a Labret, Lip, Marilyn, Madonna, or Medusa piercing, clean as above for inside and treat as a regular piercing for the outside of your mouth.

Infections

An infection is caused by contact with fungi, bacteria, or other living pathogens. Infections can be traced to one of the following activities.

• Touching piercing with unwashed hands, or letting someone touch piercing.
• Contact with and bodily fluids, infrequent washing of clothing and bedding.
• Going into pool/hot tub/ocean/lake.

Infection Symptoms

• Redness and swelling, sensation of heat at piercing site.
• Pain (throbbing or spreading), unusual discharge: brown or grey in colour.

If you think you have an infection, come and see us. Tell us of any circumstances that may have led to the infection. DO NOT REMOVE THE JEWELRY! This can aggravate the problem by closing off any chance of drainage. DO NOT LEAVE PIERCING UNATTENDED! How your piercing heals is up to you. Treat your body with respect, get plenty of rest, eat properly and follow these instructions. Your piercing may look like it is healed in a short amount of time, but continue to clean it for the duration of the healing time. Above all else, BE PATIENT! Piercings go through a series of ups and downs.