Crystal Visions, Bespoke and Custom Body Art

Aftercare for a tattoo is extremely important, correct aftercare not only helps your tattoo to heal at a faster rate but limits complication and ink loss while it does heal.

After your tattoo sitting before you leave the studio it will be cleaned and a thin layer of cream will be applied to the treated area. Here at Crystal Visions we like to use El gato negro healing balm. We will then wrap it with cling film, this is important to stop any bacteria from your tattoo as it is a fresh wound and helps to limit and weeping or bleeding that potentially may occur. This must be left on for about and hour as it gives your tattoo time to starting the healing process in a clean environment.

After leaving it wrapped for about an hour and half give it a wash with lukewarm water and a mild soap, cleaning all plasma off. This may be very sore but correct cleaning is very important and helps to limit scabbing during healing.

Always remember to dry your tattoo before putting your aftercare balm on. This is important to stop over hydration and sweating in the skin as this will lead to possible scab formation. When you dry your tattoo use a clean paper towel or kitchen roll using a dabbing motion till it is dry or you can air dry it naturally. Once fully dry apply a thin layer of aftercare, we recommend El Gato negro aftercare for this available in the studio. 

Repeat the cleaning two to three times a day, but always remember to make sure you tattoo is clean before use or you will encourage bacteria into the tattoo.

Things you must avoid...

1. Baths, do not get in a bath with your new tattoo, they are full of bacteria and cause your body to sweat which can make your tattoo sweat and open up the wound.

2. Swimming pool, avoid these at all costs, they’re filled with bacteria and will heighten your chance of infection greatly.

3. Direct sunlight as it’s bad for tattoos in general always wear sun block as it will fade the ink second during the healing process it will burn.

4. Cleaning products. Keep your ink away from cleaning products with chemicals in them like bleach, hair dyes etc.

5. Pet, although this is a harder one to avoid try not let you pets walk over or jump up at your fresh tattoos, it will hurt and their claws are filled with dirt which if it gets in your tattoo can cause infection.

Most tattoos will have slight scabbing during the healing process and this is normal and will flake off within a ten day period, but keep applying aftercare cream regularly as tattoos can sometimes take several weeks to heal properly.