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Aftercare Instructions

Always wash your hands before going anywhere near the tattoo.

Immediate Care

  • Remove the dressing 4-6 hours after your tattoo or leave overnight and remove in the morning. 

  • Immediately after removal, gently wash the tattoo with warm water and an anti-bacterial, fragrance free soap. 

  • Only use your fingertips and hand to wash the area, do not use a washcloth

  • Take care to remove all traces of blood and organic matter

  • Pat or dab (do not rub) the tattoo with a single-use, clean piece of paper towel or allow to completely air dry. Do not use a towel to dry the area until it is completely healed (2-4 weeks).

  • Once the area is completely dry, apply a thin layer of a fragrance-free lotion to the area. Do not apply more than is necessary for a thin layer. Avoid using ointments like Vaseline and A&D in the early stages of healing; ointment can suffocate pores, making it hard for your skin to breath. All wounds need to breathe if they are to heal properly. Use fragrance-free lotion options like Lubriderm or, our favourite, Cetaphil

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Repeat washing daily, apply lotion whenever the tattoo feels dry (for at least 7 days). As the tattoo heals, it will peel like a sunburn; this is normal. 

Daily Care

  • Always wash your hands with liquid soap and warm water prior to touching your tattoo.

  • Always keep your tattoo clean! Protect it from general dirt, grease, chemicals and fingers. Our hands and the hands of our friends, family, partners, and children are all equally filthy. If the tattoo becomes soiled, wash it with soap and warm water and air dry it. Keeping it clean will aid in avoiding a potential infection.

  • Do not expose the tattoo to sunlight for at least 4 weeks. Do not use sunscreen during the healing process; keep it out of the sun! Once the tattoo is completely healed, it is recommended to always apply sunblock to your tattoos whenever they are exposed to the sun. 

  • Do not use tanning beds for at least 4 weeks

  • Do not soak in water (avoid bathing for 2 weeks; avoid pools, hot tubs, rivers, lakes, and the ocean for at least 4 weeks).

  • Do not allow shampoo or rinse/conditioner to come into contact with your tattoo.

  • Profuse sweating has the same effect on new tattoos as soaking in water. If you work out (especially cardiovascular or aerobic), take some time off.

  • Wear loose clothing that can allow your healing tattoo to breathe

  • Do not pick or scratch new tattoos; peeling and scabbing is a very normal part of the tattoo healing process. Scabbing and peeling skin will typically be the same colour as the pigment used. If you pick or scratch your scab, you risk pulling out the colour or cause scarring. Just don’t touch it, okay? :)

Signs of infection

If you observe any of the following signs, please contact a doctor immediately;​

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  • Swelling and redness that increases around the tattoo

  • A severe burning or throbbing sensation around the tattoo

  • Increased tenderness and increasingly painful to touch 

  • An unusual discharge (yellow or green) with an offensive smell

  • A fever

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Symptoms may develop a few days to a week after the procedure. The normal clear or clear-yellow fluid that drains from a tattoo site may change to creamy yellow, brown, or red or look or smell like puss. If you experience any of these symptoms, please contact a doctor immediately.

Take care of your tattoo, it's an investment that lasts a lifetime.

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