Tiny Tattoo Prep

Pre care is just as important as aftercare. Starting with a good canvas is the way to get the best final result.

Dress for session.

Getting a tiny tattoo on your ribs? Wear a bikini top it will also help with placement.

Getting a tattoo on your hip? Wear loose clothing to ensure you're comfortable so it’s a better experience for you.

Avoid alcohol or blood thinning medications.

It’s best to avoid the above 24 hours before your session, alcohol and aspirin cause bleeding, making the ink harder to implant and can leave you with a poor result.

Avoid getting a sunburn.

Avoid getting a sunburn before your session it’s not a good choice to get tattoo on burnt skin and we will have to reschedule your appt. Avoid your boat days and schedule wisely because you will have to avoid the sun after your tattoo. I know it’s hard to do in this Florida heat, you get a sunburn walking to check your mailbox.

Stay hydrated.

Hydrated skin allows for a better outcome, so drink up before your appointment.

Moisturize your skin.

Moisturize the area well up to a week before your session, hydrated skin 🙌 especially if it’s on your hands or feet.

Eat before your appointment if you can

I think tiny tattoos get a bad wrap thinking just because they are tiny they are quick, they are quicker compared but still plan to be in the chair for an hour- hour and a half, depending on size, details, and placement.

Get rest.

Get a good nights rest. It will allow for a better experience all around. Especially if it’s your first tattoo.

Review how to book and policies.

Please review these, I know they are usually skipped over but it’s important to know, it’s not put in place to punish anyone but to set boundaries for both parties involved to respect everyone’s time.

Also keep your schedule in mind, don’t book right before a vacation in the sun or right after.

Tiny Tattoo Aftercare

The initial stage of tattoo healing begins immediately after your tattooing session is finished. You should look at your tattoo as an open wound, and treat it accordingly. Your artist will gently wash the area and put a protective bandage on it to protect it from bacteria. You might need to change your piece of film depending on the intensity of weeping you are experiencing.

If your tattoo weeps severely in the first 24 hours, please Contact Shade & Stencil Studio and we will change it for you. Please do not try to remove the film on your own. Many people describe a fresh tattoo as feeling similar to a sunburn. The area tends to sting a bit, and it can look red and become a little raised or swollen. This is all a natural part of the tattoo healing process. Unlike other tattoo healing methods, the film that we use at Shade & Stencil Studio will make it so you don’t see scabbing. Attempt to keep the film on for 3-4 days, after that you can take it off.

PROCESS FOR REMOVING THE PROTECTIVE FILM:

The best way to remove the film is to find an edge of the bandage, and then to pull it back over itself in the direction of hair growth. Pulling upward on the film can be painful, so we don’t recommend it. The best way is to try removing the film in a warm shower. The warmth will loosen the adhesive, and make it easier to remove.)

Only use CLEAN HANDS to wash your tattoo. NO washcloths, bath towels, bath sponges or loofahs on a fresh tattoo.

● Make a lather in your hand with soap and warm water

● Gently clean tattoo using a circular motion, until all ointment, blood, and lymphatic fluid are removed

● Rinse the tattoo and wash once again, gently, until the skin is clean

● A hair dryer on the ‘cool’ setting may be used; a clean paper towel may also be used to dab the tattoo dry.

After the film is off comes a second stage of the healing process.

● Wash your tattoo with warm water 2 times daily. Use a mild cleaner to wash the tattoo. DON’T use a washcloth, loofah, or any other abrasive material.

● Rinse thoroughly, however DON’T soak the area. Keep shower time to a minimum. Pat dry with clean paper towels. DON’T use a towel or any other abrasive material. DON’T re-bandage. Once it’s off, leave it off.

● Make sure you continue taking care of it by applying a small amount of A+D vitamin 2-3 times a day for the next couple weeks. More isn’t better.

The following must be avoided during all 14 days after the procedure:

● Stay away from water. Although you can easily take a shower with a protective film on, it is important to still monitor the time you spend in the shower. Prolonged exposure to water will weaken the adhesion, so avoid soaking. As with all tattoo aftercare regulations, you should avoid submerging your tattoo in any body of water. This includes baths, lakes, pools, hot tubs, or oceans.

● Increased sweating. Be aware that sweating can weaken the adhesive of the film and cause the bandage to come off prematurely. That being the case, we advise you to take it easy and keep the sweating to a minimum!

● Don't pick and pull at the flaking/scabbing skin. Picking away at your healing tattoo can delay healing, cause fading, and increase the chances of infection.

● Letting Others Touch The Tattoo. Letting other people touch your brand new tattoo is an absolutely terrible idea. You have absolutely no idea where their hands have been since they last washed them, and having their dirty hands rub all over your new tattoo is just asking for an infection.

● Stay away from the sun. Don't expose your new tattoo to intense sunlight and don't apply any sun lotion to the area until it has fully healed.

● Continue to look after your tattoo once healed. Once healed, keep your tattoo well protected from the sun and ensure you continue to moisturize the area regularly. Healthy skin means a healthy looking tattoo.

If you have any unexpected problems with the healing of the skin, please contact SHADE + STENCIL Studio immediately ( either through DM or my cell phone listed under more info), to discuss further instructions. Contact a doctor immediately if any signs or symptoms develop such as the following: fever, continuous/extreme pain, rash, tattoo area hot the touch, red streaking, elevated body temperature, blisters, foul odor.

Once completely healed, always apply a layer of sunscreen SPF 30 up to SPF 50 on your tattoo when exposed to the sun.