Tattoo preparation

You must have a valid government issued PHOTO ID, and if under the age of 18, you and your parent/guardian must both have a valid government issued photo ID with matching last names and addresses. A driver’s license, temporary ID, passport, or military ID are all acceptable. No photos of IDs, no school IDs.

  • Avoid blood thinners (alcohol, Coffee, Etc.)

  • Moisturize the area being tattooed

  • Don’t shave the area being tattooed
    if you end up cutting the skin or end up with razor burn, I cannot tattoo the affected area. I know you want to help, but sometimes it does more harm than help.

  • Wear loose clothing that you don’t care about
    Make it loose and make sure I can easily access wherever your tattoo is going. If you don’t know what to wear for a specific area of your body, shoot me a message. The shop is very open, but I do have a room divider if needed for your comfort.

  • I only allow one guest

  • Eat a substantial meal before your appointment, stay hydrated, and be well rested
    You are allowed to bring a drink and a small snack with you and I encourage it, especially with larger sessions.

  • NO NUMBING CREAM

  • No tanning/prolonged sun exposure/Self-tanner

  • Earbuds/headphones are recommended. I don’t do much talking (typically) while working as I like to focus on the tattoo. Our shop is quite busy and causes many distractions, so I may be wearing headphones myself to help with this. You may also bring a device to watch movies, or a book if you'd like.

  • You may bring a CLEAN pillow or blanket. I do have pillows available to be used during your tattoo.

Aftercare

  • With most color tattoos, I will use Recovery Derm-Shield OR Tattoo Armor

  • With any healing process, do not pick or scratch at your tattoo.

  • No submerging in water, swimming or baths. No tanning or prolonged sun-exposure

  • Be careful not to bump on dirty equipment or furniture.

  • Do not let anyone touch your fresh tattoo

  • Keep your pets away from your fresh tattoo

  • The tattoo will be considered an open wound for at least 2 weeks, but will not be fully healed for about 4-8 weeks. You should be extremely cautious with your tattoo during this time, treating it as an open wound.

Recovery Derm-Shield

  • Leave the wrap on for 4-6 days, no longer than 6 days
    It may come off on its own before that, and if that happens, it’s not going to hurt the tattoo. You can come in and I will re-apply a new piece, or you can follow the directions under the standard healing instructions.

  • Pro-Tip: Take the wrap off in the shower under running water

  • Wash well with warm water and an unscented anti-bacterial hand soap
    Make sure to remove any built up plasma/blood/ink that is on your tattoo. Use only your finger tips. Do not scrub the tattooed area with a wash cloth or loofa. Pat dry with a clean towel or paper towel.

  • Moisturize!
    I recommend an unscented, white hand lotion such as Lubriderm or Gold Bond. Rub it onto your tattoo with clean hands, and make sure it is rubbed in well. If you choose to use Aquaphor, use for no more than 72 hours, then switch to a lotion.

Standard Healing

  • Leave wrap on for an hour
    This keeps your new tattoo from getting any germs or bacteria on it until you are able to clean it. Do not re-wrap the tattoo once taking the wrap off.

  • Wash with warm water and unscented, anti-bacterial hand soap
    Make sure your hands are clean when washing your tattoos. Remove any built up plasma/blood/ink that is on your tattoo. Use only your finger tips. Do not scrub the tattooed area with a wash cloth or loofa. Pat dry with a clean towel or paper towel. Wash at least 3 times a day and whenever your tattoo gets dirty.

  • Moisturize!
    I recommend an unscented, white hand lotion such as Lubriderm or Gold Bond. Rub it onto your tattoo with clean hands, and make sure it is rubbed in well. If you choose to use Aquaphor, use for no more than 72 hours, then switch to a lotion.

Keep Moisturizing


Your skin is your biggest organ.
To make sure your tattoo stays bright and beautiful, keep it moisturized even after your tattoo is healed.
Exfoliating the skin to remove any dead skin over your healed tattoo can also help to keep your tattoo looking great.

You DO NOT need to buy some $100 jar of over-advertised cream that magically “makes your tattoo look better”
The healthier your skin, the better your tattoos will look and age.
Keep your tattoo out of the sun.
UV rays will cause the ink to break down which will make your tattoo fade quicker.

Tattoos are a luxury. You’re spending money on something you are going to have for the rest of your life. Taking care of your tattoo both while it’s healing and after is extremely important to ensure that it looks great for as long as possible.

Touch ups are free as long as you reach out about the area needing touched up within 3 months of receiving the tattoo. From there we will schedule a time to touch up your tattoo. Tattoos may take up to 8 weeks to fully heal. Touch ups are not done before those 8 weeks. Touch ups can also be done when getting another tattoo done by me.

Going over a tattoo years after it is healed is not considered a touch up and you will be charged for this service.