Thank you for booking your tattoo!
Please fill out the following consent form and read through the pre-care and aftercare information on this page before arrival for your tattoo.
Pre Tattoo
Here’s a few things in preparation before and on the day;
Please don’t drink heavily the night before your tattoo appointment. Even if it’s not enough to make you hung-over, it could still thin your blood the next day.
Drink lots of water.
Get to bed on time and make sure to get plenty of sleep.
Check to ensure you have your ID.
Pack a small bag with: bottled water or juice, a fully charged phone (with headphones if you want to listen to your own music or to play games), snacks (particularly ones high in carbohydrates and protein like granola bars, nuts, chips, crackers, or fresh fruit), and a pillow or small (clean) blanket. You might want to make sure you have a ride home if you think there’s a chance you’ll need one.
Please make sure you shower or bathe beforehand. Unless you’re getting an underarm tattoo, please also wear deodorant. You should consider wearing clothes that it won’t matter if you get ink stains on. Even in the summer it’s a good idea to bring a sweatshirt or something warm to wear because getting tattooed can sometimes make you feel cold.
The area to be tattooed, and usually a large space surrounding it, will need to be shaved to prepare your skin for the tattoo. Some clients prefer to shave the area themselves beforehand and are welcome to do so.
If you tan, you’ll want to get one before getting tattooed because you shouldn’t be tanning again until your tattoo is healed. You’ll always need to wear sunblock on your tattoo. If you spray tan, don’t do it before.
Always eat a full meal before heading in to get tattooed! Eating heavy and filling foods helps in particular because they tend to last longer. Not being hungry will make it easier for you to sit calmly.
I will not tattoo anyone under the influence. If you have an appointment and are turned away for being intoxicated and/or under the influence, you will lose your deposit.
Don’t drink a bunch of caffeine or energy drinks before coming in! It will not only thin your blood; it will make it harder to sit still.
You need to always show up on time, while also keeping in mind that sometimes an artist may be running a little behind. The person ahead of you might be taking longer than expected. You’ll be happy I take the extra time to make sure you’re happy once it’s your turn, so please try and be understanding. You can use this extra time to get comfortable with the atmosphere, use the toilet or have a cigarette.
Plan to rest after getting tattooed. Taking time afterward to relax and clean up your new artwork can help with the healing. Preparing dinner earlier in the day is sometimes helpful because getting a tattoo can make you surprisingly hungry and tired.
Immediate Care for Your Tattoo
Upon return home, please do the following;
Remove dressing approximately 2-3 hours after applied.
CAREFULLY with clean hands, wash your tattoo with hot water.
Rinse your tattoo off with cold water and pat dry with a new piece of kitchen towel. DO NOT RUB.
VERY IMPORTANT leave your tattoo to air-dry out for 10-30 mins.
Apply a VERY THIN layer of recommended Tattoo Healing cream once tattoo is dry. This with aid with healing and prevent itching.
Re-dress the tattoo with cling-film and secure with medical tape.
Continue steps 2-6 two times a day for 3 days then stop using cling-film.
You can then apply aftercare 2-3 times a day to care for your tattoo until the tattoo has healed. This usually takes 7-10 days. DO NOT SCRATCH OR PICK YOUR TATTOO
Post Tattoo
Upon return home, please do the following;
It is important that your new tattoo is protected from the sun and dirty environments,as it is an open wound at this time. You should wait to remove the dressing until you can properly clean it. Washing it with warm water opens pores of the skin allowing correct cleaning, rinsing with cold water closes the pores lock the ink in.
You should apply aftercare cream keeping the tattoo slightly moist, but not smothered. Use just enough to make the tattoo slightly shiny. Your tattoo will lose fluid at first, which is normal. You want to make sure moisture doesn’t get trapped under the aftercare cream (hence air drying first). Trapped moisture caused by too much aftercare cream can cause ‘bubbling’ of your new tattoo, which can cause thick scabbing. Should this happen, leave the scab alone and keep it dry.
No sunbathing, swimming or saunas until your new tattoo is fully healed.
Ask about touch-ups for your tattoo. I offer a free touch-up if necessary, but there are sometimes rules about when and how you may obtain these follow-up sessions. Be aware that if you don’t follow the aftercare instructions and choose to do something detrimental to your tattoo, I might not only be disappointed with you, I might not do touch-ups for free.
As with any healing, the better you take care of yourself the better your body will heal. In the days preceding your new tattoo please take good care of yourself. Drink lots of water, get plenty of rest, and try and keep your body fed and nourished.
Excessive drinking will inhibit your healing processes, particularly the first night after getting a new tattoo. Take it easy and your tattoo should thank you with a quick, trouble free heal.
If you had a good experience, tell others about it. I would love it if you tagged my facebook page (Neef Tattoos) in pictures and posts where you write about how happy you are with your new tattoo, and how awesome I am! Word-of-mouth is an artist’s best form of advertising.
If you had a bad experience, feel free to let me know by directly contacting me. I’ll always do my best to make sure you’re happy.
Don’t be afraid to message me with questions about the tattoo. I’m always more than willing to explain aftercare, do follow-up check-ins, or just give you any information you may need.