FAQ

Here's what you can expect from a normal tattooing procedure:

• The tattoo artist washes their hands with antibacterial soap and water and wear clean fresh gloves.
• The to-be-tattooed area on your body is cleaned and shaved. The area is cleaned again with alcohol or an antiseptic.
• The artist will draw or stencil the design on your skin. A thin layer of ointment such as petroleum jelly may be applied.
• Using a tattoo machine with sterile needles attached, the tattoo artist will begin drawing an outline of the tattoo. The artist may change needles, depending on the design and desired effect. All needles are single-use or sterilized.
• Any blood or fluid is wiped away with a sterile, disposable gauze or cloth.
• When finished, the tattooed area is cleaned once again and saniderm is applied.

You may experience some discomfort. The amount of pain you feel will depend on your pain threshold and other things, including where on your body you're getting the tattoo, the size and number of needles being used.

Follow the instructions the studio gives you for caring for your tattoo. To make sure it heals properly:

• Keep the saniderm on the area for 5 to 7 days, or as directed.
• After 5 to 7 days, remove the saniderm and use your fingers to gently clean the area with soap and lukewarm water. Pat dry. Don’t rub the area.
• Apply A & D ointment, gently, as suggested by your artist. Always make sure that what you use to apply it with is clean and remember do not rub treatment area.
• Avoid touching the tattooed area and don't pick at any scabs that may form.
• Avoid clothes that might stick to the healing tattoo.
• Do not use products that contain AHA’s on the procedure area. (example: glycolic, or lactic acids. Always check your product labelling). As it will fade your pigment colour.
• Wash the tattoo regularly but do not let it soak in water. Showers are fine but avoid swimming and baths until the tattoo is fully healed.
• Keep your tattoo out of the sun until it's fully healed.

Even after it's fully healed, wear a sunscreen with a minimum sun protection factor (SPF) of 30. This not only protects your skin, but can help keep the tattoo from fading.

If you decide to get a tattoo, chances are everything will go as planned. Some people have allergic reactions to the tattoo ink, causing itching, bumps, and rashes that might happen days, weeks, or longer after the tattoo was placed.

If you experience itching, swelling, blistering or any other suspected complication post-procedure stop using product and call your technician immediately. You may be allergic to the after-care product you are using!

If you have excessive redness, swelling, tenderness, elevated temperature, or drainage from the procedure site, contact your physician as the area may be infected and you may need to seek medical attention.

Most tattoos heal at the surface layer within the first couple of weeks, but it may be months before it’s healed completely. Skimping on care can delay the healing process and affect how your tattoo looks in the long term.

Practicing good hygiene is the only way to reduce your risk for infection. Consult a healthcare professional if you experience:

• Skin that’s warm or tender to the touch
• A burning sensation
• Swelling after the first couple of days have passed
• Green or yellow pus
• foul odor

In addition to keeping the tattoo clean, you want to keep it fresh and hydrated. Exposing the tattoo to direct sunlight can cause the colours to fade, so invest in high quality sunscreen or SPF clothing. Dry skin can also cause a tattoo or the ink to look dull.

Tattoos may not be forever, but they’re pretty close. Although many people can and do get tattoos successfully removed, there’s no guarantee that these methods will always work. It all depends on the tattoo size, the type and colour of ink used, your skin type, and how deep the artist went with their tools. Removal is also expensive and often more painful than getting the tattoo itself.

Laser treatment is the best option for tattoo removal. The laser sends short zaps of light through the top layers of your skin, with the laser's energy aimed at specific pigment colours in the tattoo ink. It can take several treatments over months, and results are not guaranteed. Treatment can cause darkening or lightening of the skin, and scarring.

If you're thinking about getting a tattoo, you should understand that tattoos are permanent. Tattoo removal is difficult, expensive, and may not completely remove the tattoo.

If you have a medical problem such as heart disease, allergies, diabetes, skin problems like eczema or psoriasis, a weak immune system, or a bleeding problem, talk to your doctor before getting a tattoo. Also, if you get keloids (an overgrowth of scar tissue) you probably should not get a tattoo.