Care

Common mistakes at every stage.

Before, during and after your appointment. Each stage has its own pitfalls, and each one is easy to avoid.

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01 · Before

Preparing the canvas.

Drinking the night before
Alcohol in the 24 hours before an appointment increases bleeding and weeping, which makes your artist’s work harder.
Do this instead
No alcohol for 24 hours beforehand. Arrive well hydrated.
Arriving sunburnt or tanned
Sunburnt or peeling skin is inflamed and fragile, and no reputable artist will tattoo it.
Do this instead
Keep the area out of the sun and away from tanning in the weeks before.
Training hard the day before
Heavy training leaves muscles sore and restless, which makes it harder to sit still.
Do this instead
Keep training light the day before your appointment.
Heavy moisturiser on the day
Rich creams on the day stop the stencil holding and leave the skin slippery.
Do this instead
Prepare in the 21 days before with PRIME, and stop at least 12 hours before your appointment.
Skipping a meal
Low blood sugar can leave you light-headed and faint in the chair.
Do this instead
Eat a proper meal beforehand and bring water and a snack.

02 · During

In the chair.

Scrolling and fidgeting
Every fidget risks a wavering line.
Do this instead
Settle in and stay still. A podcast or audiobook helps the hours pass.
Directing the artist
Precision needs focus, and running commentary breaks it.
Do this instead
Trust your artist. You chose them for a reason. Save questions for the breaks.
Eating in the chair
Food mid-appointment invites crumbs, sticky fingers and sudden movement.
Do this instead
Eat beforehand, and bring water in a sealed bottle.
Pushing through without breaks
Fatigue makes stillness harder, for you and for the work.
Do this instead
Agree on breaks with your artist before you begin, especially for long appointments.
Flinching and holding your breath
Sudden movement or tensed muscles can disturb linework.
Do this instead
Breathe slowly, tell your artist when you need a pause, and stay still while the needle is working.

03 · After

Healing and beyond.

Swimming too soon
Pools, the sea, lakes and spas expose a healing tattoo to bacteria and chemicals. Serious infections have been reported.
Do this instead
No swimming or soaking until fully healed. Short showers only.
Picking the flakes
Itching is normal. Lifting a flake before it is ready can take ink with it.
Do this instead
A thin layer of LOCK to soothe, and let flakes fall on their own.
Tight clothing
Friction and pressure over a fresh tattoo cause irritation and patchy healing.
Do this instead
Loose, breathable fabric over the area.
Sunscreen on a healing tattoo
Sunscreen is not made for broken skin and can irritate it.
Do this instead
Cover a healing tattoo with clothing. Start SHIELD once it is fully healed.
Skipping protection once healed
Many people stop once the tattoo heals, and fading follows.
Do this instead
Make SHIELD part of your morning from the day your tattoo has fully healed.

Your care plan

Get it right at every stage.

Your care plan maps every step with real dates, from 21 days before to the day you start SHIELD.

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The Tattoo Care Guide

Every stage in full, with your own dated plan.

Top 10 mistakes

The habits that cost tattoos their clarity.

Top 10 myths

What people still believe, and what is true.

This guide is general skincare information, not medical advice. Always follow your artist’s instructions, and speak to your doctor if your tattoo looks infected, irritated or is not healing as expected.

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