Once you’ve had a tattoo from us, we'll give you some written instructions and also explain how to care for your new ink to get the best results when it's healed. It can be a lot of information to remember, so let's go through the basics here...
Do
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Try to leave the dressing on for at least 24 hours.
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Keep it clean. Remember: A tattoo is an open wound and is at risk of infection until it is fully healed. Try to touch it as little as possible and, if you do have to touch it, make sure you always wash your hands first.
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Wash the tattoo with warm, soapy water 3 - 4 times a day once the dressing is removed and until it’s fully healed.
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Pat your tattoo dry, never rub it.
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Use a tattoo aftercare balm/cream a few times a day (including after washing/drying) to stop your new ink from drying out.
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On the first night, you may want to wrap your tattoo in plastic wrap to prevent sticking to your bedding.
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Leave it a few days before vigorous exercise or going to the gym.
Don't
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Don't take baths, saunas, or go swimming. Showers are fine.
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Don't scratch or pick your new tattoo.
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Don't apply too much aftercare cream (it can stop the skin from breathing properly).
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Don't use Bepanthen ointment as it isn’t designed for open wounds. It has been linked to contact dermatitis in people with sensitive skin and because it’s quite thick and goopy you’re more likely to apply it too thick and have issues with healing.
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Don't use any cloth bandages or pads, as the fibers of this material can adhere to your open tattoo and hinder the healing process.
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Don't expose your tattoo to the sun for at least 3 weeks, after that, please use sunblock. Sun will make the colours fade and your tattoo won't look good for long.
Aftercare Products
We sell several different types of aftercare products at the studio, so you can choose what's best for you. We are always here to advise you if you're not sure of anything.
Second Skin
Once your tattoo is finished, we'll clean it and apply some 'second skin'. It’s a waterproof bandage which
acts as another layer of skin to protect the wound that’s underneath it. It's so much better than normal plastic
wrap because it protects tattoos from germs and bacteria, encourages the healing process of the body,
protects new tattoos from clothes and makes tattoo aftercare simple and easy.
It’s totally normal to see some ink or blood under the dressing and this will usually appear within the first
day. You can leave a second skin on for as long as it feels comfortable to you - we advise that you remove it after three to four days.
To Remove
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Test an edge: Pick an edge of the bandage and peel it away. If it’s difficult to remove, try taking a warm
shower to help reduce the stickiness -
Remove slowly: Pull the second skin off slowly. It’s very similar to removing a plaster. If you pull too quickly, it could hurt and damage the new layer of skin underneath.
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Clean: Make sure you wash your tattoo carefully after removing the bandage and apply moisturizer
Tattoo Goo Balm
A pocket-sized balm which is rich in vitamins and cocoa butter, provides an occlusive humectant barrier without blocking pores. Promotes faster healing and enhances colour of both new and old tattoos. This durable, easy-to-carry tin has some big-time natural ingredients that aid in healing and protection. Made with premium olive oil, this balm is formulated to mimic the natural oils that occur in your skin, so it goes on smooth and absorbs well — because moisturized skin means more vibrant ink.
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For both healing and already healed tattoos
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Petroleum and lanolin-free.
Tattoo Defender After Ink
After Ink Nature by Tattoo Defender is a soothing cream for freshly tattooed skin. It contains shea butter, panthenol and hyaluronic acid of the highest quality, vitamin B5 and other natural extracts to ensure quick healing. Its renewed formula is designed without Petrolatum, to be more natural and eco-friendly. Gently massage into the skin immediately after tattooing to create a protective and emollient barrier, which will effectively protect your skin from external aggression and pro- mote faster healing. Its formula penetrates deep into the skin to facilitate lipid synthesis and the proliferation of skin fibroblasts, accelerating the healing process in order to prevent excessive colour leaking.
Tattoo Defender Sunny Side
Sunny Side by Tattoo Defender is a creamy emulsion specifically designed to protect tattooed skin from sunlight (HIGH PROTECTION - SPF 30-50), formulated with active plant ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, vitamin E and F, panthenol, Monoi de Tahiti, aloe vera juice, horse chestnut extract, horsetail extract and sunscreens.
Suitable for all skin types (including delicate and sensitive skin), it has a protective, emollient and moisturising action. Perfect for use during exposure to sunlight or sunlamps.
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Protects against damage caused by UVA and UVB rays
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Adds shine and brightness to tattoos
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Keeps skin hydrated to counteract the effects of sun exposure, including delicate and sensitive skins.
Tattoo Defender Soothe and Clean
Soothe & Clean by Tattoo Defender is a soothing tattoo aftercare cleanser, whose formula has been specifcally de- signed for the newly tattooed skin: it soothes and moisturizes the skin, reduces healing time and provides perfect nal results.
The formulation of Soothe & Clean is enriched by the use of herbal active ingredients such as Calendula, Chamomile, Rabdosia rubescens, Siegesbekia orientalis, panthenol, hyaluronic acid, whose presence greatly improves the cleansing, hydrating and soothing properties of the product, ensuring in this way the best hygienic conditions for your skin. Use it both as a regular cleanser during and after the tattoo execution and at home.
Tattoo Defender Sunny Side Stick
Sunny Side Stick by Tattoo Defender is a sunscreen Stick (SPF 50) designed to protect tattoos from UVA and UVB ray, even sunlamps rays. Its effective yet balanced protection factor ensures an even tan thanks to natural oil lters, avoiding a mottled, patchy appearance. Sunny Side Stick by Tattoo Defender is non-greasy, does not stain clothes, has a natural hypoallergenic fragrance and is waterproof.
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Protects against damage caused by UV rays.
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Prevents the deterioration of the tattoo and destruction of free radicals.
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Even tan without spots.
Dermalize Pro Pack
The pack includes five sheets. The film assists the skin to heal naturally from the inside out, by locking in the body's natural fluids and enzymes, which guarantees beautifully healed tattoos.
The thin self-adhesive film provides a moist healing environment during the initial, and most critical, healing stage of a tattoo wound. It protects the new tattoo from friction and provides a waterproof, antibacterial barrier that prevents pathogens and external contaminants from entering the wound. The film is breathable, letting oxygen in and allowing excess moisture vapour to be released from the wound. It's light to wear, flexible and stretchable which allows it to be placed anywhere on the body and will stay put for up to several days. No more scabbing, no risk of infection, no rubbing clothes or other external factors that will damage the tattoo. Just beautifully healed tattoos like you intended to!
Potential Problems
If you have any worries or questions at all when your tattoo is healing, please send us a message. Nine times out of ten when people think they have had some kind of allergic reaction or something is infected, it's actually something much less extreme and easily fixed.
"My tattoo has little red bumps/spots on it"
This usually happens if the skin can't breathe properly. Give the tattoo a gentle wash with non-perfumed soap, pat or air dry, then make sure you're applying a very thin layer of aftercare balm. Too much balm/cream can block the pores and stop your skin breathing.
"My skin is flaking off"
This is a totally normal part of the healing process - the dead layers of skin which were damaged in the tattooing process begin to flake off. Do not pull at them, rub them or scratch them off. They will naturally fall off after a few days, revealing the new skin underneath.
"My tattoo has disappeared under the protective film, all the ink has come out!"
Don't panic, the ink you can see under the dressing is just any ink that was left on the top of the skin after tattooing, mixed with a bit or blood and plasma. Your tattoo is still under there and is just fine.
"My tattoo is hot and swollen, I think it's infected"
It's normal for your tattoo to be warm to the touch and swollen when it's fresh. It helps to rest, elevate the area and sometimes an ice pack (wrapped in a towel and only over the dressing!) can help. Anti-inflammatory drugs such as Ibuprofen can also help.
If this doesn't subside after a day or two, starts to become painful or swells more, please contact us and I'll tell you what to do next. If you have these symptoms, begin to feel unwell and cannot contact us, please speak to your doctor.
"My tattoo is fully healed now but some parts of the ink have disappeared"
Although it's rare, sometimes different factors can affect the healing process and some parts of the ink can fade or disappear completely. Please contact us to arrange a quick touch-up appointment - these are completely free, usually take around one hour and are just a way of making sure your tattoo is absolutely perfect.