Appointment Prep
Please keep in mind handpoking takes time: if you're not sure what to expect you can check out my Instagram captions where I nearly always include dimensions and poking time (this does not include the time to get settled, stenciled, take breaks, photograph your tat, bandage you etc.). Please do not schedule anything after your appointment- rushing a tattoo is no good! If you're curious how long it may take, ask me and I can offer an estimate.
I CANNOT TATTOO YOU IF…
you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
you have taken antibiotics within the 10 days leading up to your appointment.
the area you want tattooed has an active skin condition including acne, open wounds/ healing scars (scars must be at least 2 years old to tattoo), psoriasis, sunburn, rash, or any sort of infection.
Please talk to your doctor if you are on blood thinners and/or if you are immuno-suppressed.
TATTOO PREP BEST PRACTICES:
Sleep well and avoid excessive drinking / partying the night before your tattoo.
Eat a substantial meal sometime in the two hours before your appointment and bring water/snacks to your appointment.
Wear comfortable clothing that makes the area we’ll tattoo readily accessible and that you don’t mind possibly staining with ink.
If you do take a painkiller ahead of time make sure it is one that doesn’t thin the blood: Tylenol (Acetaminophen) and/or Aleve (Naproxen) are your best options. AVOID Aspirin and Ibuprofen.
Caffeine increases your sensitivity to pain (don’t drink too much on tattoo day)
Moisturizing your skin daily in the week leading up to your appointment will improve how your skin takes the ink. Exfoliate weekly as well if we’re working on rough skin, skin prone to ingrown hairs, or keratosis pilaris. Do NOT apply a lot of moisturizer on the day of your appointment.
Protect your skin from the sun before and after your appointment! Sunburnt skin cannot be tattooed. A bad sunburn can take 2 weeks to fully heal, be mindful of the sun leading up to your appointment.
Aftercare
Handpoke tattoos typically heal much quicker and easier than machine tattoos. You will usually not notice any oozing, scabbing, or peeling with handpokes. and instead might see a light kind of “dandruff” of dead skin flaking away a couple of weeks after your tattoo. The easy healing process makes handpokes extra nice for folks who pick their skin / may accidentally pick at and damage their healing machine-made tattoos.
I usually use Second Skin to bandage my tattoos, although I also use cling wrap from time to time and am happy to use whichever best suits you. You can remove the bandage the next morning, or (in the case of Second Skin bandage) you can leave it on for a few days. In certain situations I may recommend you keep it on a little longer (especially if you’re healing a hand tattoo, if you work in an environment that is a little dirtier e.g. farming, if you tend to pick at your skin, etc).
Bandage Removal: When you’re ready to remove your Second Skin bandage: it is best to do so under warm running water as it softens the adhesive. Hold your skin down near the bandage to keep it taut, and take a corner of the bandage in your fingers and stretch it away from the tattoo (rather than peeling it back): as the bandage stretches longer it will lift gently away from your skin.
For at least two weeks after your appointment:
Keep your new tattoo clean and lightly moisturized (x1 per day is great). Use only unscented- preferably antibacterial- soap to clean your tattoo.
Pat dry with a clean paper towel (cloth towels can harbor bacteria) and lightly moisturize with Aquaphor or A&D ointment (I will offer you an A&D ointment packet at your appointment).
After a few days you can switch to moisturizing with an unscented dermatologist-developed lotion if you prefer. Your tattoo should not be greasy-looking after moisturizing: leaving too much Aquaphor/ lotion on a fresh tattoo can cause problems with healing!
Avoid tight clothing and direct sun on your new tattoo
Avoid excessive sweating, especially the first week (exercise is okay, but NO SAUNAS)
Avoid soaking your new tattoo in any water. Showering is fine! If you plan on swimming you can put a new waterproof bandage on your tattoo (if you already removed it), making sure there are no wrinkles that would allow water to seep in and touch your tattoo. If you notice water did get under the bandage after swimming, remove the bandage and clean your tattoo thoroughly. This is for your health and not just the appearance of your tattoo, as soaking in water/ swimming after being tattooed is a common way to get a tattoo infected which can be very serious and even life-threatening if not treated.
After your tattoo is healed (for hand poke tattoos this is after around 3-4 weeks) use sunscreen and moisturize regularly for the best longevity of your tattoo (and skin).