BELOW you will FIND OUR GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS TO CARE FOR YOUR NEW TATTOO OR PIERCING. ALL OF OUR PROCEDURES ARE DONE WITH THE UPMOST ATTENTION TO CURRENT STANDARDS OF CLEANLINESS AND STERILIZATION, including the use of brand-new sterile single-use needles for everything. The GUIDELINES below are here to help inform and remind all current and potential clients, but for specific questions or inquiries feel free to contact us during any of our normal business hours.

TATTOO AFTERCARE:

-Remove bandage after one hour and wash gently with mild unscented soap

-Pat dry with soft towel and air dry about 10 mins

-Apply a thin layer of the A&D ointment or Aquaphor

-Continue applying the ointment in thin layers as the tattoo dries out for 24-48 hours

DO NOT REBANDAGE

-The healing process is a very important part of keeping your tattoo looking great

-After the 24-48 hours switch to a NON FRAGRANCE lotion. (A&D does not allow the tattoo to breath during the healing process and can delay or hinder healing.)

-Keep the tattoo moist by applying lotion when the tattoo is dry for approximately 2 to 3 weeks

DO NOT soak your tattoo in water (pools, hot tubs, bath tubs, ocean, etc...)

DO NOT use petroleum jelly, bacitracin, neosporine or any antibiotic ointment on your tattoo

DO NOT expose your tattoo to direct sun light during the healing process (including tanning beds)

DO NOT pick or scratch any scabbed or peeling skin

Remember- the sun destroys tattoos over time. Always use a high quality sunscreen during outdoor activities to keep your tattoo looking its best.

PIERCING AFTERCARE:

Cleaning: Clean your piercing 3-4 times a day for the next 3-4 weeks using H2Ocean spray. Spray directly onto piercing (or onto q-tip if preferred), gently move the piercing up and down/in and out, and allow to air dry. Swelling, redness and or bruising is normal in the first 3-5 days, apply ice to the area to reduce swelling or discomfort as needed. Contact us if a problem persists. 

  • Be careful not to snag your new piercing when drying your face with a towel, using a washcloth/loofah in the shower, long hair getting caught, face mask straps getting caught, car seatbelts, lacey or netted clothing etc. 

  • Do NOT apply any makeup on or directly around your new piercing. 

  • Gently using a soft ice pack on the area with one layer of barrier (ideally a clean paper towel, one time use) can help with discomfort and swelling, as well as taking Advil as needed (if it is normally fine for you to take). 

  • For ear piercings, using a travel neck pillow while sleeping is especially helpful; you can put your ear in the hole to sleep on your side without putting pressure on the piercing.

Changing Jewelry: Wait at least these recommended times before changing jewelry. 

2-3 months: lobes, helix, nose, conch, flat, eyebrow, lips, tongue. 

3-4 months: nipples, rook, daith, tragus, septum, bridge. 

6 months: industrial and belly. 

If your piercing still feels swollen or irritated, wait longer before changing. Extended period of swelling or irritation in cartilage piercings is common. 

  • Wait slightly longer before putting a hoop in a piercing that was not originally pierced with a hoop. Putting curved jewelry through a straight hole puts extra pressure on the entry and exit points, so if the piercing is not completely healed all the way through, irritation bumps, irritation, swelling, setbacks in healing time among other issues can occur. 

  • For septum piercings, it is acceptable to heal it “flipped up” (hidden) or “flipped down” (visible), but try not to switch constantly between the two; leave it one way as much as possible while healing.

Nose piercing: We suggest wearing a spot band-aid over the piercing at night for the next 2-3 weeks to prevent the piercing from getting caught and falling out while you are sleeping.

  • Irritation bumps are more common on nose piercings because they tend to get snagged on things more easily. Be especially careful drying your face with a towel, using a washcloth/loofah in the shower, long hair getting caught, wearing face masks etc. 

Belly Piercing: Wait at least 6 months before changing your piercing, it can take this piercing up to 1 year to heal completely. It’s important that this piercing is well healed before changing the jewelry, as changing the jewelry prematurely will increase your chances of complications (rejection, inflammation, infection).  Avoid wearing tight clothing over the piercing. 

  • Please see us if you notice any red lines on your piercing, or any changes in the depth of the bar (ie it looks closer to the surface of your skin or you see more of the bar than was originally visible).

Lip/Tongue piercing: Follow the instructions above for cleaning outside the mouth. For inside the mouth, Mix 1 teaspoon of sea salt and non-alcoholic Listerine into a 16oz bottle of water. Rinse with this every time something passes through your mouth that IS NOT water for the next 2 weeks. This includes eating, drinking, smoking and kissing. 

  • Moderate to significant swelling is to be expected in the first few days. Chewing ice chips or drinking slushies can help with comfort and swelling, as well as taking Advil as needed (if it is normally fine for you to take). 

  • We strongly recommend to downsize your jewelry to a shorter bar at the 2-3 week mark to help keep the piercing healthy and comfortable in your mouth. 

  • If you notice any specific foods are irritating the piercing, don’t continue to eat them. For some people, this can be spicy or very acidic foods, very hot temperature wise, or dairy.

Keloids: A keloid or irritation bump is caused by trauma to a piercing. These are not dangerous, are not infections, and will go away over time and with treatment at home. Dilute tea tree oil with water 1:1 and apply to the area 3 times a day for 3-5 days. Alternatively, melt one plain aspirin drop by drop with warm water until the tablet turns into a paste, and apply this on the affected area for 10 minutes 3 times a day for 3-5 days.

  • Irritation bumps are fairly common, and are caused by an irritation or trauma to the piercing. A lot of the time, this is getting it caught on something or sleeping on the piercing. 

  • Doing tea tree oil treatments can help kickstart the bump being broken down, but the bump will not completely go away unless the original source of irritation is addressed, ie not continuing to snag the piercing, not continuing to sleep on it, etc. 

  • Sometimes a bump can also develop from being too rough when cleaning. Especially if using a qtip, be as gentle as possible wile still removing build up. Spinning the qtip itself when cleaning can help to get buildup off. 

  • For ear piercings, using a travel neck pillow while sleeping is especially helpful; you can put your ear in the hole to sleep on your side without putting pressure on the piercing. 

NO SWIMMING for two weeks after you get your new piercing, all bodies of water contain bacteria and pose a risk of infection.

Sea salt solution: mix 1 teaspoon of sea salt into a new 16oz of bottle of water.   

Microdermal Care

Clean with H2Ocean twice a day for the next two weeks. Spray directly on dermal and dab dry with a clean tissue. 

Keep dermal covered with bandaids 24hr a day for first two weeks. Bandaids should be in an “x” criss-cross over the dermal/bar. Use gentle pressure when applying the bandaids to push down the dermal/bar and hold it flat against your skin. Apply fresh bandaids each time you clean it or if they become soiled.

Do not use any q-tips to clean it or try to stick anything underneath the dermal/bar top, and do not move it (no twisting, turning etc).

Wait at least 2-4 months before changing the jewelry top.

The first two weeks is the most risky for lifting; keep an eye on it and give us a call or stop by if you notice any changes in depth.

No swimming for 2 weeks after you get your new piercing.