Aftercare Instructions
GRADE A INK TATTOO AND PIERCING STUDIOS
Tattoo, Body Piercing, Permanent Make-Up, and Laser & Fading Removal: Aftercare Instructions
Tattoo Aftercare Instructions:
Leave the Bandage On: Your artist will cover your tattoo with a bandage or wrap. Leave this bandage on for the time recommended by your artist, typically between 2 to 6 hours.
Prepare To Clean: In preparation to clean your new tattoo, wash your hands well! Have a mild, fragrance-free soap such as Liquid Dial Gold Antibacterial soap, some luke-warm water, fresh paper towels, and a new box of Saran Wrap.
***Note: 1. Use Paper towels, to dispose of immediately after cleaning and drying your new tattoo. Do not utilize fabric bath towels, they might contain bacteria which might cause an infection. 2. Purchase a new box of Saran Wrap for the utilization on your new tattoo only, to keep down surface and airborne particles which might cause infection.
Gently Cleanse: After removing the bandage, gently wash the tattooed area with lukewarm water and a mild, fragrance-free soap such as Liquid Dial Gold Antibacterial Soap. Clean your new tattoo 2-3 times a day thoroughly using the mild, fragrance-free Liquid Antibacterial Soap to remove all of the surface slime. Rinse your new tattoo off thoroughly, gently and immediately pat it dry with a fresh clean paper towel.
Regular Cleaning Schedule: (a.) For the first three days, follow the instructions in steps 2, 3, 5 and 6, by cleaning, drying, moisturizing and re-wrapping. (b.) After the first three days, for the next two weeks, follow the instructions in steps 2, 3 and 5, no more re-wrapping with Saran Wrap. This gives your tattoo a chance to breathe and finish the healing process.
Apply Moisturizer: Use a thin layer of fragrance-free moisturizer or tattoo-specific aftercare product to keep the tattooed area hydrated. Avoid petroleum-based products.
Re-Wrap: After cleaning, patting dry, and applying moisturizer, it is time to re-wrap your tattoo with Saran Wrap. If a reaction such as bumps or a rash occurs from the use of the Saran Wrap, stop the use of Saran Wrap immediately and continue following all steps until your tattoo is healed.
Avoid Irritants: Wearing loose-fitting clothing to prevent irritation, and avoid exposing your piercing to harsh chemicals, including perfumes, lotions, and hair products. Avoid over-cleaning your tattoo, as excessive washing can strip away natural oils and irritate the skin, and avoid scrubbing or rubbing the tattooed area aggressively. All these factors can irritate the tattoo and delay healing.
Apply Moisturizer: After cleaning your tattoo each time, use a thin layer of fragrance-free moisturizer or tattoo-specific aftercare product to keep the tattooed area hydrated. Avoid petroleum-based products.
Avoid Sun Exposure: Protect your new tattoo from direct sunlight, avoid direct sunlight and tanning beds during the healing process to prevent fading and sunburn.. Apply sunscreen with a high SPF to the tattooed area if you need to be outdoors.
Avoid Soaking and Swimming: Avoid soaking your tattoo in water, such as swimming pools, hot tubs, baths, or natural bodies of water until the tattoo is fully healed, typically for at least 2- 3 weeks or until it is fully healed, to prevent infection.
Avoid Scratching or Picking: Resist the urge to touch, scratch or pick at your tattoo as it heals. This can damage and scar the skin and cause pigment loss affecting the final appearance of your tattoo.
Follow Up Care: Attend follow-up appointments as recommended by your tattoo artist and contact them if you have any questions or concerns about your tattoo's healing process, or experience any signs of infection or complications. Please, don't hesitate to contact your artist or seek medical advice. Our Contact Information is provided below.
Body Piercing Aftercare Instructions:
Keep It Clean: Clean your piercing twice a day with saline solution or a gentle saline-based piercing aftercare product. Use a cotton swab or sterile gauze pad, and gently apply the solution to the piercing site. Avoid using alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or harsh cleansers on the piercing site, and avoid over-cleaning your piercing, as this can irritate the skin and delay healing.
Regular Maintenance: After the initial healing period (typically 4-6 weeks for most piercings), continue to clean your piercing daily with saline solution or piercing aftercare product to prevent buildup of debris and bacteria.
Avoid Touching: Refrain from touching your piercing with dirty hands. If you need to handle the piercing, wash your hands thoroughly first.
Rotate Jewelry: Gently rotate your jewelry during cleaning to prevent it from sticking to the surrounding skin. Do not force the jewelry to move if it is painful or difficult to rotate.
Avoid Irritants: Wearing loose-fitting clothing to prevent irritation, and avoid exposing your piercing to harsh chemicals, including perfumes, lotions, and hair products. These can irritate the piercing and delay healing.
Protect While Healing: Protect your piercing from trauma and friction, especially during physical activities or when changing clothes. Consider using a sterile gauze pad or breathable bandage if necessary.
Oral Piercings: For oral piercings, rinse your mouth with an alcohol-free, antimicrobial mouthwash or saline solution after meals and before bed. Avoid using alcohol-based mouthwashes, as these can be harsh on healing piercings.
Avoid Oral Contact: For oral piercings, avoid oral contact, including kissing and oral sex, during the healing process to prevent infection.
Follow Up Care: Attend follow-up appointments as recommended by your piercer and contact them if you have any questions or concerns about your healing process, or experience any signs of infection or complications. Our Contact Information is provided below.
General Aftercare Tips:
Listen to Your Body: Pay attention to any signs of infection, such as excessive redness, swelling, prolonged pain, or pus discharge. Seek medical attention if you experience any of these symptoms or suspect an infection.
Be Patient: Healing times vary depending on individual factors and the location of the tattoo or piercing. Be patient and follow the aftercare instructions diligently for the best results.
If you have any questions or concerns about your tattoo, piercing, permanent make-up, or tattoo removal aftercare, don't hesitate to contact GRADE A INK TATTOO AND PIERCING STUDIOS for assistance.
Changing Initial Jewelry Instructions: (If Applicable)
Body Piercings:
Healing Period: Wait until your piercing is fully healed before attempting to change the initial jewelry. Healing times vary depending on the piercing type but typically range from several weeks to several months.
Quality Jewelry: When changing your jewelry, use only high-quality, hypoallergenic materials such as surgical-grade stainless steel, titanium, or niobium. Avoid jewelry made of nickel or other materials that may cause allergic reactions or irritation.
Clean Hands: Before handling your piercing or jewelry, thoroughly wash your hands with antibacterial soap to minimize the risk of introducing bacteria or contaminants.
Gentle Technique: Carefully remove the current jewelry by unscrewing or unclasping it without causing unnecessary trauma to the piercing site. Take your time and proceed gently to avoid discomfort or injury.
Inspect Jewelry: Before inserting new jewelry, inspect it carefully to ensure that it is clean, smooth, and free from defects or sharp edges that could irritate the piercing.
Lubrication: If needed, apply a small amount of water-based lubricant or piercing-specific lubricant to the jewelry to facilitate insertion and reduce friction.
Insertion: Insert the new jewelry into the piercing site slowly and carefully, following the natural curve or orientation of the piercing. Avoid forcing the jewelry and stop if you encounter any resistance or discomfort.
Tongue Piercings:
Extended Healing Time: Tongue piercings typically require a longer healing period due to the constant movement and saliva in the mouth. Wait at least 4-6 weeks before considering changing the initial jewelry.
Quality Material: Choose high-quality, biocompatible materials such as implant-grade titanium or surgical-grade stainless steel for tongue jewelry. Avoid acrylic, plastic, or other materials that can harbor bacteria or cause allergic reactions.
Professional Assistance: Due to the delicate nature of tongue piercings and the risk of swallowing or aspirating jewelry, it's recommended to seek professional assistance from a piercer when changing tongue jewelry for the first time.
Swelling Consideration: Be mindful of any swelling or discomfort during the healing process. If your tongue is still swollen or tender, wait until the swelling subsides before attempting to change the jewelry.
Gradual Transition: If you plan to change to a different style or size of jewelry, consider making gradual changes to allow your tongue to adjust gradually and minimize discomfort.
Importance of Quality Materials:
Using high-quality, hypoallergenic materials for your piercing jewelry is crucial for promoting healing and minimizing the risk of complications. Inferior materials can cause allergic reactions, irritation, and even infection, leading to prolonged healing times and potential damage to the piercing site.
At GRADE A INK TATTOO AND PIERCING STUDIOS, we prioritize the use of premium-quality jewelry made from safe and biocompatible materials. If you have any questions or concerns about changing your jewelry or selecting the right materials for your piercings, please don't hesitate to contact us for guidance and assistance.
By providing clear and thorough aftercare instructions, we can help ensure that our clients have a positive experience and achieve optimal healing results after receiving tattoos and body piercings at GRADE A INK TATTOO AND PIERCING STUDIOS.
Permanent Make-Up Aftercare Instructions:
Day 1 Routine:
Apply Compresses: Some swelling and redness can be expected for up to 24 hours following the procedure, Cold compress throughout the 24 hours, helps reduce swelling around the procedure areas, especially the eye area.
Prepare To Clean: In preparation to clean your new facial beautification, wash your hands well! Have a mild, gentle fragrance-free soap (Cetaphil preferred, some luke-warm water, and fresh paper towels..
Gently Cleanse: Wash brows gently every hour with water and gentle soap (Cetaphil preferred) and pat dry.
Apply Antibiotics: Use antibiotic ointment twice a day for 2-3 days.
Apply Moisturizer: Apply a thin layer of skin candy.
Avoid Strenuousness: Avoid strenuous activity for 2 days and do not compress the face in a pillow while sleeping.
Day 2 Routine:
Regular Cleaning and Application Schedule: Follow Day 1 routine, but perform washing only 2 - 3 times total.
Days 3 to 10 Routine:
Protect While Healing: No more washing necessary. Keep areas as dry as possible.
Apply Moisturizer: Apply skin candy 2 - 3 times a day if you have normal to dry skin. Apply skin candy 1 - 2 times a day if you have oily skin.
Additional Aftercare Instructions:
Be Patient: Each individual may heal differently, and healing times may vary, but typically can range from one week to several weeks.
Listen To Your Body: Notify artist or physician immediately if observed at the first sign of allergic reaction or infection. Constant intense itching, abnormal discharge, lumps, bumps, blisters, redness, swelling, or tenderness are not normal; consult a physician.
Keep It Clean: Keep the treated area clean, avoid scrubbing, rubbing, or wiping the area; use patting motions only.
Avoid Irritants: Use soap/cleansers that are not alcohol-based and do not contain anti-aging or acne acids.
Avoid Touching: Do not pick, peel or scratch the skin. Some skin peeling and lightening of the applied color is normal.
Avoid Exposure: Avoid sun, use sunblock after healing to prevent premature fading. avoid gardening, contact with animals, or environments causing dirt or germs to contact the area while healing.
Avoid Soaking and Swimming: Avoid swimming, keep area dry during showering and avoid full pressure of the shower.
Protect While Healing: Avoid applying makeup (on the procedure area), extreme sweating, swimming, tanning, hot sauna, and laser/chemical/Botox treatments for 10 days. Do not apply topical cosmetics over the area while healing.
Regular Maintenance: Keep the area moist with healing ointment until outer healing is complete. Use a cotton swab to apply Aquaphor Ointment throughout the day for 2-4 weeks (the area should never be dry).
Touch-Ups or Additional Procedures: Appearance of pigment will be darker initially; wait at least 30-60 days for full healing before touch-ups.
Remember to adhere to these Aftercare Instructions meticulously to ensure optimal healing and long-lasting results for your Permanent Make-Up.
Laser and Fading Removal Aftercare Instructions:
Immediate Care:
Apply Compress Treatment: Apply a cold compress for 24 hours post-treatment and take Tylenol or Ibuprofen for discomfort, (avoid aspirin to prevent bruising and bleeding), (After laser treatment, expect frosting, swelling, and redness caused by skin heating).
Leave the Bandage On: Your artist will cover your tattoo with a dressing. Do not remove the dressing. Leave this dressing on for the time recommended by your artist, typically between 8 to 12 hours.
Prepare To Clean: In preparation to clean your removed tattoo area(s), wash your hands well! Have a mild, fragrance-free soap such as Liquid Dial Gold Antibacterial soap, some luke-warm water, fresh paper towels, and sterile dressings and dressing tape.
Gently Cleanse: After removing the dressing, shower gently with a mild, fragrance-free soap such as Liquid Dial Gold Antibacterial Soap and lukewarm water. Clean your tattoo removed area(s) 2-3 times a day thoroughly using the mild, fragrance-free Liquid Antibacterial Soap to remove all of the surface slime. Rinse your tattoo removed area(s) off thoroughly, gently and immediately pat it dry with a fresh clean paper towel.
Regular Cleaning Schedule: (a.) For the first week, follow the instructions in steps 2, 3, 4 5, and 6, by cleaning, drying, moisturizing and re-dressing. (b.) After the first three days, for the next two weeks, follow the instructions in steps 2, 3, 4 and 5. No more re-dressing after the first week, this gives your tattoo removal area(s) a chance to breathe and finish the healing process.
Protect Areas: After cleansing and drying area(s), protect blisters with applying ointments and moisturizers. Apply dry dressing and keep the treated area clean and dry. Handling Blisters:
Blistering: Do not pick scabs or pop blisters, as this can lead to infection and prolonged healing. Blisters are common and signify the healing process. Let them heal naturally and apply antibiotic ointment after they pop. Keep the area covered for protection.
Apply Ointment: Use a thin layer of fragrance-free or tattoo-removal ointment specific aftercare product, such as Neosporin to damaged area(s) twice daily for 3 days to keep the tattoo removal area(s) hydrated. Avoid petroleum-based products.
Address Itchiness: Apply 1% hydrocortisone cream or Vitamin E ointment to ease itchiness during healing.
Apply Moisturizer: Use a thin layer of fragrance-free moisturizer or tattoo-specific aftercare product to keep the tattooed area hydrated. Avoid petroleum-based products.
Avoid: Avoid picking, peeling, or scratching the healing skin.
Avoid Most Activities: Avoid exercising, performing strenuous activities for 2 to 7 days post-treatment to prevent aggravating the area, which may feel tender.
Avoid Excessive Heat: After treatment, shower gently after 2 hours, however, avoid high-pressure hot showers, swimming pools, baths, hot tubs, or saunas until fully healed to prevent infection.
Avoid Sun Exposure: Avoid sun exposure and use a good sunscreen, wear SPF 25+ sunblock over the area for 3 months. Cover the area with clothing for extra protection. The sun prevents delays in healing.
Avoid Additional Activities: Avoid shaving until the area has completely healed.
Avoid Applications: Avoid using makeup, medicated creams, or lotions for 48 hours.
Healing Process:
Listen To Your Body: Contact Us or seek medical attention if the area shows signs of infection, unusual discomfort, bleeding, or itching occurs, or any other complications develop. For extreme reactions like facial swelling, rash, or difficulty breathing, seek immediate medical attention.
Understand: that "Complete Healing" takes 6 to 8 weeks, and sometimes a few more weeks, with deeper layers of the skin still healing.
Mosturizing: After three days, keep the area clean and moisturized with one of our own brands, Aquaphor, or a hydrocortisone cream.
Instructions: Please follow the instructions provided.
Your Immune System Strong, Is What Helps The Healing Process: (For all the procedures on this document)
Take Care of Yourself: Boost your immune system with rest, hydration, and a healthy diet while healing.
Consumption: Decrease alcohol consumption and avoid smoking to support healing; alcohol and smoking impairs healing process.
Hydration: Drink plenty of water to maintain hydration and flush out toxins.
Exercise: After the first week, slowly start exercising again; exercising increases blood flow, which aids in ink particle breakdown to eliminate ink from your system.
Please follow these instructions diligently to promote optimal healing and faster ink elimination after laser and fading tattoo removal treatments.
Contact:
For questions, inquiries, or further information about GRADE A INK TATTOO AND PIERCING STUDIOS Aftercare Instructions, please contact:
Flagship Studio Location:
GRADE A INK TATTOO AND PIERCING STUDIOS, A Division of GRADE A HOLDINGS, LLC
6140 Laurel Canyon Boulevard
Building 130, Suite 106
North Hollywood, California 91606
Serves All Locations:
Email Address: info@gradeaink.com
Telephone number: (888) 802-4903
Headquarters:
GRADE A INK TATTOO AND PIERCING STUDIOS, A Division of GRADE A HOLDINGS, LLC
3343 Peachtree Road, N.E., Suite 145
Atlanta, Georgia 30326