Aftercare Instructions

For your tattoo:

To properly care for your new tattoo, please be sure to follow these steps closely:
- Gently wash your tattoo with warm, soapy water and pat dry with a soft towel.
- Apply a small amount of Tattoo Goo or Vitamin A & D Ointment
- Repeat this process a few times a day for approximately 5 days (DO NOT let your tattoo dry up).
- After approximately 5 days, switch to a hypoallergenic skin lotion (with Vitamin E, but no Aloe, i.e. Lubriderm, Curel, or Eucerin.
- Continue to apply skin lotion for up to two weeks.
- To maintain your tattoo color once it is healed, apply sunblock as needed.

While your tattoo is healing:
- DO NOT swim or soak in water.
- DO NOT expose your tattoo to direct sunlight or tanning booths
- DO NOT scratch or pick at the tattoo
- DO NOT use Vaseline or Bacitracin on your tattoo
- DO NOT rely on information from your friends! Call us at 617-389-8280

Consult a health care provider for:
- unexpected redness, tenderness or swelling at the site of the body art procedure
- any rash
- unexpected drainage at or from the site of the body art procedure
- a fever within 24 hours of the body art procedure


For your piercing:

Facial and Torso:

Healing Times:
Eyebrow 3-5 months
Nostril 2-4 months
Ear (lobe) 6-12 weeks
Ear (cartilage) 4-8 months
Bridge 4-6 months
Septum 4-6 months
Navel/Nipple 6-8 months
Surface 8-12 months

Cleaning Directions:
Wash piercing at least once daily in shower with a mild, liquid, antimicrobial soap such as Satin or Dr. Bronner's castile soap. Do this by lathering on and around the piercing, rotating jewelry gently, then rinsing. Clean 2-3 times a day with H2Ocean by spraying directly onto area and dabbing off excess with a clean paper towel or tissue, or use an after piercing solution, such as Dr. Pierce, on a cotton swab (make sure you wash your hands prior to touching or cleaning). Do not over clean.

Suggestions:
- Never touch piercing unless you've just washed your hands with antibacterial soap, or the piercing could become irritated or infected.
- DO NOT USE alcohol, peroxide, hibiclense, or any form of iodine to clean your piercing.
- Taking Vitamin C or Zinc orally can speed up healing time.
- DO NOT remove the jewelry until piercing is COMPLETELY healed.
- DO NOT play with your piercing, only touch it to clean it.
- Slight swelling may occur in freshly pierced tissue, along with tenderness and slightly red coloration. This is all normal.
- DO NOT submerge piercing in chlorinated (pools) or salt water for at least 3 weeks, and for fresh water (rivers/lakes) for at least 3 months.

Sea Salt Instructions:
Once daily pour sea salt/water mixture (1/4 tsp sea salt to 8 oz of water) into a shot glass and heat shot glass for approximately 8 to 10 seconds in microwave. Create a seal around the piercing with the shot glass for 15 minutes or take the heated shot glass and dip a folded towel and do a hot compress and repeat. If you have any questions, please stop in our shop or call 617-389-8280.


Oral Piercings:

Healing Times:
Tongue 3-6 weeks
Lip/Labret 4-6 months
Cheek 6-10 months
Monroe 3-6 months

Cleaning Directions:
Rinse with Tech 2000 or Listerine (be sure to dilute Listerine half-and-half with water) after every time you eat, drink, or smoke (this applies to anything other than bottled water). With all piercings excluding the tongue, treat with H2Ocean by spraying it on inside and outside, or with after piercing solution 3 times a day on a cotton swab and cleanse with antibacterial soap such as Satin or Dr. Bronner's castile soap once daily in the shower.

Suggestions:
- Never touch piercing unless you've just washed your hands with antibacterial soap, or the piercing could become irritated or infected.
- DO NOT USE alcohol, peroxide, hibiclense, or any form of iodine to clean your piercing.
- Taking Vitamin C or Zinc orally can speed up healing time.
- Using a mixture of sea salt and water can also help healing (mix 1/4 tsp to 8oz of very warm water, rinse and count to 10 and repeat until all 8oz is gone)
- DO NOT remove the jewelry until piercing is COMPLETELY healed.
- DO NOT play with your piercing, only touch it to clean it.
- Slight swelling may occur in freshly pierced tissue, along with tenderness and slightly red coloration. This is all normal.
- DO NOT submerge piercing in chlorinated (pools) or salt water for at least 3 weeks, and for fresh water (rivers/lakes) for at least 3 months.
- You may also want to buy a new toothbrush, because your old one most likely has a large collection of bacteria on it.