Getting Prepared
Whether it's your first tattoo or your thirtieth, here are some tips to help make your experience as pleasant as possible!
Wear loose clean comfortable clothes that offer full and easy access to the tattoo area.
Eat a solid meal before your appointment. Bring snacks and drinks.
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Having a distraction can be really helpful. Don't be afraid to bring headphones or a book to help you check out, or check in with a friend.
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After Care
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Leave Bandage on for 3-5 days.
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Shower as normal, squeegee out excess liquid with hands.
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Do the same thing with a paper towel after shower.
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Take bandage off if redness occurs, if tattoo gets exposed, or if you get sick of it.
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Begin following regular instructions.
With Saniderm
The Old Fashioned Way
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Remove bandage two to twelve hours after your appointment.
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Wash tattoo with unscented antibacterial soap until it feels like skin again.
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Pat dry with clean paper towels until tattoo stops weeping.
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Wear loose clean cotton over tattooed area to protect from elements.
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Wash at least twice a day, once in the morning and once at night but if it looks dirty, wash it.
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Cracking means it's too dry and needs lotion.
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Scabbing may mean too much moisture, so cut back on the lotion.
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Unless otherwise noted by your artist, please use a white unscented hand lotion that can be rubbed into your skin. You don't want your tattoo to sit wet with lotion or clog your pores.
What about numbing cream?
While there are many options for numbing cream available, not all of them are safe to use. Be sure to find a brand that is FDA approved, but remember before you use it:
Your body has ways to protect you from the pain, but requires sitting with the pain until your natural defenses against continuous pain kicks in.
Numbing cream needs to be wiped off the skin before your artist can begin their work. It could still be a significant amount of time before you actually get tattooed.
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The numbing sensation won't last forever. If it wears off mid tattoo you may suddenly feel all the pain at once.
Numbing cream tends to make your skin tacky and more difficult for your artist to work with. This may make the tattoo take a lot longer than it normally would have.
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Life can be very difficult at times. We all face our own individual hardships and have our own battles to fight. Tattooing can be a way for us to practice sitting with uncomfortable feelings and accept where we're at in the moment, knowing that the pain won't last forever.
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Just remember that this pain will be short lived, but will leave you with a lifelong gift for you to always treasure.
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