What to Expect the Day of Your Tattoo
At Sorry Mom Tattoo Studio, I primarily do online consultations through direct messages on Stephanie’s Instagram, email, or the Sorry Mom facebook page. This is to streamline the process and for both parties to be able to reference ideas and images sent. Stephanie operates on a design on-the-day basis based on the ideas you send before your appointment. This means she will have something drawn up for you to see at the start of your appointment and can make minor adjustments as needed based on your preferences . If you alter your tattoo idea drastically on the day outside of the scope of what was originally discussed, you will be charged for your artist’s time. Once you approve of your design, your artist will present you with various size options and help you decide on the best placement.
**If you’d like to see your design ahead of time, Stephanie offers a design package that allows you to see your design 1 week prior to your appointment. This costs a one-time fee of $100 and is not deducted off the final price of the tattoo. This fee also includes one round of revisions based on your notes.
Some tips for the day of your tattoo:
Make sure to eat a good solid meal before your session and feel free to bring a drink/snack with you. I also recommend that you shower before your appointment. At your own discretion, you can take an Ibuprofen or Tylenol before your appointment which can help with pain and swelling.
If you plan on using numbing cream for your session, please discuss this ahead of time with your artist so they can let you know how to best prepare for your session.
Aftercare Recommendations
At Sorry Mom Tattoo Studio, there are two bandage options: a liquid bandage spray or a bandage sticker.
If you had a bandage spray used on your tattoo, I recommend keeping this product on for 18-24 hours. This product can be removed via warm water and some gentle washing with unscented soap. No hard scrubbing, exfoliants, or loofahs are required to remove this product. Press/pat dry with a clean towel or paper towel.
If you had the bandage sticker applied to your tattoo, I recommend keeping this product on for 2-3 days. Sometimes ink/blood plasma will build up under the sticker surface (this is totally normal, please do not attempt to pop/poke a hole to drain this fluid). I recommend removing it in the shower with warm water. The best removal method is to pull down in the direction away from your tattoo. This helps avoid extreme tension on your skin which can result in ink lifting.
For the next 2-3 weeks, you should use fragrance-free soap in the shower and unscented lotion afterwards. Unscented products will help prevent unnecessary drying out of your tattoo. I recommend lotioning 2-3 times a day within the first couple of weeks to help encourage the skin to maintain moisture and prevent scabbing. The key is to apply lotion in thin layers so you can allow your skin to keep breathing. If too much lotion is used (thick layers), it can clog the skin and negatively affect your tattoo healing.
Avoid pools, hot tubs, baths, lakes and saunas until your tattoo is completely healed (around 1-1.5 months). This will help reduce the amount of fading that happens to your tattoo and any harsh chemicals/bacteria that may cause issues in your healing process.
It is highly important you keep your tattoo out of direct sunlight for the next 1-1.5 months. Within the first year of your tattoo, it is the most susceptible to sun damage. Extreme sun exposure can fade your tattoo making your colors less bright and your black less black. Once fully healed, use plenty of sunscreens to protect your tattoo moving forward.
Healing tattoos typically get really itchy. Avoid directly scratching your tattoo to prevent lifting ink and introducing bacteria. Leaving your tattoo alone is the best way to let it heal. If needed, you can itch around the area of your tattoo or gently rub it while applying lotion with clean hands.
Avoid picking any flaky bits of your tattoo during your healing process. This can cause scarring and actually fade portions of your tattooing unevenly.
Avoid any strenuous activities that may cause direct irritation or excessive sweating.
To help your healing process along, having fresh bed sheets and avoiding contact with any bacteria or pet hair/allergens is ideal.
If you show any signs of infection or heavy scabbing, try using a thin layer of polysporin to resolve the issue. And obviously, if you’re very worried, please consult your physician. I am not a doctor nor do I claim to be. All these tips are just what I have found work best.
Happy Healing! Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns.
