Following proper aftercare is essential to guarantee the best and safest results for your body art. Properly taking care of a new work is crucial to prevent scabbing, loss of color and detail, scarring, and infection. If you have any concerns at any point throughout the healing process and you have fully read all aftercare information, please contact me immediately. Once I can assess the situation, it can be determined if the healing process is proceeding normally or if medical intervention is necessary.

 

*Always wash your hand for at least 20 seconds with antibacterial soap before touching open or healing skin*

Things To Avoid While Healing – 2 weeks to 6 months

• Do not put oil/ lotion/ soap on or around your Saniderm/ fresh Brows/ scalp
• Do not scratch/ pick/ peel your tattoo or over stretch the skin.
• Avoid tight clothing that may rub against or stick to the tattoo.
• Do not soak in water, showering is fine but try to avoid constant stream. No pools, lakes, rivers, baths, oceans etc.
• Do not oversaturate with ointments/ lotions. One thin layer.
• Avoid new tattoo to come in contact with animals/ household pets or plants. Wash gently with antibacterial soap for at least 20 seconds immediately if this occurs
• Avoid direct sun exposure or artificial tanning.
• Avoid all strenuous activities, excessive sweating, intense exercise, contact sports, contact with any gym mats or equipment.
• Greasy foods, not drinking water, and unhealthy diet.
• Dirty Bedsheets/ clothing. Clean your linens regularly.
• Sleeping directly on your fresh tattoo.

 

Irritation can look like:

Bumps  •   Hives  •  Clogged pores/pimples  •  Blisters  •    Redness  •    Itchiness

When this happens, gently clean the area with antibacterial soap. Then use some rubbing alcohol on a paper towel to wipe the area. Apply some light moisturizer and give the skin a few days to heal.

Signs of Infection:

Signs and symptoms of an infection include but are not limited to, redness, swelling, tenderness of the procedure site, red streaks going from the procedure site to towards the heart, elevated body temperature, or pus-filled drainage from the procedure site. Seek medical care IMMEDIATELY if you have a fever, extreme pain 3 or more days after the tattoo procedure, spreading rash well outside of the tattooed area, worsening, and spreading redness around the tattoo, blisters on the tattoo, red streaking around tattoo, or foul odor and pus drainage.

 

Long term care: Keeping your skin moisturized will keep your tattoo looking fresh and bright. Always wear sunscreen! Tanning and sun fading will make a tattoo look dull and will diminish the pigments. If you need a touch up you may schedule a Freshen Up appointment.

 

TATTOOS:

After getting a tattoo, the outer layer of skin (the part you can see) will typically heal within 2 to 3 weeks. While it may look and feel healed, and you may be tempted to slow down on the aftercare, it can take as long as 6 months for the skin below a tattoo to truly heal.

To heal design tattoos I will be using SANIDERM. Unlike plastic wrap, Saniderm is a medical-grade, breathable, waterproof tattoo bandage. Saniderm is engineered to be permeable to gasses, like oxygen. These bandages alleviate many of the pitfalls that come with other tattoo healing methods. Primarily, Saniderm drastically reduces the risk of contaminants entering the wound site of a fresh tattoo. Wearing Saniderm protects the area from unwanted shear/friction and allows the body to keep itself moisturized. Plus, it conveniently eliminates sessions of washing and applying aftercare to a new tattoo. The result is a tattoo healing experience that is safer, smoother, and more efficient.

Day 1: Your new work of body art is probably on fire! Use ice packs in clean towels and /or ibuprofen to reduce the stinging. Your first piece of Saniderm applied by the artist must be worn for 24 hours, do not remove it early. You will have irritation, redness, bleeding, seeping, and ink collect under the bandage. You will notice plasma (looks like clear watery liquid), ink, and blood trapped in the bandage, and it may leak out of the Saniderm. This is NORMAL and part of the healing process. Don’t freak out over this.

Day 2: Remove 1st bandage after 24 hours- This will be uncomfortable but you got this! Peel off slowly.  Find an edge of the bandage and pull it back over itself in the direction of your natural hair growth Watch proper removal here!   (no not apply lotion/ ointment for second application of saniderm) In the shower with cool/ warm water is optimal. After removed, wash thoroughly in gentle circular motions with plain anti-bacterial hand soap – no exfoliating beads, no oils, no scents. Pat dry with a clean paper towel and let air dry for 15 minutes. When completely dry apply second Saniderm. Remove the paper backing first, apply sticky side to tattoo, then remove plastic backing. It’s ok if there are air bubbles/wrinkles but try your best to get it flush to your skin. 

Day 2-6: Leave on for 6 FULL DAYS– During the next 6 days you may still have some plasma, ink, or blood. If you have an excessive amount of liquid collecting under your bandage and feel replacement is needed you may do so with similar products. You may notice the skin looks dry/peeling/crusty/“cracked”- this is normal. The bandage and area may smell a little bit, this is ok. DO NOT REMOVE BEFORE THE SIXTH DAY. Doing so will result in color loss and can require a touch up at an additional cost. 

 It is harmful to the tattoo and to your health to leave a healing tattoo untreated. If your Saniderm peels up before the 6th day, carefully cut the excess off. If the tattoo is exposed place another small piece of Saniderm (or similar product) to cover it.

Day 6: Now it’s time to remove. Wash again like on day 2 and then apply a thin layer of Hustle Butter, A&D ointment, or fragrance-free lotion/moisturizer to your tattoo.

Day 7 +: Use thin layer of Hustle Butter /A & D ointment /lotion/moisturizer for several days or weeks until skin is smooth again. You will most likely experience peeling and itchiness. Your tattoo is fully healed when your skin is smooth and no longer shiny. This can take several weeks or several months. Everybody’s skin is different.

HELP! My Saniderm was removed early-
Alternate Instructions for Early Removal:

OPTION 1 (best and easiest option): Go to your local Walgreens/CVS and purchase Tegaderm (usually near the band aids). Do not purchase anti-bacterial bandages, they look similar.  See photos below for different product packaging and look for similar products. Apply and wear the Tegaderm for the remainder of the week. Make sure to apply it to your freshly cleansed (with antibacterial soap) tattoo. Follow all instructions provided on your aftercare sheet (listed above). 

OPTION 2: You must keep your tattoo clean and prevent it from drying out and scabbing. To do this, wash your tattoo thoroughly with antibacterial soap 3 times a day. Immediately following use Hustle Butter, Sanibalm, or plain lotion to moisturize (plain lotion should be unscented, free of oils, perfumes, butters, etc.). Apply a thin layer and rub into skin well, do not leave excess lotion on skin. Try Aveeno, Cetaphil or Lubriderm. I do not recommend petroleum based products like Aquaphor. 

It is vital to wash a full 3 times daily until your tattoo is fully healed. Washing removes infection causing bacteria. Moisturizing is important to prevent think scabs from forming. Scabs will pull out ink and dull or eliminate color. You will have peeling for several days, this is normal. Your tattoo is fully healed once your skin has peeled completely and is smooth again which may take several weeks.

 

 

Microblading:

Fresh brows will appear much darker and crisp when first created. This is normal. Your brows will go through many stages within the first 10 days of healing. Trust the process. We will discuss and perfect your brows during your 6 to 8 week checkup.

2 hours after appointment.

• Wash your hands with antibacterial soap for at least 20 seconds before touching 
• Dampen a fresh cotton round and clean your brows using light dabbing sweeping motion. Gentle but effective.
• Immediately after cleaning apply very thin layer of A&D ointment on brow with Q-tip. One or 2 gentle full swipes to cover entire brow.

Repeat the night of the appointment.
Repeat twice daily cleaning every day for 10 days.
On 11^th day you may discontinue the cleaning routine and resume normal activates

It takes anywhere from 7 to 14 days for the skin to begin to appear healed and for the pigment to fade to its intended shade.

Follow these steps to take care of your skin after microblading:

• Avoid getting the area wet for at least 7 days. This includes keeping your face somewhat dry during a shower.
• Don’t wear makeup for at least a week. This is because the pigments are still settling into the shallow cuts in your skin caused by the blading.
• Don’t pick at scabs, tug, or itch the eyebrow area.
• Avoid saunas, swimming, and excessive sweating until the area is completely healed and you have a follow-up appointment.
• Keep your hair away from your brow line.
• Apply any medicated cream or healing balm provided by your technician as directed.

After your skin is fully healed, you’ll want to protect your microblading investment by taking care of your skin. Applying a sunscreen to the microbladed area may help prevent fading.

If you choose to microblade your eyebrows, you may want to stop using the following in your skin care routine:

• retinol
• acids
• fragrance
• mechanical exfoliation
• chemical peels
• microdermabrasion