Caring for Your New Tattoo

Once your artist has finished his or her work and you have left our studio, it's up to you to take good care of your new tattoo, piercing or body art. Taking care of your tattoo is just as important as your tattoo selection! It's very important that you follow these aftercare guidelines.

Tattoos: the Seven-Step Plan

Tattooing involves piercing thousands of tiny holes in the skin at rapid speed. Your skin reacts to this as it would to any other wound, and it takes some time for the body to heal and the tattoo to set. At this stage, proper care is of the utmost importance to avoid dangerous infections that can ruin your tattoo and cause health problems.

To ensure proper care of your new tattoo, we recommend you follow these seven essential steps:

Remove the bandage after two to three hours; until then, don't touch!
Wash the entire tattoo area gently with cold water and a neutral or antibacterial soap
Pat the area dry with a clean paper towel
Apply a thin layer of Aquaphor ointment or a nonscented moisturizer
Never scratch the skin, pick at scabs or peel at the tattoo! We know it itches ... deal with it.
Avoid baths, swimming pools etc. and keep the tattooed area shielded from direct sunlight for at least 2 weeks.
Always apply high-SPF sunblock to the tattoo area before exposing it to direct sunlight. ( Only after it heals )

If you follow these seven steps, your tattoo should set nicely within roughly two to three weeks. By the way, the same procedures apply to cosmetic tattoos. Don't forget to come back to our studio for a free checkup!

Piercing Aftercare

Even a perfectly done piercing job can cause problems if proper care is not taken afterwards. People's bodies react differently to various materials, but if your body is not compatible with your purchase you can exchange it for a suitable material at no extra cost.

Body piercings should be cleaned at least once a day, preferably twice, until they are fully healed. Be careful not to overclean, as this can cause irritation and slow down the healing process.

Before each cleaning, thoroughly wash your hands with antibacterial soap and hot water. Rinse the pierced area with warm water and use a cotton swab to remove any crust (never use your fingernails for this). Apply a small amount of cleaning solution and gently cleanse the pierced area
along with the jewelry. Move the piece back and forth a bit to work the solution inside. Leave to dry or rinse under running water while gently rotating the jewelry.

Various skin types react differently to piercings, and some amount of bleeding, bruising, discoloring and/or swelling may occur. Please be patient as the wound heals. During this process there may also be secretion of a yellow-white fluid; this is normal and a sign of healing. If uncommon symptoms develop, contact us immediately.