Camila Conti

This is another point we forget to take into consideration. It’s important to choose appropriate clothing which facilitates the access to the part of the body to be tattooed. Appropriate clothing includes dresses or shorts if you are tattooing your legs or a bikini if you’re getting a tattoo on your back, ribs or shoulder. Also take into consideration that tattoo ink has a thick consistency, which means it can stain fabric and rarely comes out after you wash it. So avoid wearing your best clothes to the session!

A tattoo is a small wound caused by a needle that injects ink on a part of the skin called derm. This means that you will have to deal with pain throughout the session. To make the whole process more bearable, here are a few things you can do that will make a difference:

On the night before your appointment, make sure to have a good rest. Your body will naturally try to block out any tattoo pain by releasing adrenaline and endorphins. You’ll have more of these to go around if you’re well-rested. Not having enough sleep can make the session last longer than planned as it may cause discomfort and more movement, which makes things harder for the artist!

Avoid the use of alcohol and drugs on the day before and after your appointment (including the day of the appointment itself). Alcohol, particularly, contains ethylics substances that mix with your blood making it thinner and increases the bleeding. 

Make sure to have a balanced meal at least an hour before your tattoo, this can prevent you from fainting and getting dizzy. Don’t be shy and let the artist know how you are feeling during the process. You can also bring some snacks such as nuts, chocolate or lollipops to keep your sugar levels higher, and of course, lots of water.

If the area to be tattooed it’s too hairy, you can trim the hair the night before your appointment. If not, let the artist do the job before starting the session. This can prevent the skin from getting too sensitive and avoid redness and excessive discomfort.

Everything comes with a price, and in this case, it’s paid with pain. But don’t worry, usually it’s almost the same as a cat scratch but it can last for several hours. Once you accept the pain as a part of this millennial art, try to focus on your breathing, listen to songs you like or even take this time to watch something that relaxes you. The more relaxed you are, the easier it will be to go through this process.

All the inks used are non-toxic, vegan and cruelty free. If you have any concerns about components and brands, please get in contact by email

When you leave the shop with a fresh tattoo, only 50% of the process is done. The other 50% is a result of how you take care of your new baby. The two most common adopted after care are:

1. Cling film:
   After you leave the tattoo shop, leave the cling film for no longer than 2 hours. Your skin will be tender and very sensitive, so be gentle in every step.
   First, wash your hands, make a foam with an antibacterial or neutral soap and carefully wash your tattoo with cold or lukewarm water (never hot!). Let it air dry for a few minutes, then apply a small amount of the recommended cream, just enough to make it shine. Overuse of cream can over saturate the tattoo and cause excess scabbing or the scab to come off prematurely.
   The cling film must be used for one to three days and changed at least three times a day and before going to bed, following the cleaning process above and replaced for a fresh one. You can use any cling film, as long as it’s a new piece to be put on your skin. If you can’t wrap the cling film around the area, you can use micropore tape to keep it in place. If you can’t reach the area, you can ask someone else to help you, as long as they wash their hands very well.
   If the area it’s too swollen, you can make an ice compress and will help to reduce the swelling. After the third to fifth day, you may notice your skin getting a little harder, which will begin to peel. This is completely normal and after it finishes, your tattoo will start to show it’s real colors.
   From this point on, you can start using just moisturizer,twice a day or every time you feel your tattoo too dry. If you get any scab, don’t pick it off! Just keep using the moisturizer and wait until it falls off, otherwise it can damage your tattoo due to the loss of ink. It can take from two to four weeks until your tattoo it’s completely healed.

2. Second skin: for the second skin, the process only differs for the first 5 to 7 days. The artist will help you with the first sheet, which you will keep for 24 hours. To remove easily, put the tattooed area with the second skin applied under warm running water and peel it off carefully.
   Make sure to wash your hands first, then, make a foam with an antibacterial or neutral soap, carefully wash your tattoo and rinse with cold or lukewarm water. Let it air dry for a couple of minutes and apply a new piece of the second skin. You can keep it for no longer than 7 days.
   Whenever removed, follow by using the recommended aftercare cream for two to three weeks. You may see some of the plasma underneath the second skin, which is completely fine. If so, you can remove it following the cleaning information above and change for a new second skin or switch for just using the aftercare cream.
   The second skin is waterproof, breathable and stays in place, protecting your tattoo from rubbing on clothes and bacteria, decreasing the chances of infection.

Obs: be aware that each person reacts differently when it comes to healing. Your artist will guide you to choose what is going to work better in your situation.

Don’t soak your tattoo in water! Avoid going to swimming pools, sea and even bathtubs. This will protect your tattoo from bacteria and irritants in the water.

Avoid long exposures to the sun! Getting a sunburn can damage your fresh tattoo, once it feels almost the same as burning the same spot twice. It not only will be painful, but also can cause flaking and scabs on your fresh piece. If you can’t avoid the exposure to the sun, you can wear loose cotton clothing over the tattoo.

Try not to wear anything too tight that will rub on the tattoo. This may cause scabbing and loss of ink.

Avoid overworking the area during exercises for two weeks, once it can stretch your skin, cause bad healing, and even infections!

Scars can be worked with, but it depends on a few factors such as how old or damaged the injury is. The best thing to do in this situation is to talk with your artist and get some advice on what can be done in your particular case.