Please follow all aftercare instructions carefully to ensure the best results.
THE BREAKDOWN
Now that your Cosmetic Tattoo session is complete, it is your job to follow your aftercare instructions to get the best healed results possible! Please read through and follow the information below thoroughly.
Your aftercare kit will include:
8 lint-free Cotton Squares
4 Ointment Applicators (Lashline Enhancements only)
1 Vial of Sterile Water
5 Clear Shower Visors
1 Tube of Aftercare Ointment
1 Spoolie Brush
Immediately After Your Appointment:
Gently clean the tattooed area by dampening a cotton square with the sterile water provided.
Do not over saturate the cotton square. It should be damp, not soaking.
Firmly blot over the area using one cotton square per side.
Repeat this every 30 minutes for 2 hours (4 times total).
Days 2-14 Following Your Appointment:
Every morning and night, rinse the area with lukewarm water, pat dry GENTLY and apply your aftercare ointment with clean fingers or applicators.
Gently clean the area by splashing the area with lukewarm water over the sink, and blot dry with a clean paper towel.
Thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water.
Squeeze a small amount of the ointment onto your index finger. About the size of a grain of rice is enough for both sides.
Avoid any excessive water on the area.
Do not apply make-up, Spray Tans, Retinol, Retin A, Lactic Acid or Vitamin C products to the area until healed. No Direct Sun exposure. Do not sweat, use hot tubs, swimming pools, saunas/steam rooms or facial treatments. Wear shower visors when showering (instructions below).
To apply shower visor:
Make sure forehead is clean of any oils or makeup.
Remove the white strip from the shower shield to expose the sticky strip.
Apply to forehead above eyebrows, but below hairline.
Keep the show visor on during the duration of your shower and remove once finished.
Things to Remember:
If you will be in the sun within 14 days of your appointment, make sure to wear a hat. This is very important to avoid hyperpigmentation (darkening of the pigment).
During the healing, the area will most likely scab.
If you experience scabbing, do not rub, scratch or pick at the scabs.
If you experience itching, this is completely normal. Gently tap your finger over the area to alleviate itching, but do not scratch.
It is normal for scabs to come off when applying the ointment or cleansing the area.
Avoid using Q-tips to apply your ointment as the cotton fibers can pull at your healing tattoo and result in loss of pigment.
After the 14 days are complete, discontinue all aftercare.
It is important to return to your regular skin routine after the 14 days are complete.
Make sure to include your tattoo in regular cleansing, moisturizing, and exfoliating.
If any of the aftercare products cause irritation or sensitivity, please discontinue use immediately and contact me via email.
What To Expect When Healing
Day 1: Swelling, Tenderness & Redness
Immediately after your appointment the area may appear slightly irritated, dark or uneven. Over the next couple of hours as the numbing wears off, the area may begin to feel tender, similar to the feeling of a sunburn or cat scratch. This feeling will subside within 4-12hrs.
Day 2-4: Darkening & Solidifying
Around day two, the area will begin to appear darker and more solid due to oxidization of the pigment on the skin. The tattoo will continue to darken until day 4. It is important not to panic, as this will not be your final healed result.
You may also experience itching of the area during this time. To relieve the itching, tapping over the area is okay, but do not scratch!
Day 5-10: Flaking or Scabbing
Around day 5 the area will begin the scabbing phase. The scabbing will look like very thin flakes or lines shedding off of the skin. The pigment will look very light underneath where the scabbing lifts. This is normal. It is okay for the scabs to come off when rinsing the area or applying ointment, but it is important to never pick or pull at them.
Day 10 - 14: Brows will appear light or faded
Around day 10 to 14 the scabbing will be complete. Once all of the scabbing has lifted off, it is normal for the pigment to look quite light, and not as defined. This is because even though the surface of the skin is healed, the opacity of the skin is not. Around 4-6 weeks the colour will start to return to its final, healed colour.
Long Term Care
Your cosmetic tattoos won't last forever as they are designed to fade over time. Typically you will need a Refresh Session to maintain your tattoos every 1-3 years.
Factors such as sun exposure, perspiration, age, skin type and products used on your skin will effect how often your tattoos will need to be touched up.
Here are a few good things to keep in mind to help prolong the life of your cosmetic tattoos:
Use good sunscreen. Good advice always, but sun exposure will fade your tattoos faster.
If you are receiving a chemical peel or laser treatment let the technician know to avoid your tattoos. Use of retinol, retin A, tretinoin or other products that cause rapid regeneration of the skin can also cause your tattoos to fade prematurely.
For daily care, include your tattoos when washing, exfoliating and moisturizing. It its important to still care for the skin in the area as you would any other area of the face.
Use of Accutane at anytime can drastically change the visibility of your tattoos. Accutane can cause discolouration and rapid fading even after your sessions. Keep this in mind when booking in for Cosmetic Tattoo services if you plan on using Accutane in the future.
FRIENDLY REMINDER
Cosmetic Tattoos are a two, sometimes multiple step process. Do not expect to see perfect results after your first session! If you are a First Time Client, your tattoos will be created in an average of 4 steps:
1. first session = 25% complete
2. healed after first session = 50% complete
3. touch up session = 75% complete
4. healed after touch up = 100% complete
*these steps vary per client but reflect our most common results*
