Contents
Let`s start with tattoos, of course! 🙂
Before you get tattooed, make sure you have had something to eat and are well rested. Do not drink alcohol before being tattooed.
Your tattoo will take between 1 and three weeks to heal. It will feel slightly tender for the first few days. A light crust of skin will develop on the surface, which will gradually flake off.
During this period, the color in your tattoo may look uneven and pale – this is perfectly normal, and nothing to worry about.
After the last of the crust of skin has flaked off, your new tattoo will have a shiny, tight surface – almost a ‘waxy’ look. This look will leave, and your skin will return to its normal texture and appearance.
Tattoos take time to heal, which means there is a slight risk of a possible infection if proper hygiene is not followed.
Keeping your tattoo clean can prevent most infections. After your tattoo is completed, you will be given an Aftercare sheet (comprising the points noted here).
Immediately after your tattoo is finished, fluid may seep from it. This is why we cover your fresh tattoo. You may experience very slight bruising or swelling. However this will only be minor. You may also experience itching as your tattoo heals. All these things are perfectly normal, and nothing to worry about. (remember – if it itches, don’t scratch it!)
A few people may experience a rash due to ointments they have applied to their tattoo while it is healing.
If a rash develops, immediately – and gently – wash your tattoo in cold water and gently blot it dry. Do not use the same brand/type of ointment on your healing tattoo again.
Keep your tattoo out of the sun while it is healing.
Exposure to the sun is terrible for all tattoos, especially when they are healing. This is because exposure to the sun can – in sporadic cases – lead to an allergic reaction or sensitivity to a particular pigment. However, this complication is infrequent. There is no risk of developing an allergic reaction or sensitivity to a specific dye once your tattoo is healed; however exposure to the sun is very damaging to symbols – so always use sun block on them.
General Information – Piercings
We do not use piercing guns – these are unsafe for piercing. They inflict blunt trauma force to the body – they try and punch a hole through the body part, which causes far more tissue trauma than piercing done by the needle. Also, piercing guns cannot be adequately steralised, so there is a higher risk of infection. We always penetrate by needle only.
Pain is, of course, relative to the individual, but piercing is far less painful than people think. Your state of mind can influence the amount of discomfort or pain you might feel when being pierced, and it is our experience that most people feel worse when anticipating how painful it is going to be than during the piercing itself! And while the piercing procedure itself lasts mere seconds, you will have your new piercing for years.
All people’s bodies are different, so piercing has to be done to suit each.
Your new piercing may not be in the same position as that of someone else who is pierced in the same place.
You may feel slightly light-headed or dizzy in the few minutes after your piercing – this is not unusual and nothing to worry about. (Ensuring that you have a meal in the few hours before your piercing can lessen this sensation.) Stay seated for a while and take some deep breaths – we won’t rush you out the door as soon as your piercing is done. You may feel mildly nauseous for a minute or two – again, this is not unusual and is nothing to worry about. However, your body reacts to being pierced, don’t feel embarrassed. People’s bodies do sometimes experience very mild reactions like these.
You should expect some redness and minor swelling around the new piercing for a few days.
The area may also feel slightly warm to the touch. This is normal, and should not last for more than a week or so.
Some people have worries about their piercing becoming infected. The most common cause of infection is dirt and bacteria, so the golden rule is: KEEP YOUR PIERCING CLEAN. Always maintaining good hygiene practice (such as still washing your hands thoroughly before touching your piercing) will help to prevent infection from occurring.
After being pierced, the body will begin to seal the opening and will defend itself with white blood cells and your natural healing factors. New skin can proliferate when a piercing gets protection from irritation and infection. The better care you take of yourself, the quicker your piercing will heal.
Here are the approximate healing times for piercings in different body parts:
BODY PART – HEALING TIME
Ear lobe 6 to 8 weeks
Ear cartilage four months to 1 year
Eyebrow 6 to 8 weeks
Nostril 2 to 4 months
Nasal septum 6 to 8 months
Nasal bridge – 8 to 10 weeks
Tongue 4 weeks
Lip 2 to 3 months
Nipple 3 to 6 months
Navel 4 months to 1 year
Female genitalia 4 to 10 weeks
Male genitalia four weeks to 6 months
These are approximate guidelines only – no two people will heal at the same rate. Therefore it is not always appropriate to compare prices of healing between different people. So don’t worry if someone else tells you your piercing is healing faster / slower / differently to theirs – it inevitably will, as people’s bodies react to the whole process differently.
Aftercare Taking care of your new tattoo
To ensure the best possible results of your new tattoo, please follow these guidelines on taking care of it:
- On the day of your tattoo: Remove the bandage in two hours, then wash the tattoo in cold water and gently blot it dry.
- Take care not to scrub or rub the tattoo.
- Do not put on another bandage. For the first three days: Twice a day apply a thin coating of ointment (e.g., Savlon), rub it in gently and wipe off the excess.
- A few people may experience a rash due to ointments they have applied to their tattoo while it is healing.
- If a rash develops, immediately – and gently – wash your tattoo in cold water and gently blot it dry.
- Do not use the same brand/type of ointment on your healing tattoo again. Wear loose clothing over the tattoo to keep it clean and dry.
- Keep your tattoo out of the sun while it is healing.
- Exposure to the sun is terrible for all tattoos, especially when they are healing.
- For the first two weeks: Avoid swimming or soaking in the bath or shower.
- You may use hand lotion to relieve the itching as the tattoo heals.
- As noted above, if you develop a rash, wash your tattoo gently and discontinue use of that particular lotion.
- Make sure that you let the scab heal, and the dead layer of skin underneath fall off naturally.
- Again, keep your tattoo out of the sun while it is healing.
- Afterward: If you are in the sun, always use sun block on your tattoo.
- If you want it to stay as good as new, NEVER PICK or SCRATCH a healing tattoo.
Taking care of your new piercing – general body piercing aftercare
Body piercing today is becoming more and more popular. Piercings are highly attractive and satisfying. Every care has been taken to ensure that you have been pierced in a safe and sterile environment. The aftercare of your piercing contributes a great deal to the healing process and is of the utmost importance.
Care of your piercing:
- Always clean your hands thoroughly before touching the piercing.
- Clean your piercing twice daily with saline solution (salt water), removing any dried matter surrounding the piercing.
- Once you have cleaned the piercing, rotate the jewelry a few times.
- Dry the piercing with a dry, clean cotton bud.
Things to avoid: Avoid catching or tugging your piercing.
- Avoid swimming for six weeks. Avoid getting residues such as shampoo, shower gel, soap, etc. into the piercing. If this happens, rinse thoroughly with water.
- Never use full-strength solutions such as hydrogen peroxide, tea tree oil, or Savlon.
- These can severely irritate the area.
- Never use creams on your piercing, as the cream will clog the piercing.
- Avoid hot drinks for 24 hours.
- Avoid solid foods for 2-4 days. Avoid/cut down on smoking, alcohol, spicy foods, etc.
- Rinse your mouth with diluted mouthwash (2 parts water / 1 part mouthwash) such as Listerine or salt water: first thing in the morning and last thing at night. After eating, ensuring there is no food trapped within the piercing.
- Change to smaller barbell after approximately 2-3 weeks, ensuring all the swelling has gone down.
- Good oral hygiene should be continued once the piercing has healed to keep it healthy.
