Tattoo Aftercare :

1. Remove bandage in 1-2 hours. Wash tattoo gently with cool, soapy water. (Use Ivory or a white non-fragranced soap.) Then put a thin layer of Neosporin creme on your tattoo. Put this on 2-3 times a day for about 4-6 days (don't use the ointment as it will clog your pores).

2. After the 4-6 days apply a thin layer of Lubriderm or Keri lotion 2-3 times a day for about 2 weeks. Your tattoo will be peeling and flaking a little and this is normal.

3. Keep your tattoo out of the sun and tanning beds for the 1st month. (And if you want the colors to LAST, apply sunblock over your tattoo after this one month period. Do this always to keep the colors vibrant.)

4. Don't soak your tattoo in any water for a month. Showers are okay.

5. DO NOT pick or scratch your tattoo! It will probably itch after a couple of days and it's normal. If you pick at it or scratch it, you will pull out the color and have blank spots or "holidays" in your tattoo.

6. DO NOT listen to your friend's advice! (or family, etc.)

7. If you have any questions at all, call the shop and ask. The only dumb question is the one that isn't asked! If you care for your tattoo properly, it will heal correctly and last a lifetime. (206) 988-5863.

Piercing Aftercare :

General aftercare for body

Care for captive bead ring piercings

For the first 3-5 days after your piercing is performed it is best not to rotate the ring. Use your sea salt water mixture to loosen and free any debris on or around the jewelry. Once this is done you should always rinse the piercing completely. Then blot the area dry with a paper towel and leave it alone. This should be done at least once but no more than twice a day for the first 3-6 weeks.

On the 3rd to 5th day you will star to rotate the jewelry. Continue cleaning your piercing as you have been, then after you've removed any debris from the jewelry rotate it back and forth 2-3 times under a constant flow of water (shower/sink). This should be done once a day, preferably after your nightly cleaning.

Care for barbell and nostril screw piercings

Piercings using these types of jewelry generally can not or should not be rotated. So you will need to clean them as described in paragraph number 1 above. Then as extra measure you will need to perform a sea salt compress once a week. This is generally started a week after the piercing was done. To do this you need to pour a small amount of your sea salt solution into a microwave safe cup. Then heat it up as hot as you can stand it with out burning yourself. For best results you should fold a strong paper towel (such as Kleenex brand Viva) into halves until you get a 4x2 rectangle. Then dip it halfway into you hot sea salt water. Then fold it in half once more and you will end up with a 2x2 in. square. Apply this to your piercing and hold it with a slight pressure for 3-5 min. Rinse the area under a constant flow of water blot dry with a paper towel and leave the piercing alone.

DO NOT USE ANYTHING ON YOUR PIERCING UNLESS SUGGESTED
BY YOUR PIERCER OR RECOMMENDED BY A DOCTOR.

Other things you should keep in mind in order for your new piercing to heal properly are listed below.

Never touch your new piercing with dirty hands. No one else should ever touch your piercing without wearing surgical gloves period.

No licking, sucking or groping on or around your new piercing. The only bodily fluid that is expectable is your own sweat.

No Tanning, swimming, hot tubs or bathtubs until your piercing is healed.

No oils, lotions or ointments should ever be applied to the area around your piercing these can cause more harm than they can do good.

Never take advice from your friends. If you ever have concerns about your piercing give us a call.

What you will need

Q-tips to clean the piercing

Strong paper towels (such as Kleenex brand Viva) for sea salt compressions and drying your piercing.

Un-ionized sea salt (not table salt or Epsom salts) or Dr. Bronner's hemp peppermint pure-castile soap. For your cleaning solutions.

Distilled or purified drinking water to mix your with your cleaning solutions.

Last but not least a little common sense.

How to mix your cleaning solutions

SEA SALT WATER

Add 1 tablespoon of unionized sea salt to 1 gallon of distilled/purified water. This will be your primary cleaning solution it will stay good for roughly 30 days as long as it is kept refrigerated. When you are ready to clean your piercing always shake the jug well to make sure that the salt is fully dissolved.

SOAPY WATER

When using soap to clean a piercing it is very important that it be diluted heavily in water. For best results mix 10 parts water to 1 part soap in a new spray bottle. The soap that we suggest is Dr. Bronner's hemp peppermint pure-castile. If this is not available in your area the sea salt solution should be used.

General after care for oral piercings

Swelling and pain

During the first 3-7 day after the piercing it is not at all unusual for most people to experience varying degrees of swelling. So here are some things that will help you get through it.

Drink as much ice water as possible. It's recommended that you drink 8-10 eight oz. glasses of water a day to keep your body properly hydrated.

You can also place ice directly on the tongue (or over the area pierced for labret/lip) and allow it to melt. Try not to suck on the ice just keep moving it around in your mouth and let it melt.

For those whom are extremely sensitive, an over the counter anti-inflammatory such as Ibuprofen, Alive, Advil or Tylenol can help reduce swelling and pain (Aspirin products should be avoided as they will thin the blood and could hinder the your healing).

After care/cleaning for the Tongue

It's always a good idea to get two new toothbrushes before you start your after care. One for your teeth (what ever type you normally use) and one with as soft of bristles you can find

Now you're going to want to brush your teeth your normal 2-3 times a day. Avoid toothpastes that contain whiteners for at least the first week to two weeks (these have ingredients that can hider your healing).

Next wet the soft bristle brush and gently massage the tongue in tiny circles. It's best to avoid getting toothpaste on the tongue itself for roughly the first week. The reason quite simply is that it may burn intensely if you get some in the wounded area.

Lastly you will want to rinse with a medical grade oral cleanser such as Biotene or Tech 2000. Begin by swishing your mouth wash vigorously for 30-60 seconds. Then with the mouth wash still in you mouth position the barbell in your mouth so you can glide the tongue up and down, to dislodge any matter from within the wound. Now all you have to do is rinse twice with cool water and you're done.

The steps above should be preformed 2-3 times a day and no more. Over cleaning a tongue piercing is the worst thing you can do. If after snacks or if you just feel you mouth is a little gross just rinse with cool water a couple times this usually helps.

Care for all other oral piercings

Inner care

To take care of the inside of the piercing consists of brushing your teeth your normal 2-3 times a day and rinsing with Biotene or Tech 2000 mouth wash.

While brushing gently pull the lip area away from the gum line (where the piercing is) so you don't snag the jewelry with your tooth brush.

Always rinse with fresh cool water after brushing to assure that the mouth is free of any residual tooth paste and mouth wash.

This should be performed no more than 3 times a day. If you over clean the inside of the mouth you will kill the essential bacteria needed to heal the wound.

Outer care

For the first 3-5 days it is best not to rotate the jewelry. Use your sea salt water mixture to loosen and free any debris on or around the jewelry. Once this is done you should always rinse the piercing completely with fresh water. Then blot the area dry with a paper towel and leave it alone. this should be done once but no more than twice a day for the first 3-6 weeks.

On the 3rd to 5th day you will start to rotate the jewelry. Continue to clean your piercing as you have been, then after you have removed any debris from the jewelry rotate it back and forth 2-3 times under a constant flow of water (shower/sink). This should be done once a day, preferably after your nightly cleaning.

Other things to keep in mind

A piercing is a wound, not magic, so you can expect tenderness, slight discoloration, and even some bleeding. Also a natural part of healing any wound sometimes includes the secretion of a white yellow fluid (containing dead skin and blood cells).

Other than staying away from yogurt for the first 3-4 weeks your eating habits shouldn't change too much, just take it easy (yogurt can give you a yeast infection in your mouth if there is an open wound). The starter jewelry is long to allow for any swelling, this also means that you may bite down on it. Just be aware of how the jewelry is positioned before you bite down and over time it will become second nature.

The better your health the better your body is able to heal. So try and drink plenty of water eat properly and it never hurts to take a good multi-vitamin and get plenty of sleep.

DO NOT USE ANYTHING ON YOUR PIERCING UNLESS SUGGESTED BY YOUR PIERCER OR RECOMMENDED BY A DOCTOR. Some things to avoid in order to allow your piercing to heal properly are listed below.

Never touch your new piercing with dirty hands. No one else should ever touch your piercing without wearing surgical gloves period.

No licking sucking or groping on or around your new piercing. The only bodily fluid that is expectable is your own sweat.

No oils, lotions or ointments should ever be applied to the area around your piercing, these can do more harm than good.

All types of suction should be avoided for at least the first 3-4 weeks. Things such as Drinking thru straws, open mouth kissing, oral sex, smoking and spiting these activities will greatly hinder your healing. Not to mention that they can cause scaring on the inside of the mouth or under the tongue.

Never take advice from your friends. If you ever have concerns about your piercing give us a call. (206) 988-5863.