How to prepare for getting a tattoo

How to take care of your new tattoo

How to take care of your fresh piercing

How to prepare for getting a tattoo

The following are a few things you should know before your tattoo appointment to make sure your and the tattooist’s time is more enjoyable.
You must be 18 years of age to be tattooed at Oceans of Ink. 
Please do not consume alcoholic beverages or other blood thinning agents (Tylenol, Aspirin, energy drinks etc.) for at least 8 hours before your tattoo appointment.
Try to eat something substantial in the 3 hours before your appointment time as it will give you more energy and make your experience more pleasant. 
It is a good idea to moisturize the area to be tattooed for up to two weeks beforehand if possible.  This will make the area much easier to tattoo and will produce a better-looking piece.
It is a good idea to drink lots of apple juice the day before and the day of your tattoo appointment.  Apple juice is a natural blood coagulant and will help you to bleed less. 
Any female who is pregnant or breastfeeding may not be tattooed at Oceans of Ink.

Please be on time for your appointment, tattooers are tightly scheduled and when you're late it makes them late for the rest of their appointments.

How to take care of your new tattoo

1. We STRONGLY recommend that you keep your bandage on overnight!  This very important to insure your tattoo does not continue to leak and bleed excessively.  However, if you do plan to take your bandage off before bed, be sure to do so at least 2 hours before you hit the sack to allow your tattoo to dry.  (You don’t want to stick to your bed sheets!  If  you ever find yourself in this situation, stuck to your bed sheets, or your clothing, be sure to get the material wet with a bit of water and let it sit for a minute or two before you attempt to remove any ‘stuck’ items!)

2. When you take your bandage off, get in the shower and wash your tattoo with a mild soap and plenty of water.  Dove or Ivory bar soap is okay, an antibacterial soft soap is great as well.  Liquid dish soap (something mild like Palmolive, Sunlight or any natural dish soap) is great for the first time you wash your tattoo once you’ve taken your bandage off.  This soap will cut through the “slime” (congealed plasma) and clean it with less trauma to your tattoo than several washings with a milder soap.  WASHING OFF ALL THE SLIME UNTIL YOUR TATTOO IS SQUEAKY CLEAN IS VERY IMPORTANT for the healing process.  Once cleaned properly your tattoo should not feel slimy at all, but almost rough to the touch.

3. Rinse your washed tattoo with cool water then PAT dry with a piece of paper towel.  Do not use a cloth towel, for it may be contaminated with bacteria.

4. The first 1-3 days once you have taken the bandage off your new tattoo are by far the most important to ensure your tattoo heals well.  Watch your tattoo closely!  If you notice any liquid leaking from your tattoo (blood, ink or clear plasma) be sure to wash it off as soon as possible then pat dry with a piece of paper towel.  You should avoid letting this liquid dry on your new tattoo.  If your tattoo appears shiny or textured, this is a pretty good sign that liquid has leaked out and dried on your tattoo.  Do your best to gently wash this dried liquid off with a little soap and water, using your FINGERS ONLY!  Don’t force any leakage that may have already turned into a SCAB.

5. Avoid any lotion or tattoo aftercare for the first 1-2 days of healing.  You will know it’s time to start moisturizing your tattoo once all the leaking has stopped and the tattoo begins to feel tight.  Once this happens you may start to apply a SMALL amount of aftercare cream to your tattoo.   First wash your hands, and apply cream sparingly to your tattoo no more than 3 times daily.  “Oceans Healing Lotion” is a great, natural healing cream for your tattoo; however you may use other lotions if you prefer.  Any tattoo-specific after care is usually great, ‘Seriously Sensitive Lubriderm’ is great, or any other non-scented lotion.  Refrain from using any after care products with petroleum in them.  This means no ‘ointments’ and no Vaseline.  Polysporin antibiotic cream may be used if you feel your tattoo may be infected, but never the ‘ointment’.  Always consult your tattoo artist and/or a doctor if you think you may have an infection in your tattoo.  These can become very serious very quickly and should be dealt with as soon as possible!

6. Do your best to keep your new tattoo out of direct water in the shower, and do not soak it under any circumstances. That means no swimming, hot tubs or saunas. Try to keep your showers down to 5 minutes.  Too much water or steam is not good for a healing tattoo.  It can cause excessive leaking which causes scabbing, resulting in loss of colour and prolonged healing time. 

7. If your tattoo does scab, despite your best efforts to keep it from doing so, NEVER force a scab to come off!  This means no picking, scratching or soaking, and do not apply excessive amounts of lotion!  Do your best to keep any scabbing attached to your tattoo as long as possible to ensure it does not pull any colour out of your tattoo.

8. Keep your tattoo covered with loose breathable clothing while healing.  DO NOT RE-BANDAGE.

TATTOO DERM INSTRUCTIONS

If your tattoo artist has given you a piece of ‘Tattoo-Derm’ to heal your tattoo with, please follow steps 1-4.  Once your tattoo is dry and has stopped leaking you may apply your tattoo-derm.  Be sure to wait at least 3 hours after the last time you washed your tattoo to apply your tattoo-derm.  Do so carefully as to not create any air pockets, and also insure the tattoo-derm covers at least an inch of skin all around your tattoo.  

Sometimes tattoos will leak a little after you apply your tattoo-derm.  This results in a pocket of dark or coloured liquid under the piece of tattoo-derm.  Do not attempt to drain this fluid, just leave it alone.  It may or may not soak back into your skin, either way this will not harm your tattoo. 

After your tattoo-derm has been on for at least 7 days you may carefully try to peel it off.  If you notice any scabbing still attached to your skin, you may need to wait a few more days before removing the tattoo-derm.  Normally 7 days is plenty of healing time though.  DO NOT under any circumstances try to remove the tattoo-derm before 7 days of contact with your tattoo!  If you are thinking of doing this for any reason, or if you have concerns about how your tattoo is healing,  please contact one of the artists at Oceans of Ink and we will instruct you on how to further care for your tattoo.

If you have allergies or skin sensitivities, we suggest testing any aftercare cream you plan to use in an area other than over your     fresh tattoo before applying it as aftercare.  You may want to do this in a sensitive area such as the crease of your arm or leg a day or two before having to use it on your tattoo.  If any reaction occurs, please consult your tattoo artist at Oceans of Ink for an alternate aftercare regime. 

THINGS TO AVOID WHILE HEALING:

Do not touch your tattoo!  This is an easy way to transfer bacteria and the most common cause of infection and poor healing.  Your tattoo can become infected if you are not careful.  Also, avoid direct tattoo contact with pet hair, pet saliva, countertops, public washrooms, keyboards, etc.  Avoid direct sunlight or tanning, soaking, hot tubs, pools, saunas, lakes, lotions with too many fancy ingredients, excessive sweating, dirty gym equipment, sunscreen, other people’s hands, scratching, picking, peeling, or irritating or restrictive clothing on the tattooed area.

HEALING HINTS:

Take your vitamins!  Eat well, sleep well, drink lots of water.  If you keep yourself healthy, you will heal faster.  Also, keep your tattoo cool.  You may want to ice your new tattoo for the first few days (especially on larger swollen areas like joints, feet inner biceps or ankles).

AFTER HEALING:

After your tattoo has fully healed, use strong sunscreen, or better yet clothing that covers it when you are outdoors, for the rest of your life.  There is never a good time to expose your tattoo to the sun.  Using a good moisturizer will help keep your skin subtle and hydrated, in turn your tattoo will appear brighter!

*PLEASE!  Do not take aftercare advice from your friends, or friends of friends, or anyone other than the artist’s at Oceans of Ink.  We have been doing this for a long time, and this is a tried, tested and true way of healing a tattoo. 

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call us, or come visit us at the shop.  14 Church Ave, Sussex NB,

506-433-5006. You may also contact us via email at oceansofink@hotmail.com 

How to take care of your fresh piercing

The optimal way to care for your piercing is to clean it twice daily (If you are physically active, try to schedule your cleanings after you exercise). The easiest and most comfortable way to clean your piercing is either during or immediately following a hot shower. The hot water and steam will help soften your skin and loosen the crust at the base of your jewelry (making it easier to remove). While in the shower, wash your hands thoroughly with anti-bacterial soap. (Beware: anti-bacterial soaps containing fragrances can irritate your piercing or cause allergic reactions.)
Next, gently remove the crust from your jewelry with a disposable, one-use product such as a tissue, cotton-ball, swab, or square. (Do not use a hand towel because bacteria can lie dormant in the cloth.) Then, place some anti-bacterial soap in your hands and rub them together as to create a nice lather. Gently wipe the jewelry and your piercing with the tips of your fingers, being careful not to scratch or irritate the area. Once the jewelry and piercing are lathered with soap, spin the jewelry so that the ball on the jewelry rests on one hole of your piercing; then, spin it so that the ball rests on the opposite hole. This process will help run some soap into the wound, helping to ward off bacteria. After spinning the jewelry back and forth several times, rinse the area and jewelry thoroughly while continuing to spin the jewelry back and forth. (Tip: Do not place your piercing directly into the shower’s streaming water. Instead, try to redirect the water with your hands in order to reduce the intensity of rinsing.) If your starter jewelry is not a captive bead ring or circular barbell, try your best to perform the above process without overworking and irritating the area.

Sea Salt Soaks - After completing the above process, you can perform your sea salt soaks either in or out of the shower. First, fill a fresh disposable cup with approximately 8 ounces of HOT water (as hot as you can stand) and add ¼ teaspoon of sea salt, stirring until it is dissolved.  Do not add more than ¼ teaspoon of salt, as this will turn the solution too acidic. When ready, either place the cup over the piercing--forming a vacuum-type seal--or dip the piercing into the cup. If either of these techniques is not possible, pre-soak a fresh tissue, cotton-ball, swab, or square in the sea salt solution and firmly press it on your piercing. In order to promote effectiveness, the first sea salt soak should last at least 10 minutes. All additional soaks should last at least 5-10 minutes. Following the sea salt soak, pat your piercing and jewelry dry with a fresh disposable paper or cotton product.

Oral Rinse For Mouth Piercings

The optimal way to care for your piercing is to rinse your mouth for 30 seconds with a medical-grade oral rinse (such as Tech 2000 or Biotene).  Rinses should be performed after smoking, eating or drinking anything other than bottled water during the initial healing period (3-6 weeks). If a medical grade oral rinse is not available, the next best thing is to dilute an oral antiseptic (such as Listerine) 50/50 with water. This will de-intensify the antiseptic and prevent it from irritating your piercing. (Note: Do not use full strength mouth-wash because it will do nothing for your piercing)  Be careful not to over-clean your piercing, as this will prevent proper healing. (Signs of over-cleaning include a very white or yellow looking tongue.)
Sea Salt Rinse
In addition to the oral rinse after every meal, sea salt soaks will also help heal your piercing. First, fill a fresh disposable cup with approximately 8 ounces of water and add ¼ teaspoon of sea salt, stirring until it is dissolved. Then, rinse your mouth for approximately 15 seconds. Sea salt rinses should be performed after smoking or drinking anything other than bottled water.
Ice - Ice and other cold liquids can help reduce swelling. Ice pops, ice cream, and frozen yogurt are also good ways to reduce swelling, but be sure to perform either a sea-salt or oral rinse following your snack (this is not necessary if you just use plain ice). Swelling tends to last 3-5 days.

Brushing Your Teeth - It is important to brush your teeth at least twice daily while your piercing is healing. Brushing your teeth will cut down on the amount of bacteria and food particles in your mouth. It is suggested that you purchase a new soft-bristle toothbrush to use during the initial healing period. Also, plaque (a white crusty shell) will begin to build up on your tongue jewelry if you do not gently brush the balls and post. You should brush your jewelry daily if you want to prevent plaque build-up.

Ibuprofen - For those who are extremely sensitive, an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen (Motrin IB, Advil, etc.) can help reduce swelling and pain.

Additional Tips

According to piercing-friendly physician Dr. Janet L. H. Keating with the Duke University Student Health Service, one of the best ways to care for and heal a piercing is to “promote healthy lifestyle habits.” Some additional tips for this include:

• Remember: A piercing is a wound. Consequently, you should expect tenderness, swelling, discoloration, and possibly bruising, bleeding, and itching. Also, a natural part of the process for healing any wound includes the secretion of a white-yellow fluid (containing dead cells and blood plasma). This fluid will dry and form crust on your jewelry. To properly remove this crust, refer to the Primary Suggestions for healing your piercing.
• Never touch your piercing without first washing your hands with anti-bacterial soap. This is a great way to avoid infections even after your piercing is healed.
• Do not use petroleum-based ointments (e.g., Neosporin, Bacitracin, etc.), peroxide, alcohol, Betadine, iodine, and Hibaclense!! These substances can hinder and prolong the healing process.
• Check the accessories (e.g., balls, gem-ends, dice, etc.) on your jewelry for tightness at least once a day. Make sure your hands are first cleaned with anti-bacterial soap!! Checking your accessories is something that you should make habitual throughout the life of your piercing. Remember: tighten all threaded accessories by turning them to the right—righty, tighty.
• During the entire healing period, the jewelry should remain in place to act as a drain. If the jewelry is too large to allow adequate drainage, it could be replaced with a smaller size by a piercing professional. Removing your jewelry prematurely can cause an infected hole to close up, trapping an infection and leading to complications requiring a medical professional. If you feel that the normal secretion is turning into a thicker and darker discharge, please do not hesitate to contact your physician for more advanced treatment (e.g., antibiotics).
• Always wear loose and clean clothing around your new piercing. Tight or unclean clothing can irritate or infect the piercing, possibly causing it to migrate.
• Do not engage in rough activity that may threaten your piercing. Intense friction and pulling on a fresh piercing is a common way to trigger migration, a process in which the body “pushes” the jewelry out of the body.
• Do not expose your fresh piercing to oral contact or other bodily fluids. Use protective barriers such as condoms, dental dams, and finger cots—even if you are in a monogamous relationship.
• Do not expose your piercing to cosmetics such as make-up, hair styling products, lotion, etc. Cosmetics contain many different ingredients and can cause irritation and infection.
• Eat nutrient-dense meals throughout the day and consider supplementing your diet with Vitamin C (3000 mg in mineral ascorbate form) and Zinc (120 mg for males and 60 mg for females). These supplements are most effective during the first 2-3 weeks of the healing process. If you are very active (e.g., work hard, partake in regular exercise, etc.) extra nutrient-dense meals and an additional multi-vitamin supplement may help keep your immune system working efficiently.
• Drink plenty of fluids. 8-10 glasses of bottled or purified water is a good way to keep your body hydrated.
• Try to get at least 8 hours of sleep a night. This is considered the optimal amount of sleep for the body. This will help your body heal as best as possible. If you are living in a high-stress environment, consider resting as much as you can in your down time.
• Try not to sleep on your new piercing. This cause irritation and prolong the healing process.
• Replace your bedding with clean sets of sheets, blankets, and pillow-cases as much as possible during the healing period.
• Do not leave jewelry out of a piercing for too long! If you must remove your jewelry, either put in a retainer or replace it ASAP. For example, a tongue piercing can close-up in a matter of hours.
• Avoid going into a pool, hot tub, lake, etc. These types of water can be unclean and may induce infection.

Approximate Healing Period