Please understand this guide is a general guide and your artists will always know best for the tattoo that you have received!

Tattoo Aftercare Instructions

1. Day of Your Tattoo

1.1 - Second Skin (Tattoo film) Cover Instructions

1.2 - Temporary Cover Instructions

2. Day 1-14

3. Day 14 Onwards

1. Day of Your Tattoo

On the day or your tattoo your artist may determine whether a Second skin cover or temporary cover will be best suited for you

1.1 Second Skin Cover Instructions

The initial piece of tattoo film can be left on the skin for up to 24hrs. The exact time for removal depends on the amount of fluids (blood and plasma) the wound has exuded. (This will vary person to person)

Please wash your hands before removing the film and giving your tattoo a thorough wash with a mild body wash, rising well, patting dry with clean paper towel and then left alone (aside from daily cleaning), until you start with aftercare applications

** If the tattoo film is hard to remove from your skin, either in the shower or under running water - soap around the edges of the second skin until the adhesive becomes weaker and removal of the film is easier.

If you have noticed any residual adhesive lingering after removal this can be collected by applying a thin layer of aftercare with clean hands. The remaining adhesive should ball-up and be easily removed with a final thorough soapy wash, rinse and paper towel pat-dry.

1.2 Temporary Cover (cling wrap) Instructions

When you arrive home or within two hours after your appointment - please wash your hands before removing the cover and giving your tattoo a thorough wash with a mild body wash, rinsing well, patting dry with clean paper towel and then left alone (aside from daily cleaning), until you start with aftercare applications

Day 1-14 Instructions (approximate - everyone’s skin is different) 

Please wash your tattoo morning, night and whenever it has accidentally gotten dirty, as instructed above. Once fully dry and with clean hands, apply a very small amount of tattoo aftercare balm available for purchase at the studio (Soma Tattoo Supply Tattoo Butter) or your preferred healing balm. 

Keep hydrated, our bodies are able to flush out any potential infections or immune system responses that may flare up after being tattooed, through the help of staying HYDRATED. Have as much water as you can, good quality spring water, or filtered water. This will help protect the immune system and help to heal the tattoo quicker and better. 

This goes for nutrition too, you don’t want to be filling your body full of potential toxins like alcohol and sugars, so try to avoid them as much as possible for a few days BEFORE the tattoo as well as the healing period. 

**If using coconut oil, it should be freshly purchased and organic to avoid cross-contamination and expiry. Please remove coconut oil from the jar with a paddle pop stick or cotton-tip to avoid contaminating the jar with germs from fingernails etc

Day 14 - Onwards Instructions

Your tattoo should now have gone through its initial healing stages and while it will continue settling into the skin - you can now resume your normal daily hygiene routine. 

We recommend continuing to look after your tattooed skin with your SOMA TATTOO AFTERCARE , moisturisers and/or natural oils to help maintain the vibrancy of the ink in the skin. This includes looking after it in the sun, being sun smart, covering up if need be or using reef and skin safe sunscreen (if you wear sunscreen, if not, just be smart and get out of the sun if it’s too sunny!).  

DISCLAIMER

Your artist would be more than happy to touch-up your tattoo, should this be required - however, free touch-ups will only be honoured if you have followed the provided aftercare instructions and have discussed touch up requirements with your artist.

Summary of the best way to heal your tattoo

• Wash your hands before any contact with your tattoo

• Eat well and stay hydrated (keeping immune system strong)

• Considering supplementing vitamin C and/or other high quality immune boosting vitamins.

• Follow the provided aftercare instructions below

• Avoid any cross-contamination

• Pick up a small pack of Sensitive Wet Wipes (ensure they are water based and not full of chemicals and synthetics) for easy wipe-down cleaning when you are out and about

Things to avoid for the first 2 weeks:

• Contact with dirty surfaces / dirt 

• Animal fur / saliva

• Direct sunlight / sunburn

• Swimming or bathing in any water (Showering and cleaning your tattoo are vital exceptions; but prolonged water exposure must be avoided)

• Cross contamination (eg: Someone touching your fresh tattoo, touching your own tattoo without freshly cleaned hands)

• Tight clothing (2 weeks) - make sure clothing in the area of your tattoo is loose-fitting (Should your tattoo stick to your clothing please wet down the fabric thoroughly before attempting to separate)

• Sweat sitting in your fresh tattoo (Please wash or wipe as soon as possible)

• Scratching or picking  your tattoo during healing (Let any skin or scabs flake off naturally)

• Applying too much aftercare (The recommended, applied amount should all absorb into the skin within an hour after application. Any excess should be removed by patting clean paper towel across the tattoo, if it isn't the tattoo would will be encouraged to stay wet, open and susceptible to infection for longer)
  

Things to look out for (but are rare) within the first 2 weeks

• Potential allergic reaction to adhesive from the Second Skin cover (eg. a rash surrounding but not on the tattooed area)

• Severe redness / tenderness

• In-grown hairs

• Extreme swelling

• Yellow plasma (This is a sign of infection)

Please let your artist know immediately if you are experiencing any of these  - it may be an indication of an infection.

Minor infections can occur and heal without detriment to the tattoo or your overall health; but in the rare instance that a severe infection has developed you may require a visit to the Doctor for a course of antibiotics to quickly remedy the situation.