Consent form
Please bring a copy of your ID with you when you plan to be tattooed. You MUST be 18 years of age or older to receive a tattoo, no exceptions, and you must have a valid form of identification with you at the time of your tattoo. You may review and fill out the on-line consent form (at the link below or download the PDF) before your appointment or when you arrive.
Tattoo Prep
One Week to Day Before:
Sleep: Get a good night’s rest
Hydrate: The more hydrated you are the better condition your skin will be in for tattooing and healing. Continue drinking water the day of and make sure to bring a bottle to the studio with you.
Moisturize: Purchase a fragrance-free body lotion. Use it on the area to be tattooed a few times a day. This conditions the skin, giving the smoothest canvas possible for your artist to work with and will promote good healing. Continue doing this up until you go to the tattoo studio for your tattoo.
Day of Tattoo:
Shower: Make sure to shower before coming for your tattoo. Dirt, sweat, and dead skin cells build up on your body throughout the day, washing these off help reduce the chance of them getting into the tattoo and causing infection.
Eat: It is important to have a balanced meal that includes protein. Getting a tattoo causes trauma to your body, you need to have the energy reserves to draw from to keep your blood sugar from dropping and minimize shaking.
Clothing: Wear appropriate and comfortable clothing. Dress in layers. If you are getting leg, thigh or hip tattoos wear or bring shorts. If you are getting arm, shoulder or upper back tattoos wear or bring a tank top. If you are getting a full back piece bring a shirt that can be unbuttoned/unzipped and worn backwards for warm or modesty if desired.
Snacks: Bring some healthy snacks with you, such as nuts or protein bars. If your blood sugar happens to drop it’s important to have something to bring it back up. Try to avoid sugary snack during the tattoo as it will make your sugar spike and crash.
Comfort: Especially with longer tattoos, it’s helpful to bring some creature comforts with you. That might be headphones with music or an audiobook. Feel free to bring your own pillow or small blanket if that makes you feel more comfortable.
Aftercare
If plastic wrap and/or gauze was applied:
Remove the wrapping within a few hours. Make sure your hands are clean before getting started. Use warm water and fragrance-free soap to cleanse the area. Rinse well before lightly patting the skin dry.
Apply a layer of moisturizing antibiotic ointment, such as Aquaphor. Cleanse and apply ointment 3 times a day for the next 6 days.
Switch to gentle fragrance-free body lotion and continue to wash your tattoo once or twice a day and apply lotion for 2-4 weeks.
If “second skin” adhesive film was applied:
After 24 hours remove the film. Make sure your hands are clean before getting started. Use warm water and fragrance-free soap to cleanse the area. Rinse well before lightly patting the skin dry.
If given second sheet of film apply to clean, dry skin. You may keep the second layer on for an additional six days. Follow the same procedure to remove.
Apply a thin layer of moisturizing antibiotic ointment, such as Aquaphor. Cleanse and apply ointment 3 times a day for the next 6 days.
Switch to gentle fragrance-free body lotion and continue to wash your tattoo once or twice a day and apply lotion for 2-4 weeks.
If you notice redness around the second skin (not the tattoo), remove it immediately, gently wash, and lotion.
The first day you might notice fluid oozing from the tattoo. This is blood, plasma, and some extra ink. Your skin will also be red and sore. It might feel slightly warm to the touch. Any redness should start to fade after a few days. You might notice some light scabbing over the tattoo. If your tattoo scabs a bit or develops hard layers, don’t worry, it’s normal. But never pick, scratch, or peel your tattoo. You could get an infection or remove the color.
Avoid swimming and the sun for about 4 weeks. You want to keep your tattoo dry and out of direct sun to give it the best chance to heal properly. Do not use any exfoliants, scrubs or sponges on the tattoo until fully healed.
If you think your tattoo is infected or isn’t healing properly, see your doctor.
If you have any questions please contact us.
Black Candle Tattoo 