PREPARE

PLEASE read the following directions thoroughly!

 

 

 

What you should do to prepare for a tattoo session:

 

• Hydrate! Drink at least 4 to 8 cups of water a day. When you are hydrated, your skin is hydrated, and will be able to maintain a better heal and withstand longer sessions.
   

• Lotion the area to be tattooed at least twice daily. Again, the healthier your skin, the better the results.
   

• Shave & exfoliate the area 1-3 times weekly. If you experience razor burn, stop shaving a week prior to your appointment. Exfoliation should be gentle with a loofah or basic body scrub.
   

• Get a good night sleep the night before. Please don’t party too hard. Getting tattooed hung-over is not fun for you or me.
   

• Bring drinks, snacks and lunch. You won’t have enough time during our short breaks to leave, get food, come back and eat it, so bring it with you! I have a microwave and a fridge at the studio for your convenience. It is also a good idea to bring small snacks that you can eat one handed without making a mess in case you need a distraction during your session. 
   

• If you happen to break a bone or sustain any other major injuries prior to your appointment, please contact me ASAP.

 

 

What you SHOULD NOT DO before a tattoo session:

 

• NO ALCOHOL, preworkout, or energy drinks for at least 5 days before your appointment. Take it easy on the caffeine leading up to your appointment. All of these things make you bleed a lot more, which will make your tattoo more difficult on me, and take longer to complete. Which in turn, costs you a lot more money. It's not worth it for either of us, so please stay away from those items.
   

• No tanning, fake tanning, chemical peels, sunburns, major cuts or scrapes, in the area to be tattooed within a month prior to your session. I can’t work on freshly damaged skin. It will not heal properly!
   

• No extreme weight lifting in or near the area to be tattooed at least 2 days prior to your session to prevent unnecessary swelling & soreness.

 

 

On the day of your appointment:

 

• Please show up 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment. This allows time to fill out paperwork and take care of payment. If you are late for your appointment without giving notice in advance, or you do not show up at all, your deposit will be forfeited (refer to deposit policy).
   

• Please EAT BEFORE your session. I can’t tell you how many people I’ve seen pass out just because they were too nervous to eat before. This is a massive workout for your body and it needs fuel for a big session. When you are hungry, pain management is much more difficult.
   

• BATHE! We're going to be in each other's personal space, and I don't want to smell body odor for hours on end while trying to concentrate. That is not a pleasant experience. 
   

• No obnoxious perfumes or cologne, either. Patouli is not an attractive scent to be smelling for hours. The last thing you want is your tattoo artist getting a headache from it.
   

• Wear comfortable, loose fitting, and appropriate clothing. If you're getting your thigh tattooed, then jeans are probably not a good idea. 
   

• Please do not bring the entire family or crew unless they are also getting tattooed. Trust me, they get bored or they get in my way. One person is okay but please be aware that they must wait in the designated waiting areas and must be invited to view ongoing tattoos by myself. If they are interfering with my concentration, or making you laugh and move around, they will be asked to leave. 
   

• For safety reasons, please do not bring small children or babies.
   

• Dress comfortably and appropriately. Be prepared for it to be cold & warm. Also bring socks or flip flops to prevent walking around the studio barefoot during breaks if you will be taking your shoes off during your session.
   

• You are also welcome to bring your own pillow for laying or sitting on during your tattoo. I want you to be comfortable, it helps both of us. 
   

• Bring headphones so you can relax and listen to music. Most likely, your session is going to last for at least a few hours. I will be listening to music, as well. It helps me get in the zone and concentrate on what I'm doing. 
   

• Please do not schedule something immediately after your tattoo, in case we are running behind on time. 
   

• Please do not use any numbing products on the area to be tattooed and please do not come in under the influence of any drugs or alcohol. For pain, Advil and Tylenol are acceptable during your session. If I can smell alcohol on you, I will ask you to leave and you will need to put down another deposit and reschedule. I take tattooing very seriously, and expect you to do the same. 
   

 

While you are getting tattooed:

 

• Stay calm, and breathe! Try not to tense up as much as possible. The more you tense up, the more energy you waste and long sessions will become a nightmare for you and me both.
   

• Please be aware of cross contamination. Do not touch your fresh tattoo OR THE AREA AROUND IT during your session. Do not let anyone else touch your tattoo either!
   

• Do not touch any of the tattoo equipment or work space.
   

• Talking is fine during your session, but please do not talk with your hands, nod your head, or excessively move other body parts as this can cause the area being tattooed to move as well.
   

• Be mindful and do not touch any other possibly contaminated areas.
  
   

 

 

AFTERCARE

 

Please consider that everyone heals differently, and each tattoo should be given the appropriate attention to aftercare every time. It should not be assumed that all heals will be the same even if you have previously been tattooed! The following aftercare is a general guide for the average heal. However, when necessary, you may have additional steps which will be addressed during your session.

 

• Clean your tattoo. Remove the bandage after 3 hours, but no more than 6. DO NOT remove the bandage until you can properly clean the tattoo with mild soap and warm water. Rinse it well with cold water, thoroughly cleaning off all of the slimy coating that may have formed over the tattooed area while underneath the bandage. Gently pat it dry with a clean paper towel, then allow it to air-dry for 10 minutes.
   

• Apply healing ointment to the tattoo. I highly recommend petroleum-free Bomb Butter Aftercare, which is supplied at the studio. Sparingly, but thoroughly, massage a very small amount into the skin to keep the tattoo slightly moist, but NOT smothered. Use just enough product to give the tattoo a slightly satin shine, and blot with a clean paper towel. Your skin will take in all the ointment it needs, so do not leave excessive ointment on the skin. For the next 3 to 7 days, clean and apply ointment to your tattoo every 6 hours, (about 3-4 times daily), blotting the small amount of excess fluid that may be secreted from the tattoo in between cleaning. Only apply ointment for as long as it takes for your tattoo to peel or become flaky, usually 3 to 7 days. When the peeling begins, the tattooed skin will flake like a sunburn. AT ALL COSTS avoid picking at the cracked and flaking skin or else you will pull out color.
   

• If you are using Bomb Butter Aftercare, you will not need to use any other products. It replaces the need for lotion after the flaking has begun. Continue using it as suggested. If not, then follow the next directions. 
   

• You are now in the peeling phase. DO NOT apply any more ointment. The area will become dry and itchy, sometimes very itchy. A good quality, fragrance-free lotion (Lubriderm for Sensitive Skin) can now be used 3 to 4 times daily INSTEAD of the ointment. Repeat each day until the skin returns to its normal texture.
   

• If you get any pimples in the area tattooed during this phase, you need to decrease lotion application times or switch down to a lighter or different lotion.
   

• Scabs are the body’s natural way of protecting wounds while they are healing. HOWEVER, it is very important to maintain the appropriate aftercare to PREVENT scabs from forming; they can prolong and complicate the healing process which can lead to uneven healing and even scarring.
   

• The first signs that may lead to scabbing often are moisture bubbles that appear during the first few days of a new tattoo, usually caused by negligent cleaning or the over application of ointment. At the first signs of these, clean the tattoo thoroughly and allow to completely dry. Do not waterlog (soak) the tattoo. Only apply ointment sparingly to the areas of the tattoo that do not have bubbles, allowing the bubbles to dry on their own.
   

• If scabs do form, once the tattoo is in the full peeling phase, sparingly apply lotion to the entire area making sure to thoroughly massage and not over apply or soak scabs with lotion. Any developed scabs should not be picked at or prematurely removed. Do not scrub or force any scabs off while showering or washing.
   

• Continue moisturizing the tattoo, daily, forever! Just like drinking water, moisturizing will keep the skin healthy and hydrated, which will keep the tattoo looking good.
   

• Avoid direct sunlight FOREVER, if you don't want your tattoo to fade over time. Wear sunblock at all times. Tattoos can and will be ruined within one summer in direct sunlight for prolonged periods of time.