PRE-PROCEDURE
Before ANY tattooing procedure, please review the following advice and consult your physician if you are currently receiving treatment and/or are unsure if a tattoo is safe for you. All tattooing procedures carry with them the risk of injury and illness. Please ask your technician if you have any questions concerning these risks.
• Please do not drink alcohol or high quantities of caffeine 24 hours prior to and after the tattoo.
• Where possible, try to avoid the following herbs and spices prior to your appointment: Black pepper, Cardamom, any member of the Zingiberaceae (Ginger) family, Cayenne, Cinnamon, Garlic, Horseradish, and Mustard.
• You are welcome to shave the area to be tattooed prior to the appointment.
• Do not have electrolysis for at least five days before and five days following the procedure in the area to be tattooed.
• Botox, AHA products, brow/lash tinting and Retinoids should be avoided for two weeks prior and two weeks following the procedure in the area to be tattooed.
• Exfoliating treatments such as microdermabrasion should not be performed within two weeks prior and two weeks following the procedure in the area to be tattooed.
• It is recommended to avoid acne medications in the area to be tattooed at least two weeks prior and two weeks after the treatment.
• Chemical and laser peels should be avoided no less than six weeks prior to procedure and the brow area must be fully healed before any such treatments. Please avoid these procedures on your tattoo as you will lose your healed pigmentation.
• If you are currently under the care of a physician for any type of Cancer, please consult with your doctor (and bring with you permission from your physician to have the treatment performed). It is generally advised to wait at least six months to one year post- cancer treatment before having any tattooing performed.
• If you are prone to cold sores/fever blisters, you should take an anti-viral both three days prior to and after tattooing.
• Please be aware that hormone therapies can affect your healed results and/or cause sensitivity.
• Tattooing can require multiple application sessions. For best results, clients will return for a perfecting re-touch appointment (within one year of the initial tattooing session). Please be aware that color intensity will be significantly darker immediately after and lasts for a few days post procedure; however, the color may reduce by 30-50%.
• Although numbing cream and gel can be used during the procedure, sensitivity or discomfort will still be present. Your skin may be red and/or swollen after the tattoo.
• Please inform Rachel immediately if you are allergic to ANY numbing product - specifically Epinephrine, Tetracaine and/or Lidocaine.
Please contact your technician directly if you would like to schedule a patch test appointment. The purpose of the patch test is to determine if any allergy exists to the pigmentation or ink used during the procedure. Patch test appointments take about 10 minutes and must be scheduled at least 3 weeks prior to the initial session. Patch tests do not guarantee the existence or inexistence of an allergy to any of the substances, pigmentation or ink used during the procedure.
*Please consult with Rachel if you have questions about the information above.
AFTERCARE
Each guest receives an aftercare kit that includes all of the necessities to care for your new ink. Please follow the instructions as directed and contact Rachel with any questions and concerns.
*Please wash your hands with antibacterial soap before each cleansing.
Body Ink Aftercare:
Day 1-3 - Continue wearing the Barrier Film.
Day 3 - At the end of the day, remove the film (using the instructions below) and place the second Barrier Film over your freshly cleansed and dried tattoo.
Removing Film: It is easiest to remove the Barrier Film while showering. Using antibacterial soap, wash the tattooed area and gently lift the edges of the film. Pull the film off while still in the shower and wash the tattoo gently. Dry the tattoo thoroughly using a clean towel and let dry for 15-30 minutes before placing the second film.
Days 4-7 - Wear your second Barrier Film. If the film irritates your skin or you tire of wearing it, you may remove the Barrier Film and no longer need to wear it. You my cleanse your tattoo 1-2 times per day using a gentle antibacterial soap, clean cotton rounds and bottled or distilled water. Always apply the provided aftercare ointment using a clean cotton swab after cleansing. Do NOT scratch, pick or rub your ink and avoid exposing your ink to makeup, sweat, chemicals, debris, water (outside of the shower) or sunshine (outdoor and tanning bed).
In order to maintain the longevity of your new ink, please avoid chemical and textural exfoliants, harsh sun exposure/sunburn (always wear sunscreen on your ink) and moisturize your tattoos daily.
Ink Removal Aftercare:
1. KEEP AREA CLEAN and open to the air. Do not cover with a Band-Aid or anything else, leave open to air. Air/oxygen provides good and faster healing. CLEANSE THE AREA 4x a day with the provided Saline. Dampen a paper towel or cotton round with Saline and blot the area 4x daily. Make sure you wash your hands directly before cleansing the area.
2. DO NOT SOAK the treated area in water. You can shower as normal but keep the area out of the shower spray the best you can and do not let the area stay wet for more than a few minutes. It is best to keep it dry but if you do get it wet gently pat dry.
3. NO TANNING, FACIALS, EXFOLIATION, SWIMMING in pools, rivers, lakes or an other bodies of water, do not take a bath and soak the treated area, avoid SAUNAS, HOT TOBS, TANNING, OR harsh EXERCISE until the skin is fully healed. NO EXCEPTIONS.
4. DO NOT disrupt the scabbing process (i.e., no picking, scratching, etc.) All scabbing needs to fall off naturally. If you force or pick a scab off you will disrupt the process and possibly cause scarring. It is critical to keep the scabs on as long as possible to achieve optimum results.
5. TREAT AREA WITH TLC. DO NOT DO ANYTHING AT ALL THAT COULD CAUSE ISSUES OR PROBLEMS TO THE TREATED AREA.
6. ONCE ALL SCABBING HAS NATURALLY FALLEN OFF, apply the provided ointment 2 to 4 times throughout the day for a minimum of 4 weeks, or until next lightening session. DO NOT start applying the ointment UNTIL all scabbing has naturally and completely fallen off. It is our goal to keep the area as dry as possible until all scabs have naturally fallen off. You may substitute the ointment with Vitamin E Oil.
❖ It is important to the process and integrity of the skin that 8 full weeks of healing take place before another lightening session can be done. No exceptions.
❖ Lightening unwanted pigment can be a long process and patience is required. Please be patient and give the process a fair chance to work. Expect visible and wanted results in 2 to 5 sessions. How many sessions needed will depend on how saturated the pigment is, how deep it was implanted, the location, the skin type and how much needs to be lightened for the desired result. In many cases only a percentage of the pigment needs to be lightened and then we can continue the correction process by color correcting or color shifting. In those cases where we have pigment misplaced or in an unwanted area, color correcting will not be an option and lightening as much of the pigment as possible will be our ultimate goal.
❖ Results cannot be foreseen, predicted or guaranteed.
***Swelling and bruising is possible and usually subsides within 24-72 hours post treatment. You are welcome to use the provided ice pack to reduce the swelling in 10-15 minute intervals.
***Please avoid lake, river, pond and pool/hot tub water for at least 5-10 days in order to increase pigment retention and avoid infection.