- First and foremost, make sure your hands are squeaky clean before ever touching the treated area.
- For the first few hours following your appointment, you may experience some weeping of lymph fluid in the procedure site. This is normal and your body’s first steps in the healing process. If lymph fluid appears over the treatment area, gently blot with a clean tissue to remove. If lymph fluid starts to “crust” or scab up, wet a paper towel with cool water and press it over the treatment area for a few minutes to loosen any crusting, GENTLY wipe away. Blotting away these fluids is important to the healing process because it prohibits a thick scab from forming. Blot as necessary until weeping stops.
- DO NOT apply any oils or ointments to the procedure area for the first 12 hours following your appointment.
- Use a mild cleanser (such as Cetaphil or fragrance-free castile soap) on and around the procedure area twice daily. DO NOT use any cleansing products that contain acids (glycolic, lactic, AHA, BHA, etc) or any exfoliants on the area. Use a very light touch, yet make sure you are cleaning the area thoroughly. Make sure to rinse well to remove all the cleanser. Gently pat to dry with a tissue or clean, soft terry towel. Make sure the area is very dry, waiting a few minutes if possible, before applying after care cream. It is very important that the area be dry before applying ointment. NEVER apply ointment to moist skin. Soggy scabs are not good!
- DO NOT take exceptionally hot, steamy, or long showers. Keep your procedure area out of the direct water stream while washing your body, shaving, etc. When rinsing your hair, make sure to lean back into the water, keeping the stream of the shower and shampoo off your face. Only get the procedure area wet at the very end of your shower, and make sure the cleansing is gentle and quick.
- Only use the ointment that I provided for you or recommended to you and nothing else. For eyebrows, do not apply ointment for 12 hours following the procedure. After 12 hours, you may apply a very thin layer of ointment to the area throughout the healing process (for 7 days) twice daily after cleansing. Apply no more than a grain-of-rice sized dot of ointment to each eyebrow using a q-tip or a clean fingertip. The layer should be very thin and not globbed on. It is better for the area to be too dry than too moist! Using ointment in excess can starve the skin of oxygen and skin needs oxygen to heal. You want them to be moisturized, but still able to breathe!
- Absolutely NO gardening, cleaning, pet grooming, motorcycle/ATV riding, or any other activity that may expose the area to dust, dander, or other airborne debris for a MINIMUM of 72 hours. Waiting 5 days is best and highly recommended!
- NO heavy exercise for 10 days. No activity that causes sweat in the procedure area, or causes your face to turn red or heat up. Sweat is salt which can affect pigment retention and color! Sweat also contains all kinds of bacteria that can cause infection in the procedure area and we want to avoid that at all costs.
- Avoid the lake, beach, swimming pool, and sauna for 10 days.During the healing process, do not expose your procedure area to chemicals. NO hot tubs, swimming pools, or saunas.
- Direct sun exposure should be avoided indefinitely as it can cause the pigment to fade prematurely. Wearing big sunglasses and hats is a great way to protect the area while it is healing. After the procedure area is completely healed you may apply sunscreen, but wearing a hat or avoiding direct sun exposure is the best thing you can do to preserve your tattoo.
- NO makeup on the healing procedure area for a minimum of 7 days. Makeup and tools used to apply it can contain bacteria and the procedure site needs adequate time to heal to avoid infection. You may apply makeup around the area, but not on top of the procedure site. Example, you may wear eyeliner and mascara with a new brow tattoo, but no eyeshadow up to the brow area and no brow pencil.
- Some tenderness, redness, itchiness, and even bruising is very normal during the healing process. DO NOT pick, peel, scratch, or exfoliate the treated area. If you remove skin that is not yet healed you may also remove pigment which can cause poor retention, patchy areas, and even scarring or infection. Hands off!
- Lastly, relax! Don’t stress. Trust the process! The tattoo will lighten, soften, and heal within a matter of days. Follow my aftercare instructions perfectly and you should have zero problems with healing! Complications are extremely rare, especially if aftercare is followed properly.
EYEBROWS: No ointment for the first 24 hours. Apply a thin, light coat of ointment 2-4 times a day after washing. Apply a grain-of-rice sized amount of ointment to each eyebrow. Keep it thin and light, just enough to keep the area moisturized. Apply ointment for 5-7 days. Apply nothing else to the procedure area for 5-7 days. NO MAKEUP. NO OTHER MOISTURIZER. NOTHING.
EYELINER: No ointment for the first 48-72 hours. After 48-72 hours, apply a very light coat of ointment once in the morning and once in the evening for the following 2-3 days. Eyes are very sensitive to ointment so use sparingly and try to avoid getting it in the eye itself. If you feel any discomfort IN the eye, you should see your eye doctor immediately and contact me as well. Although it is important to use ointment to keep the area moisturized, using it excessively can starve the skin of air and can result in pigment loss during the healing process, or even infection. Use it sparingly, just enough to moisten. Allergic reactions are extremely rare, but possible. If you notice any bumps or rash, or think you may be having a reaction, stop using the ointment immediately, cleanse the area, and call the studio.