( we currently stock  Ink NURSE , & DR PICKLES    

Standard Healing

we have put together our recommendations for tattoo aftercare, however you should always follow the advice given by your personal tattoo artist as there is no “one way” of tattoo after care, you will find every artist may tell you different and new ways of looking after it during the healing period. If you have an after care plan of your own that works for you then stick with it by all means.

-After the tattoo process your artist will put a absorbent bandage over the top, this will remain for 8 hours  – PLEASE NOTE** if the artist has used an OPSITE the instructions will be different.

Tattoo Aftercare Instructions (Tattoo Armour/ bandage  Preferred Method)

These are only recommendations. Always follow your artist’s specific instructions for the best healing process.

Immediate Aftercare (First 24-48 Hours)

1. Leave the Tattoo Armour bandage on for 6–24 hours, depending on fluid buildup.
2. Remove the bandage carefully under warm water to avoid sticking.
3. Wash the tattoo gently with lukewarm water and fragrance-free soap (like Cetyphil or Dr. Bronner’s Unscented).
4. Pat dry with a clean paper towel—do not rub.
5. If needed, apply a second Tattoo Armour bandage for additional protection (up to 3 days total).
6.  Do not apply ointment at this stage of the healing process

It is normal for your skin to be red and irritated at this stage. it will also be warm and tender, you may even bruise in some areas.

Days 2-7: Healing Phase

•  Wash the tattoo twice daily with mild soap and lukewarm water.
•  Apply a thin layer of fragrance-free moisturiser (Tattoo Recovery Cream or similar-
• its not recommended to use a balm or fragrance aftercare at this stage).
•  Keep the tattoo clean and dry, but do not let it dry out completely.
•  Wear loose, breathable clothing over the tattoo ( no tight fitting clothes!)

                    Avoid during this phase:

• No soaking (baths, pools, hot tubs, saunas).

• No heavy sweating or excessive movement that may irritate the tattoo.

• No scratching, picking, or peeling.

• large amounts of cream- just enough to “soak”up in the skin

Days 7-14: Peeling & Itching Phase

Continue moisturising as needed. You can swap for a balm or heavier afteracare at this stage
 If itching occurs, gently tap (do not scratch!).
 Avoid direct sun exposure—keep the tattoo covered or use SPF 50+ once fully healed.

Long-Term Care (After 2 Weeks & Beyond)

• Keep skin hydrated to maintain tattoo vibrancy.

• Always wear sunscreen (SPF 50+) to prevent fading.

• Continue to avoid soaking until the tattoo is fully healed (around 4 weeks).

• As it peels, you can swap for a balm if you wish
• Healing times vary per person. If you notice excessive redness, swelling, or signs of infection, consult a medical professional.

Opsite healing

Now that you have your new tattoo, you’ll want to take good care of it. Here is how…Your skin is not a piece of paper, it’s an organ designed to protect your insides and prevent them from spilling into a messy heap on the floor. Once your new tattoo is healed- It will not be as bright or vivid as they day you left the studio. Why? Because a new layer of skin as grown over the top- trapping your pigments underneath, so depending on how much and how little melanin (the chemical in your skin that produces the colour of your skin tone) you have, will determine how well you see the colours of your tattoo. Your skin also exfoliates, it ages over time, your skin stretches and shrinks and may actively reject ink. EVERYONE is different and the variables are great but, for the best result of the products we recommend follow the steps below.

Step 1:  Leave the second skin (opsite) bandage on for 24 hours
IF IT LAST’S! It all depends on how much blood and plasma is underneath- If it falls off just start step 2 earlier. If the bandage is holding, Is NOT lifting anywhere, small amount of blood or plasma (too oozy its best to change it to avoid water rash) and is not dirty as well as you are having no allergy to be seen (redness where the adhesive is) You can leave the bandage on for 3-5 days. If it is not in perfect condition please follow the steps below…

Step 2:  WITH CLEAN HANDS Remove the bandage ; Wash the tattoo under warm water (water must be sterile – so either cooled boiled water or saline) and ANTIBACTERIAL soft wash. You need to wash the wound THOROUGHLY- be sure to remove all blood and adhesive, you may need to wash the wound several times. cetaphil,  Dr PIckles Wash  is Great for washing your new tattoo. 

Remove the second skin (you may need to jump in the shower to remove the adhesive) and give the tattoo a thorough wash under warm sterile water (not hot or cold) you may need to wash the new tattoo more than once with an antibacterial soft wash. let it air dry or Use paper towel to pat (not rub) the area until completely dry.

Step 3:  Reapply a new bandage with gloves or CLEAN HANDS.
re-apply your replacement bandage.  LEAVE IT ON FOR another 24 hours. (Don’t worry, The second skin is breathable)  If you decide to continue with opsite after the initial 48 hours- you must use a thin layer of after care cream on your wound  before replacing your next bandage. After 3-5 days your tattoo is well on the way to being healed and only needs minimal washes (daily shower is fine!) keep up with a thin layer of aftercare cream however. Keeping the skin moisturised will only help your tattoo. Forever!

some great after care creams that we stock and recommend are Australian made Aussie Inked

Some commonly recommended ointments would be  DR PICKLES TATTOO BALM– can be found in Woolworth’s & coles if you get stuck, on the go 🙂   Stay away from Vaseline and petroleum jelly as these clog the pores in the skin and limits the ability for the skin to breathe.

PLEASE NOTE; You can source more Opsite bandages from Chemist warehouse and national pharmacies. Ask for either of these;  OPSITE Flexigrid, Opsite flex fix, Cutifilm.

It IS normal for your tattoo to look bloody/ oozy- underneath your bandage. This is because it is an open wound. You may also find the plasma/ blood may leak underneath the bandage too. Wipe away any excess with paper towel. if the wound is very oozy or If the bandage lifts however- change it, too oozy is not ideal.
What to Avoid:

• Avoid letting the tattoo dry out, but always allow it to breathe.( loose clothes)
• Do not let your bandage slip off- if it does you need to take it off and wash it immediately.
• Avoid excess sweating whilst your bandage is on. This can cause infection. this includes the gym.
• Avoid scented soaps, shampoos, or other chemicals on the tattoo.
• Avoid submerging in a bath, pool or bath tub (for both fresh and salt water) for 2 weeks.
• Avoid picking or scratching the tattoo when it gets itchy, lightly pat the area if you must.
• Avoid roasting the tattoo in the sun, if the tattoo gets sun-burned it’s absolutely wrecked.
  UV rays will fade and damage a brilliant tattoo very quickly, stay out of it. Apply sunscreen lotion every time you frolic in the sun AFTER the tattoo is healed.

Some people do have allergies to certain adhesives (band aids- tape- etc)and tattoo ink. Please contact the artist directly if you have any questions or experience any sign of excessive discomfort. Excess Pain and swelling that is GROWING is not normal, accompanied by fever or chills-   We want our work to heal up best it can.– keep in mind colour and black work do heal differently and more care is needed with colour work

Infection

Infection is not very common but It may happen here is a list of what to lookout for;

– How to tell if your tattoo is indeed infected?  some key signs of tattoo infection are a red haze surrounding the tattoo after its already past a week or more of the healing process, which also could be accompanied by a white haze over sections of the tattoo, indentation of the tattoo, extreme scabbing which may turn green or yellowish, bad smell, and puss. Contacting your tattoo artist so they may confirm whether or not your tattoo is infected and ways to combat the infection is a good idea, although the best way to deal with an infection is by calling a physician, they will know the absolute best way to combat your infection and may prescribe you antibiotics. Most of the time it is from a small fibre or animal hair caught in the open wound… if you wash the area with anti-bacterial soap and allow it to dry out completely it usually removes the foreign object and allows the tattoo to heal again.

-The best ways to avoid infections are by keeping your tattoo clean and by making your artist aware of any sensitivities or allergies you may have before getting tattooed. For example I use latex gloves during the tattooing process, if you have an allergy to latex let me know ahead of time so they can switch to nitrile gloves. Also, many people have a sensitivity to certain tattoo inks, red ink is a common colour that people have a sensitivity to because of the nickel content in that particular colour. An easy way to tell if you have a nickel allergy is by wearing a piece of cheap costume jewellery, which is usually nickel coated, and will discolour your skin black or green. If this happens, I recommend re thinking any red based inks. this includes Orange, pinks, Purple, and some blues.

After your tattoo is healed

-In order to keep your tattoo looking good for as long as possible, it is important to keep your skin moisturised, This will also keep your colours nice and bright!  when you’re going to have prolonged sun exposure, use sun block to help avoid fading. Touch ups are common practice, and many artist’s will offer them at heavily discounted rates within 6 months of your tattoo, however it is a great idea to revisit your artist in a few years for white highlights and other light colours that can become dull due to normal ink dissipation.

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We do Not Tattoo anyone under the age of 18 (even with parents consent)

2: How much do you charge?

As a general Rule, The studio has a starting Price of  $180. However it is