BELOW you will FIND OUR GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS TO CARE FOR YOUR NEW TATTOO OR PIERCING. ALL OF OUR PROCEDURES ARE DONE WITH THE UPMOST ATTENTION TO CURRENT STANDARDS OF CLEANLINESS AND STERILIZATION, including the use of brand-new sterile single-use needles for everything. The GUIDELINES below are here to help inform and remind all current and potential clients, but for specific questions or inquiries feel free to contact us during any of our normal business hours.

TATTOO AFTERCARE:

-Remove bandage after one hour and wash gently with mild unscented soap

-Pat dry with soft towel and air dry about 10 mins

-Apply a thin layer of the A&D ointment or Aquaphor

-Continue applying the ointment in thin layers as the tattoo dries out for 24-48 hours

DO NOT REBANDAGE

-The healing process is a very important part of keeping your tattoo looking great

-After the 24-48 hours switch to a NON FRAGRANCE lotion. (A&D does not allow the tattoo to breath during the healing process and can delay or hinder healing.)

-Keep the tattoo moist by applying lotion when the tattoo is dry for approximately 2 to 3 weeks

DO NOT soak your tattoo in water (pools, hot tubs, bath tubs, ocean, etc...)

DO NOT use petroleum jelly, bacitracin, neosporine or any antibiotic ointment on your tattoo

DO NOT expose your tattoo to direct sun light during the healing process (including tanning beds)

DO NOT pick or scratch any scabbed or peeling skin

Remember- the sun destroys tattoos over time. Always use a high quality sunscreen during outdoor activities to keep your tattoo looking its best.

PIERCING AFTERCARE:

Clean your piercing 3 times a day for the next 3-4 weeks using H2Ocean spray. With freshly washed hands, spray thoroughly onto some q-tips and gently clean any debris off both sides of your piercing. You may gently move the piercing back and forth ONCE, and allow to air dry. Do not turn or twist. Do not sleep on your piercing, and avoid snagging it. Swelling, redness and or bruising is normal in the first 3-5 days, apply ice to the area to reduce swelling or discomfort as needed. Contact us if a problem persists.

Be careful not to snag your new piercing when drying your face with a towel, using a washcloth/loofah in the shower, long hair getting caught, face mask straps getting caught, car seatbelts, lace or netted clothing etc.

Do NOT apply any makeup on or directly around your new piercing.
Gently using a soft ice pack on the area with one layer of barrier (ideally a clean paper towel, one time use) can help with discomfort and swelling, as well as taking Advil as needed (if it is normally fine for you to take).
For ear piercings, using a travel neck pillow while sleeping is especially helpful; you can put your ear in the hole to sleep on your side without putting pressure on the piercing.

Changing Jewelry: Everyone’s bodies heal at a different rate; wait at least these times before changing jewelry. If your piercing still feels swollen or irritated, or is still producing crust daily, wait longer. Extended swelling or irritation in cartilage piercings is common.

2-3 months: lobes, helix, nose, conch, flat, eyebrow, lips, tongue.

3-4 months: nipples, rook, daith, tragus, septum, bridge.

6 months: industrial and belly.

Changing the jewelry prematurely will increase your chances of complications (rejection, inflammation, infection). Many piercings require the jewelry to be downsized after 1-3 months.

Almost all piercings do need to be downsized (replacing your initial jewelry with a shorter bar). You are pierced with a longer bar to accommodate swelling. Leaving extra length AFTER the swelling is gone makes your piercing more prone to being snagged, and can warp and change the angle of the piercing. If this happens, it cannot be reversed and might require removal.
To ensure the long term health and comfort of your piercing, downsizing is recommended usually around the 1-3 month mark depending on the piercing. It is best to come in and have one of our piercers do this swap for you as the piercing is not yet healed and requires extra gentle care to not cause any irritation.
Wait slightly longer before putting a hoop in a piercing that was not originally pierced with a hoop. Putting curved jewelry through a straight hole puts extra pressure on the entry and exit points, so if the piercing is not completely healed all the way through, irritation bumps, irritation, swelling, setbacks in healing time among other issues can occur.

Nose piercing: Do not apply any makeup or skincare directly around the piercing. You may wear a spot band-aid over the piercing at night only for the next 2 weeks to prevent it getting caught/falling out.

Be sure that the adhesive part of the bandaid is NOT touching the jewelry or directly on the hole of the piercing; only the white cloth part. The adhesive being directly on/in your piercing will be hard to get off, hold onto dirt and could cause irritation. If the bandaid adhesive is irritating your surrounding skin; you may also cut a small piece of non-stick gauze and adhere with paper tape.
Irritation bumps are more common on nose piercings because they tend to get snagged on things more easily. Be especially careful drying your face with a towel, using a washcloth/loofah in the shower, long hair getting caught, wearing face masks etc.
For septum piercings, it is acceptable to heal it “flipped up” (hidden) or “flipped down” (visible), but try not to switch constantly between the two; leave it one way as much as possible while healing, and if you must flip it, make sure it is sparkling clean beforehand. If there is crust on it, it can rub on the hole or get pulled inside and cause discomfort and irritation.

Belly Piercing: Wait at least 6 months before changing your piercing. Avoid wearing any tight clothing or high waisted pants over the piercing.

Please see us if you notice any red lines on your piercing, or any changes in the depth of the bar (ie it looks closer to the surface of your skin or you see more of the bar than was originally visible).

Lip/Tongue piercing: Follow above instructions for cleaning outside the mouth. For inside the mouth, Mix 1 teaspoon of sea salt and non-alcoholic Listerine into a half empty 16oz bottle of water. Rinse with this every time something passes through your mouth that IS NOT water for the next 2 weeks. This includes eating, drinking, smoking and kissing. Most oral piercings can be downsized at 2-4 weeks.

Moderate to significant swelling is to be expected in the first few days. Chewing ice chips or drinking slushies can help with comfort and swelling, as well as taking Advil as needed (if it is normally fine for you to take).
We strongly recommend to downsize your jewelry to a shorter bar at the 2-4 week mark to help keep the piercing healthy and comfortable in your mouth.
If you notice any specific foods are irritating the piercing, don’t continue to eat them. For some people, this can be spicy or very acidic foods, very hot temperature wise, or dairy.

Irritation Bumps (keloids): Irritation bumps are caused by trauma/irritation to a piercing: getting it snagged, sleeping on it, etc. They are not dangerous, are not infections, and will go away over time if the cause of irritation is addressed. The longer they are there, the longer they take to go away. If extremely stubborn, you may dilute tea tree oil with water 1:2 (oil:water) and apply to the area once a day for 3-5 days.

Irritation bumps will not completely go away unless the original source of irritation is addressed, ie not continuing to snag the piercing, not continuing to sleep on it, etc.
Sometimes a bump can also develop from being too rough when cleaning. Especially if using a qtip, be as gentle as possible wile still removing build up. Spinning the qtip itself when cleaning can help to get buildup off.
For ear piercings, using a travel neck pillow while sleeping is especially helpful; you can put your ear in the hole to sleep on your side without putting pressure on the piercing.

NO SWIMMING for two weeks after you get your new piercing, all bodies of water contain bacteria and pose a risk of infection.

Sea salt solution: mix 1 teaspoon of sea salt into a new 16oz of bottle of water.

Microdermal & Surface Bar Care

Clean with H2Ocean 3 times a day for the next 2 weeks, and longer as needed. Spray directly on piercing, and angle the stream to go underneath the top(s), then dab dry with a clean tissue. Do not use any q-tips to clean it or try to stick anything underneath the dermal/bar top, and do not move it (no twisting, turning etc). In the shower, allow plain warm water to run over the piercing. This will help loosen any buildup gently.

Please tighten the balls/ends on your jewelry daily to make sure they are securely screwed on.

Wait at least 2-4 months before changing the jewelry top.

The first two weeks is the most risky for lifting; keep an eye on it and give us a call or stop by if you notice any changes in depth.

No swimming for 2 weeks after you get your new piercing.

Microdermals: Keep dermal covered with bandaids 24hr a day for first two weeks. Bandaids should be in an “x” criss-cross over the dermal. Use gentle pressure when applying the bandaids to push down the dermal and hold it flat against your skin. Apply fresh bandaids each time you clean it, after a shower, or if they become soiled.

Surface Bars: Do not apply bandaids to your piercing. Follow all other instructions listed.

Do not apply any makeup around the piercing; and try to minimize applying any other product as well, ie moisturizer, sunscreen, etc.
Be sure that the adhesive part of the bandaid is NOT touching the jewelry or directly on the hole of the piercing; only the white cloth part. The adhesive being directly on/in your piercing will be hard to get off, hold onto dirt and could cause irritation. If the bandaid adhesive is irritating your surrounding skin; you may also cut a small piece of non-stick gauze and adhere with paper tape.

AFTERCARE

TATTOO AFTERCARE:

PIERCING AFTERCARE:

Be careful not to snag your new piercing when drying your face with a towel, using a washcloth/loofah in the shower, long hair getting caught, face mask straps getting caught, car seatbelts, lace or netted clothing etc.

Do NOT apply any makeup on or directly around your new piercing.

Gently using a soft ice pack on the area with one layer of barrier (ideally a clean paper towel, one time use) can help with discomfort and swelling, as well as taking Advil as needed (if it is normally fine for you to take).

For ear piercings, using a travel neck pillow while sleeping is especially helpful; you can put your ear in the hole to sleep on your side without putting pressure on the piercing.

Irritation bumps are more common on nose piercings because they tend to get snagged on things more easily. Be especially careful drying your face with a towel, using a washcloth/loofah in the shower, long hair getting caught, wearing face masks etc.

Please see us if you notice any red lines on your piercing, or any changes in the depth of the bar (ie it looks closer to the surface of your skin or you see more of the bar than was originally visible).

Moderate to significant swelling is to be expected in the first few days. Chewing ice chips or drinking slushies can help with comfort and swelling, as well as taking Advil as needed (if it is normally fine for you to take).

We strongly recommend to downsize your jewelry to a shorter bar at the 2-4 week mark to help keep the piercing healthy and comfortable in your mouth.

If you notice any specific foods are irritating the piercing, don’t continue to eat them. For some people, this can be spicy or very acidic foods, very hot temperature wise, or dairy.

Irritation bumps will not completely go away unless the original source of irritation is addressed, ie not continuing to snag the piercing, not continuing to sleep on it, etc.

Sometimes a bump can also develop from being too rough when cleaning. Especially if using a qtip, be as gentle as possible wile still removing build up. Spinning the qtip itself when cleaning can help to get buildup off.

For ear piercings, using a travel neck pillow while sleeping is especially helpful; you can put your ear in the hole to sleep on your side without putting pressure on the piercing.

Do not apply any makeup around the piercing; and try to minimize applying any other product as well, ie moisturizer, sunscreen, etc.