Do... Before You Come In:

• Eat at least 1 to 4 hours before your appointment.
  
• Drink a lot of water or non-alcoholic, non-caffeinated beverages. Keep yourself hydrated.
  
• Bathe or take a shower before you come in because you want the area of your body being tattooed or pierced to be clean. Besides, don't you want to smell nice for us? However, don't use any heavy lotions, oils or perfumes on the area being tattooed or pierced.
  
• Wear comfortable clothes. Think reasonably when getting dressed for your appointment, if you are having a forearm tattooed, wear short sleeves. Calf or leg, wear shorts, etc.

Do... Identification - What to Bring:

• For tattooing, bring your Valid ID¹ proving that you are 18 or older. Remember: You MUST be 18 years or older with a Valid ID¹ in order to get a tattoo from Think Ink Tattoos. No exceptions! We do not do "Parental Consent" tattoos. We do not tattoo anyone, for any reason, under the age of 18.
  
• For piercing adults 18 and over bring your Valid ID¹. For piercing minors under the age of 18 you MUST have Parental Consent, with the following qualifications: A Parent must be present. Both Minor and Parent must each have Valid ID¹ with the same last name. If last names are different, a Birth Certificate is required.
  
  ¹A "Valid ID" is any legal, current document that has both your photo and birth date; such as Drivers License, Military ID, Passport or Residency Card.

Don't... What NOT to do:

• No aspirin, ibuprofen or alcoholic beverages for a minimum of 24 hours before your appointment/coming in. All of these are blood thinners and may cause excessive bleeding if taken before your tattoo or piercing.
  
• No alcohol or drugs on the day of your service. Not only will the alcohol thin your blood, the drugs and alcohol will actually intensify pain and make you unsuitable for tattooing or piercing. If we suspect that you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol we will refuse service.

[ Back to Top ]

Piercings

• Though it's tempting, don't touch the body piercing or microdermal implant! Also, don't let anyone else touch, kiss or lick the body piercing.
  
• Don't take it off! Body piercings and microdermal implants may take many months to years to completely heal. Changing or removing jewelry should be avoided during this healing time.
  
• Don't let the body piercing or microdermal implant come in contact with another person's bodily fluids.
  
• Never use Alcohol, Hydrogen Peroxide or hand soap to clean the piercing because they may damage healthy cells and can cause scar tissue. Petroleum jelly is also not recommended for body piercing/microdermal implant aftercare as it can trap and promote the growth of harmful bacteria. We recommend and use H₂Ocean for cleansing your piercings.
  
• Avoid hot tubs and public pools during the healing process. If you must swim, cover with a waterproof bandage.
  
• Reduce intake of alcohol, drugs, caffeine, and aspirin during the initial healing period.
  
• Avoid smoking, chewing tobacco and eating spicy foods for oral piercings.
  
• Avoid direct sunlight or tanning beds for a few weeks. Definitely avoid tanning oils, lotions and sand.
  
• Avoid tight fitting clothes which might irritate a new body piercing.
  
• Change your bed sheets at least once a week.

[ Back to Top ]

Tattoos

• Now, you have your fresh new tattoo, and you want to take good care of it! From this point on, your artist is not responsible for any infection or problems you may have with your tattoo if you don't take proper care of it. It is very important that you follow these guidelines. A really beautiful tattoo can turn into a disaster if the proper aftercare is not taken.
  
• Leave That Bandage Alone! Your artist took the care to cover up your new tattoo for a very good reason - to keep air-born bacteria from invading your wound. Yes, as pretty as your new tattoo is, it is still a wound. Open flesh is a breeding ground for bacteria and infection. Leave the bandage on for a minimum of two hours. Excitement of having a new tattoo will make you want to remove the bandage so you can show your friends, but your friends will just have to wait until later.
  
• Once home, after removing the bandage, wash the tattoo two to three times a day with warm water and a mild, unscented soap (do not use an antibacterial soap) until the tattoo stops oozing. This is the "plasma cycle". Don't use a wash cloth, just use your fingers with medium pressure during your washes, this will help get rid of any dried secretion you may not see. The dried secretion forms a barrier layer which is the start of a scab. The dead dermal layers will form more rapidly on the first two days of healing because of the inflamed dermal cells. Washing with warm water opens the derma pores and gives your skin a deep clean. Then pat (do not rub) the area firmly with a CLEAN towel or paper towel to get it completely dry. Follow with a very light application of Lubriderm or Aquaphor.
  
  IMPORTANT NOTE: Do not use Neosporin. It's a great product for cuts and scrapes, but not for tattoos. Some people may have an allergic reaction to the Neosporin, which causes little red bumps. When the bumps go away, so does the ink, and you end up with a polka-dotted tattoo.
  
• After that, continue to keep it clean, but you can use lotion when needed instead of ointment, to keep the skin soft. Whatever lotion you use, it MUST be dye and fragrance free.
  
• Bathing, Showering, Hot Tubs, and Swimming: Yes, you can shower with a new tattoo. It's OK to get your tattoo wet - just don't soak it. Submerging your tattoo in a bath or hot tub can cause serious damage, so you'll want to avoid those for 2-3 weeks, but showering is perfectly fine as long as you don't saturate your tattoo. If you get soap or shampoo on your tattoo, just remove it quickly with water. Swimming - whether it be a pool, fresh water or salt water - should be avoided for at least 2 weeks.
  
• Scabbing and Peeling: After a few days, you will notice some peeling and possibly a little scabbing. Do not pick at it or scratch it even though it will start to itch when it begins to heal. Again, the advice here is, don't pick, and don't scratch! If the skin itches, slap it. If it is peeling, put lotion on it. And if it is scabbing, just leave it alone. Your tattoo is almost healed, and now is not the time to ruin it!
  
• Protection from the sun: After your tattoo is healed, from now on, you will always want to protect it from the sun's ultraviolet rays. These can fade and damage a brilliant tattoo very fast. Before spending a lot of time in excessive heat, protect your tattoo with a minimum 30SPF sun block. This will keep your tattoo vibrant for many years, and it will continue to be a source of great pride.

[ Back to Top ]