Everyone in this industry will have different philisophies and different advice to give you on how you should take care of your tattoo. So, we've taken some of the most important tattoo tips and put them together for you in a list.

• Sunblock - After a tattoo is healed, apply a high SPF sunblock to keep the colours bright and beautiful.
• Lotion - Once a tattoo is "healed" the are is still somewhat dry. Applying lotion on a regular basis will do your tattoo wonders.
• Itching - Never pick or scratch at a healing tattoo. This will cause your tattoo to form colourless patches. A light slap will get rid of the itching sensation.
• Drinking - Don't drink alchohol 48 hours prior to getting tattoed. This will thin out your blood weakening your system. Caffiene, acetecylic acid (Tylenol, Asperin, Ibuprofin) and anti-coagulants will also have the same affect on your blood.
• Eating - A good meal before you get tattoed is always a good idea.

It is normal for your piercing to be tender or itchy for a few weeks and it is also possible that your piercing may bleed for a few days. Initially, the piercing site may be swollen and red as well as have a slight bit of bruising.

For a period of time, you will notice some discharge around your piercing. It should be clear to whitish color. It is your body’s lymphatic fluid and it will continue to come to the surface for the entire healing period.

With the discharge, you may notice a red ring appear around the opening of your piercing. Although it doesn’t look the way you want it to, it is very normal and part of the healing process.

Jewelry should not be removed or changed out during the initial healing period. So called “body jewelry” sold in malls or retail stores are more often than not low quality and an inappropriate size for your piercing. Remember, you are not buying a T-shirt rather a piece of jewelry you are going to be putting inside your body. When you wish to have a “new look” or want different jewelry for your piercing, ask your piercer, it is their job to help you and it can save your piercing as well as money and disappointment.

Your piercer is also able to help you with removing your jewelry temporarily. Retainers can be made for just about any type of piercing and is much safer and healthier alternative than forcing your jewelry back in. It is also no problem to permanently remove your piercing.

Touching your piercing with unwashed hands is the fasted way to get an infection as well as irritate your piercing which also increases your chances of developing scar tissue. SO NO TOUCHY TOUCHY!

Any clothing, pillow cases, hats etc should be frequently washes or changed to reduce your chances of infection. If your piercing is constantly under stress from hats, belts, clothing etc or is constantly being played with, it will drastically slow down the healing time.

Remember, cleaning your piercing doesn’t heal it, your body does, so eating we,, getting enough sleep and taking appropriate vitamins will help.

Cleaning

We will provide you with saline to clean your piercing. Saline solution is a mixture of non-iodized sea salt and water (approximately 1 teaspoon of salt per 1 liter of water). Saline is free from any additives and is so mild you can put it in your eye.

DO NOT USE: Rubbing alcohol, peroxide, iodine, hibitane, ear care solution (bioseptic), witch hazel, tea tree oil, Epsom/table salt or polysporin. The use of these products can lead to chemical irritations, dry flaky skin and infection like symptoms.

In the event that you want/need to use something else to clean your piercing with, please call first or come by, and a piercer will provide you with some safe alternatives. Getting stuck in a situation where you have nothing to clean your piercing, which does sometimes happen, contact lens solution can be used as long as the solution doesn’t have any additives. If you don’t have contact lens solution, water is your next best option.

Your cleaning should be done twice a day, everyday for the entire healing time. To clean your piercing:

• Make sure your hands are freshly washed before touching your piercing.
• Heat water in a plastic disposable cut to a hot but tolerable temperature.
• Place your piercing directly into the hot water and soak your piercing for at least 5 minutes but the longer the better. Dry with gauze or paper towel. Face clothes or towels trap bacteria.
• Feel free to use paper towels or Q-tips on any crusties left behind after you finish soaking (except on cartilage)
• Follow with Saline (which we provide)

To make/use the saline:

• Fill the red cap up with non-iodized sea salt and pour the salt into the bottle.(we supply these)
• Fill the bottle up with water and give it a shake (the warmer the water is, the better it will dissolve)
• Holding the bottle away, squeeze the saline onto your piercing while gently  moving your piercing (about 4-5 times)
• Use one half bottle per cleaning (1 full bottle per day)
• Once a week clean out your saline bottle with rubbing alcohol or peroxide, rinse and allow to dry

In the first few days of healing your piercing, your jewelry might not want to move. That’s okay! DON’T FORCE IT. Either continue hot soaking or just leave it until your next cleaning. Cleaning your piercing should always be done after your regular routine of showering, shaving, doing hair/cosmetics as these hot soaks have many purposes and benefits such as removing product that accidentally gets on your piercing, it also increases blood flow to the area to aid with healing and it loosens crusties making the jewelry easier to move.

Select shampoo, conditioner, body soap and lotion to use for the entire healing time. This will allow your body to get used to the additives that will be coming into contact with your piercing. Staying consistent with your products can make it easier to detect the cause of a problem if one should arise.

The products you use should be pH balanced and be low in alcohol, moisturizers and dyes. Do not allow you’re piercing to come into contact with cosmetics, lotions, perfumes, oils or bubble baths as they are capable of causing extreme irritation. When using hairspray, cover your piercing with a paper towel and remember to always follow your normal hygiene regime with a hot soak and use of the saline.

Migration
Some piercings are not permanent. Your body can slowly push the jewelry closer and closer to the surface of the skin. If you think this may be happening to your piercing, ask a piercer for their opinion. Allowing your body to push the jewelry out all the way will result in a larger scar than if you just take it out.

Infections
Infections are caused by contact with bacteria, fungi or other living pathogens. Piercing infections can usually be traced  to one of the following activities:

• Touching the piercing with unwashed hands, or letting someone else touch your piercing.
• Oral/sexual contact with your piercing.
• Consistent stress on your piercing (hats, clothes, belts etc)
• Allowing other peoples bodily fluids to contact the piercing.
• Contact with hair, cosmetics, oils, infrequently washed clothing or bedding or other agents.
• Submerging it in a pool, hot tub, ocean or other body of water.
• Inappropriate jewelry.
• Excessive cleaning or harsh cleaning agents on your piercing.
• Low immune system.

It is quite easy to tell if you have an infection. The most obvious sign of infection is an excessive yellowish/greenish discharge coming out from the piercing. Other signs include:

• Increased swelling or redness
• A sensation of heat at the piercing site
• Pain (Throbbing or spreading)

A mid infection can usually be cleared up easily. If you suspect a mild infection, DO NOT remove the jewelry as it shuts down the area where the infection can drain from. Trapping it inside your body can lead to an abscess or excessive scar tissue.

First increase your hot soaks up to three times a day, then contact your piercer and they will be able to tell how to get rid of any problems. The longer the problems are left, the harder they are to fix. We recommend that you come in or call before going to any doctors or medi-centres as we will help you rid the problem more quickly; doctors often recommend jewelry removal and prescriptions for antibiotics when both are usually not necessary.

People who work in the body piercing industry should always be happy to help you out with any problems or give any advice. You should always be comfortable asking ANY question you wish, and never made to feel dumb by doing so.

The only stupid question is the one you don’t ask.  Knowledge is powerful!!!

 

• No Q-tips or Kleenex on piercing the cotton fibers and dust can get caught up inside of your piercing.
• Pillow cases must be changed at least twice a week.
• Hair is a major source of dirt and produces oils that can lead to problems in your piercing. Please keep your hair off your piercing.
• Make-up must be kept off and away from your piercing, as it will irritate it.
• Hairspray....your piercing must be covered with a paper towel, spray your hair and leave the room. Do your best to schedule your cleaning after you do your hair.
• Cartilage piercing are prone to scar tissue called a hypertrophic scar. It is a fluid pocket that may look like a small blister or pimple around or to one side of the piercing. It is caused by stress or trauma, it is not permanent. Common causes are the use of Q-tips, harsh cleansers, over cleaning, hitting or sleeping on your piercing. Should you suspect your piercing is developing this scar tissue, please leave your jewelry in and contact your piercer as soon as possible.

What to Expect

Your piercing will most likely swell. This swelling can last from a few days in a lip to a few weeks in a labret piercing. You can keep swelling to a minimum by using ice. An anti-inflammatory can also be used.

Aftercare

To keep you're piercing clean, rinse with an alcohol free mouthwash. Recommended mouthwashes: Biotene, Alcohol Free Oral B, or Dr. Tom's Natural. These can be found at most drug stores. You should be rinsing for 2-3 min. after anything other than water, but not more often than every couple of hours. This is of course is in addition to your soaks followed by saline twice a day.

Keep It Comfortable

In the first few days or weeks when your piercing is swollen things like smoking, playing with your jewelry and excessive alcohol consumption can irritate your piercing and prolong swelling. These should all be kept to a minimum. If you find that your jewelry is irritating your gums or that you are biting it there are alternatives that we can offer that will help. Just ask your piercer as we are more than happy to help.

What to Avoid

Playing with your jewelry as this irritates the piercing, can prolong swelling and cause unwanted scar tissue. Spicy, citrus and salty foods will not only irritate your piercing but will sting quite a bit. No beer or wine for two weeks. Other people's bodily fluids, these include sweat, saliva, blood and sexual fluids. Another person's fluid can lead to an infection. Disease transmission is also possible, a fresh piercing is an open line to your blood steam.

Infections

Infections inside your mouth are very rare. This is because we all have natural bacteria in our mouths to help keep them clean. If you do notice yellow or greenish type discharges accompanied by pain and swelling, please call us. We will help you get rid of the problem quickly. Please note that in our experience antibiotics and removal of jewelry are both not necessary. Removing your jewelry in the midst of a problem is generally the last thing you want to do, as we must allow for drainage to occur. %0D%0AIt is our hope that you have confidence in us that we are the first people you contact in the event you have any concerns.