Tattoo Guidelines

Before Your Appointment

Get a good night’s sleep. Being well-rested can help you stay relaxed and better tolerate the tattooing process.
Eat a balanced meal beforehand. Having a meal a couple of hours before your appointment helps keep your blood sugar stable and reduces the chance of feeling lightheaded.
Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water the day before and on the day of your tattoo. Well-hydrated skin is generally easier to tattoo.
Wear comfortable clothing. Choose clothing that provides easy access to the area being tattooed and that you don’t mind getting a little ink on.
Avoid alcohol and recreational drugs for at least 24 hours before your appointment. These can increase bleeding and may affect the tattooing process.
Limit excessive caffeine if you’re sensitive to it. While a normal cup of coffee is usually fine, too much caffeine may make you feel jittery.
Moisturise your skin in the days leading up to your appointment, unless your artist has advised otherwise. Avoid arriving with sunburned, irritated, or damaged skin.
Avoid heavy exercise immediately before your session, as it can leave you overheated or dehydrated.

What to Bring

A bottle of water.
Easy-to-eat snacks, especially for longer sessions.
Headphones, a book, or other quiet entertainment.

Tattoo Aftercare Instructions

Thank you for trusting us with your new tattoo! Proper aftercare is essential to ensure your tattoo heals well and looks its best. Please follow these instructions carefully.

Leave your dressing on for the amount of time recommended.
Wash your hands thoroughly before touching your tattoo.
Once the dressing is removed, gently wash the tattoo with lukewarm water to dissolve any build up (plasma or dried blood).
Pat the area dry with a clean paper towel or allow it to air dry. Do not rub the tattoo.
Apply a thin layer of the recommended aftercare product twice a day. Your tattoo should be lightly moisturised, not coated. Ideally you want to see a slight shine on the tattoo.
Wear clean, loose-fitting clothing over the tattoo whenever possible.

Re-dress your tattoo if instructed by your artist or if you will be working in an environment where it may be exposed to dirt, dust or contaminants.

What to Expect

During healing, it is completely normal to experience:

Mild redness and tenderness.
Slight swelling during the first couple of days.
Light scabbing.
Flaking or peeling, similar to a sunburn.
Mild itching as the tattoo heals.

These are all part of the normal healing process.

Please Avoid

Until your tattoo is fully healed:

Picking, scratching or peeling skin.
Soaking the tattoo in baths, hot tubs, swimming pools, or the sea.
Direct sun exposure or tanning.
Tight or abrasive clothing that may rub against the tattoo.
Applying petroleum jelly, heavily scented lotions, or products not recommended by your artist.

Showers are perfectly fine, but avoid prolonged soaking.

Protect Your Tattoo

Once your tattoo has completely healed:

Moisturise regularly to keep your skin healthy.
Always apply a high-SPF sunscreen before exposing your tattoo to the sun. UV exposure is one of the biggest causes of tattoo fading.

When to Contact Your Artist or a Healthcare Professional

Some redness and discomfort are normal, but seek advice if you notice:

Increasing redness or swelling after the first few days.
Excessive pain that gets worse rather than better.
Thick yellow or green discharge.
A strong unpleasant smell.
Fever or feeling generally unwell.

If you think your tattoo may be infected, contact a healthcare professional promptly.

Healing Timeline

Days 1–3: Tender, slightly red, and may ooze a small amount of fluid.
Days 4–14: Scabbing, peeling, and itching are common.
Weeks 2–4: The surface of the skin usually appears healed.
Up to 3 months: The deeper layers of skin continue to recover, and your tattoo settles into its final appearance.

Thank you for following these aftercare instructions. Looking after your tattoo during the healing process will help keep it looking vibrant for years to come. If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to get in touch.