BEFORE & AFTERCARE
Getting your first tattoo or your first large scale piece can be daunting. You may have questions, such as "What should I bring to my session?"
"How long will my tattoo take to heal?" "When can I go swimming?" Never fear, we have taken the most frequently asked questions and have compiled some FAQs to help you prepare for your tattoo session and to look after your new tattoo!
I have a new tattoo, now what?
Tattoo aftercare is crucial if you want your tattoo to heal perfectly and last a lifetime. A tattoo is recognised by your body as a wound and your immune and lymphatic system will work hard to heal your fresh ink. There are practices you should and should NOT do to look after your tattoo and these FAQs will help you to navigate best practice in aftercare.
Frequently asked questions
Our best advice is to eat a big meal the morning of your session. This is the time to load up on carbs. Be hydrated. Drink plenty of water and ensure you have a good night sleep and rest before your session. Do not attend your session if you are unwell or if you should be isolating or are a close contact of someone with Covid. If this is the case, please contact your artist immediately.
We recommend that you bring snacks, sugar is especially good and a drink or two to your session. When you are being tattooed, your blood sugar levels will drop and so having sugary snacks can help mitigate this and have a more positive experience.
At Loco, we love to have a laugh and we play music in the studio. However, because our artists are often concentrating intently on your design, we recommend that you don't rely on them as a source of entertainment. We recommend that you bring headphones to listen to music or even a book to read. We will usually break midway through the session for a 30 minute lunch break. There are local eateries in the area, so you can leave to eat or bring a packed lunch.
Bring an aftercare balm with you to apply to your completed tattoo. However, we do have these available to purchase in store.
It is up to you what you choose to bring to your sessions, but here are some things that you may not think of: sugary snacks, lunch (money for lunch), drinks, ID, headphones, phone charge, a podcast or epic Spotify playlist, your wallet, a pillow, hoodie (in case you get cold from the aircon cranking).
It is more important to be comfortable than fashionable when you are receiving a tattoo. We recommend loose clothing. if you are being tattooed in an area that may expose sensitive areas of your body, we offer privacy screens and nipple covers to cover sensitive areas.
After your tattoo has been completed your artist will apply an aftercare balm and wrap your tattoo in glad wrap to protect the open area from any germs or debris. Our studio will provide you with an aftercare fact sheet and can assure you, that if you adhere to the information and the steps on the fact sheet your tattoo will heal nicely and you will not require a touch up session.
We need to remember that a tattoo is essentially regarded by the body as a wound. Here are our aftercare instructions to keep your tattoo clean and healthy!
AFTERCARE INSTRUCTIONS Once home remove the cover and gently wash the tattoo with warm water and an non-fragranced soap. Allow your tattoo to air dry or pat your tattoo dry with a clean towel. We recommend keeping the tattoo wrapped overnight for the first night and to wear loose clothing to prevent excessive rubbing on the area.
*We recommend wrapping your tattoo for the first night before going to bed as this will prevent any blood or plasma from leaking out of your tattoo and getting stuck or irritated by your bedding.
When you wake up, your tattoo will appear a bit mucky and slimy under the glad wrap. Do not be alarmed. Repeat shower washing instructions and again, just pat gently with a towel or allow to air dry. Apply a small amount of Bepanthen Antibacterial cream to your tattoo each morning and afternoon. Be careful not to drown your tattoo. A thin layer is all that is required. The perfect amount will rub in to the skin without leaving any white residue.
Do NOT go swimming at the beach or in the pool for at least 2 weeks and keep your tattoo guarded from the sun.
After getting a tattoo, the outer layer of the skin (the part that you can see), will typically take 2 to 3 weeks heal. It can take another few weeks to a couple of months to heal the deeper layers of skin. Healing is highly dependent on the individual. The time it takes your tattoo to heal will generally depend on a variety of factors, including your general health, diet and how well you look after your tattoo during the healing process. Generally the tattoo will be an open wound for a week, this is why aftercare is important to follow in order to prevent any infections. By 2 weeks on wards, the skin should close and the healing process will take place.
Your tattoo will itch and you skin will peel where we have done the tattoo. Your skin will be the colour of the ink used- this is normal. Do not pick or pull the skin off. Let your tattoo shed the skin naturally. An antihistamine assists to relieve the itch.
During the healing process there are some things that are guaranteed to happen to everyone. The plasma ooze is one of them. Whilst plasma leaking from the tattooed area can be gross and vary from a clear liquid, to blood, ink or a combination of the three, it is a normal and necessary part of the healing process. The goal of plasma is to create a barrier between the skin and air, by moving to the surface and hardening, to create a scab and stop any bleeding. It is essential in sealing off the wound to the outside world. This allows the body's proteins and nutrients to get to work and start healing the tattoo. You should expect to see leaking ink and fluids for a few days. A quality moisturising agent, designed to care for tattoos, will keep your tattoo hydrated, soothe any irritation and help to decrease healing times by eliminating any lingering dryness or scabbing.
The tattoo healing process generally happens in stages over several weeks. The skin will go through various changes as it tries to repair the wound and prevent infection. A tattoo is an open wound for the first week (Sometimes two) after it has been completed. During this time you may experience slight redness to the surrounding skin and some tenderness. In the first few days after your tattoo session, you may notice slight redness, a warm sensation, some oozing and swelling.
In the first week you may also notice some other healing signs, such as itching, flaking and scabbing. This is normal will dissipate over the second week. It is normal for the skin to wash away in the shower and you will notice some scabs coming off on their own.
If during the healing process, particularly after day 3, your tattoo is very hot to touch, is swollen, or has a green or yellow discharge and is painful, make sure to talk to your doctor and tattoo artist as you want to ensure you are not experiencing an infection. If you follow the correct aftercare steps an infection is rare.