After Being Tattooed FAQ
Our industry may seem complex, with unique style names and many technical terms. There are different methods to apply tattoos, various types of machines, and important aftercare procedures.
We have comprehensive information on Tattoo Aftercare available on our website. Feel free to reach out to us by phone or in person if you have any questions. Whatever information you may need and whatever questions you might have, Anatomy Tattoo is here to help so please feel free to contact us without hesitation.
Healing
After a few days your tattoo may itch, that is a great indicator that it is healing. During this time please don’t scratch it. Some of the best ways to alleviate itch is by pressing on your tattoo with clean hands, patting, or gently slapping it. The absolute best way to alleviate the itch is to apply whichever salve or lotion your artist recommended.
Sometimes tattoos will scab, flake, peel, appear dry or have a waxy shiny appearance. These are all natural parts of healing. If you believe you are healing abnormally please consult your artist.
The sun can be your tattoos biggest enemy. The sun does a great job of breaking down the pigment particles in the skin, the smaller those particles are, the more your tattoo will fade and spread over time. For the best results keep your fresh tattoo out of the sun and apply sunscreen after it’s healed.
After 3-4 weeks your tattoo can be considered healed enough to resume normal activities like swimming or exercising, and is now when we would recommend getting your touch up if you need one or resuming work on an existing tattoo.
Is Scabbing Normal
Not exactly. Scabbing can be normal, but it’s best to avoid scabbing by using a thin amount of lotion. Excessive moisture can cause excessive scabbing, for this reason, we don’t recommend you jump out of the shower having just washed your tattoo and slather a bunch of lotion on it. Your body will heal your tattoo, the lotion is just to keep your tattoo malleable so it can move and bend with you. Your main job is to keep it clean.
If scabbing does occur: Don’t pick at the scabs, otherwise, you may pull up skin and ink and end up scaring your tattoo. The scabs will fall off on their own in a couple of weeks when the skin underneath is healed.
How Do I know if my tattoo is infected?
Your tattoo may be red and swollen a few days after application, It is more difficult than people think to get an infected tattoo. People assume that any irritation is an infection. If your tattoo stays hot, and swollen or gets more swollen past a week or starts leaking yellow, or green pus, then you have an infection. Infections occur most often during the healing process of your tattoo, so we stress keeping your tattoo clean. If you are fighting off an infection please go visit a doctor, If you aren’t sure if you have an infection or an irritation, please come back in and see your artist or another qualified person at anatomy tattoo.
Why does my new tattoo look faded
As the skin starts to heal, it starts to form a new layer of skin that makes your tattoo look dull and faded. Over time, as the new skin settles in, the ink will shine through and your beautiful tattoo will be revealed. This process may take anywhere from 2-8 weeks so be patient before you think about adding more ink.
Can I shower with a fresh tattoo?
Absolutely! Just try to make sure the your regular soaps and shampoos dont come in contact with your tattoo. Bring your liquid dial gold or dr. bronner’s into the shower with you and wash your tattoo last.
Also – be careful when drying yourself off after the shower; pat dry the tattoo to avoid any unnecessary stress to the area.
Can I work out after a tattoo
We recommend keeping your workouts light so you’re not sweating while you’re wearing your bandage for the first three days. After that you can resume your normal workouts with the exception of doing floorwork where the floor will come in contact with your fresh tattoo. In that case we recommend waiting until the full healing period of 3-4 weeks.
Thanking your tattoo artist
Tips
A tip is a great way to show your appreciation for a result and experience you enjoyed. Tattoo artists only receive a percentage of the tattoos they have done, but your entire tip goes to your artist.
Cash tips generally range from 10% – 20% of the tattoo but can really be whatever you want. Cash tips are preferred but each artist also has their own apps (cash app, venmo, paypal, etc.) if you don’t have cash on you.
Gifts
If you don’t have the extra funds for a cash tip, we also have clients that bring us gifts and that is a great way to make us feel appreciated.
Photos
Our favorite thing is receiving images of the tattoos we have made out in the wild. If you have taken photos of your tattoo, a candid of you wearing your tattoo, or some photos of the shop we’d love the opportunity to use them. It’s so nice to see our tattoos healed and being lived in.
Word of mouth
The best way to support us is to tell your family, friends, and give us a review on google or yelp.