tattoo aftercare.

Thank you for trusting us with your tattoo! We hope you are enjoying your new ink. If you have any questions, or concerns, do not hesitate to reach out to us. Don't forget you can call and email but TEXTING is the best and fastest way to reach us! In case you forgot the number: (425)743-4188
or call / text the studio number: (425) 658-2100 and email: clorae@theauracreativestudio.com
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Here are some simple steps for taking care of your tattoo!
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If you choose, you may go home and shower an hour or two after getting tattooed. Your body may be shaking and shivering; this is a great way to cleanse the new tattoo, relax and warm up! 
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If you will be going to bed, or laying down for any reason, we highly suggest re-wrapping your tattoo with plastic wrap after showering; or leaving on the Saniderm. This will help protect your sheets & clothes; as the tattoo may still be oozy. The body's natural response is to reject the ink, so it will ooze for up to 24 hours while the tattoo heals.
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AVOID WRAPPING your tattoo beyond the first 24 hours.
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DAY 1-3:
 
Wash with a mild soap, an anti-bacterial soap like Dial or a pure glycerine soap works best! Avoid the smelly kinds with perfumes, as these can dry out the tattoo. We sell Mad Rabbit Unscented bar soaps for during and after healing. Be sure to use your HustleButter, if you purchased some with us. If you run out or lose it, you may also use coconut oil.  If you're sore, take Tylenol or Advil, it helps! Avoid Aquaphor as it is purely petroleum jelly, and this is known to disrupt the healing process with tattoo ink. In addition, you may also purchase Mad Rabbit Repair Gel to use before applying Hustle Butter, during the first few weeks of healing. We have used this on many of our own tattoos and highly recommend it, as it helps to cool and speed up the recovery much quicker!
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DAY 4 & ON
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Keep washing with soap and moisturizing. If you run out of Hustle Butter, any alcohol free lotion works great. Lotions like Bath & Body Works or anything with perfume oils will dry out your tattoo and possibly pull the ink out. We use and love HustleButter from start to finish and beyond. 
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A GREAT RULE OF THUMB: IF IT ITCHES, WASH IT AND APPLY HUSTLEBUTTER OR ALCOHOL FREE LOTION! Whatever you do, DO NOT USE any products with petroleum (A&D ointment, Vaseline, Aquaphor, etc) as this can suck the ink out of your skin! 
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Please read this section!!!
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SWEAT & GYMS: Please wait on working out at least 72 hours before returning to the gym. If you MUST, we highly suggest showering immediately after exercise is done in order to avoid possible infection. 
KIDS & PETS: As much as we love kids and pets, please avoid letting them lick or touch your fresh tattoo for the first 72 hours or more. They are cute, but they harbor great amounts of bacteria.
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POOLS, BEACHES & HOT TUBS: Please avoid swimming or submersion into swimming pools, rivers, oceans, seas, hot tubs, and other similar bodies of water for 21 days. These bodies of water harbor large amounts of bacteria, which can enter the body via the tattoo, and cause a super infection or even death in severe cases.
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SUN: Please allow your tattoo to heal for 21 - 28 days before direct sun exposure. If you will be in sunny weather, please take care to cover the tattoo (i.e. long sleeves, etc.). Once the tattooed is healed (scab has fallen off), ALWAYS apply SPF 30 or higher to your tattoo to help the ink last longer. Sun exposure is one of the fastest ways to cause ink fallout, and fading! We also carry and sell Mad Rabbit Tattoo Sunscreen!
 
BRUISING: Bruising is normal. Every body heals differently and different rates. It is extremely common to get odd scabs, bruises and have delayed healing on tattoos near the bend of arms from the constant bending. Foods rich in vitamin C and iron will help with bruising.
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FADED LOOKING TATTOO (within the first couple weeks): We call this a "milky" look. This is normal! It means your skin is growing new skin and will eventually go away.
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RAISED SKIN: You may notice that some days your tattoo is more raised than others. This is normal and happens to everyone. 

Fall Out & Scars: With black and grey tattoos, the darkest areas of your tattoo can sometimes lose ink. We do our best to maintain the integrity of your skin but diet, hormones, skin hydration, how moisturized your tattoo is while healing can impact what your body does while it is healing. 

Please remember that you forcing a foreign substance (tattoo ink) into your skin. Your body's natural instinct is to push the ink back out, so you will see plasma (also known as ink sacs, tattoo ooze, etc). If you do not moisturize sufficiently, the body will create a scab, the scab dries out and falls off - pulling tattoo ink with it. As it does so, you may end up with raw, new skin where the ink was. This can happen, but can be prevented. If you are unsure, please feel free to reach out! We are happy to help answer your questions if they aren't addressed here.
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These are our studio suggestions for optimal healing results. We strongly encourage you to follow these directions; and understand that everyone heals differently. 

THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR: If your tattoo feels hot, throbbing, or continues to ooze after the first couple days, please see a doctor as soon as possible. We do our best to maintain a clean and sterile environment at our shop, but failing to properly care for your new tattoo can result in unwanted healing, as well as possible infection.