tattoo prep
For aftercare instructions, please follow this link.
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Preparing for your upcoming tattoo session:
In the weeks leading up to your appointment, you should prepare the skin in the area of the tattoo. If you are undecided on body placement or torn between multiple locations, prep the areas you are considering so that the skin is tattoo-ready.
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If it is summertime, limit your exposure to the sun in the area you wish to be tattooed. Unfortunately, I will not tattoo sunburned or damaged skin. If you show up to your appointment and your skin is sunburned or damaged, you will either have to choose a different location for your tattoo (depending on the design), or you will forfeit your deposit and have to reschedule with a new deposit.
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If you are planning a trip where sun exposure is likely, please plan your tattoo session accordingly. It is better to reschedule your session around your trip than to receive a tattoo without ample healing time prior to or ample recovery from sun exposure afterwards. If you have questions, just ask me!
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How to prep the skin:
When bathing or showering, gently exfoliate the skin in the area you wish to be tattooed. This will help remove dead skin cells and help the skin absorb moisture. Once the skin is dry, lightly moisturize the area. My personal preference is coconut oil, but you can use your preferred moisturizer.
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24 hours before your appointment:
If you are able to, shave the area you wish to be tattooed. I can go over any area missed or shave the area myself, but if you have the ability to shave ahead of time it helps me out.
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DO NOT moisturize the skin the night before or the day of your appointment as this will prevent the stencil from sticking well. Leave your skin dry!
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Do not consume alcohol and limit your caffeine intake leading up to your appointment as this can thin the blood. Alcohol can affect your immune system and therefore make your skin more prone to irritation, pain and redness. Some painkillers can have the same affect, so please message me if you have any questions!
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Before your appointment:
Make sure to eat a decent meal at least one hour before your appointment and make sure you are hydrated. Low blood sugar during a tattoo session can induce nausea, light-headedness, dizziness, and/or fainting. We do provide snacks, candy, juice boxes, water and other beverage options, but if you have preferred snacks/drinks, please bring them.
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If you have a lengthy session booked, we can take a break and you are more than welcome to order food delivery to the studio.
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If you are using a numbing cream:
Make sure your skin is cleaned with soap and water, and dried with a clean towel. If you have an alcohol-based cleaner, like isopropyl alcohol spray or wipes or a non-moisturizer hand sanitizer, clean the area with that as well as it will help open your pores which will help absorb the numbing cream. With clean hands or an applicator, evenly apply the numbing cream to the area. You want it thick enough that the area is decently covered, about the thickness of a nickel.
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Once the cream is applied, cover the area with press n seal or plastic wrap. It is best if you can cut it to cover about one inch around where the numbing cream is and then completely seal the area with tape. Then wrap the area multiple times with plastic wrap to secure it.
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Please note: some numbing creams are better than others, so if you have questions about which types are best and where to purchase them, contact me!
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During your appointment:
Once your skin is prepped for stencil placement, I will apply the stencil and then have you check it for approval. If you would like the stencil moved, I am happy to do so. This is the time to move it and I will not be offended if you'd like it moved.
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If I am freehand drawing the stencil, I will do a base shape in a light colour and have you check it for approval. This type of stencil is a lot harder to easily move, but again, this is the time for adjustments so be sure to communicate!
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I will not begin tattooing until the stencil is 100% approved. If, after the tattoo is completed, you decide you are unhappy with an element not easily remedied, remember that I did not begin until you approved the final stencil so that is the time to be vocal;)
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Should you need it, I have a numbing spray that I can use to help you get through the remainder of your appointment if you start to get to the point of pain intolerance. This spray only works on broken-open skin and I prefer to only use it if I absolutely need to (usually for final details and/or white highlights) as excessive use of numbing can cause the tattoo to heal poorly.
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Additional notes:
I am a chatterbox when I work and I always have music playing, but feel free to bring a book, iPad or other forms of distraction/entertainment with you. If you'd like to watch a show or movie on your phone or device, please bring headphones! If you bring something that keeps your hands busy (like knitting) please only use if the area being tattooed will not be affected by that type of movement (such as your lower legs). The more still you are, the faster I can work;)
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If you need any breaks at any time for stretching, moving around, bathroom or snacks, just let me know! I can always use a break to stretch my own body so I don't mind. Please limit your cigarette/vape breaks as much as you can, though!
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If you require privacy or a low-contact/no talking session, please let me know ahead of time so that I can accommodate. Our studio is very sociable, so if it is busy there will likely be a lot of noise and people coming and going, so to accommodate a quiet stress-free session I will have to book around the schedule of others or ensure I have the studio mostly to myself during your session.
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If you would like to bring a friend or partner to your session, please let me know ahead of time as I work in s shared space.
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After your appointment:
I will have you hang out for around 15 minutes after your session is completed to allow the tattooed area to settle and to make sure you are good to go. My preferred bandaging is a second skin called Tegaderm that is hypoallergenic. If you have issues with second skin or other adhesive bandaging or tape, I do have alternative bandaging available. Some body placements may require at least some tape but this bandaging can be removed much sooner than second skin.
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We have aftercare ointments available for purchase at the studio, but otherwise you can follow the aftercare instructions here.
If you have any questions about any of the above, please reach out to me via email or DM!
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