#tattie

I’ve decided to split my step by step instructions up, so each post can have its own information, to give more attention to each step. For my HOW TO STICK AND POKE Series.  

Hokey Pokey’s Aftercare Routine!

(this is the aftercare routine I’ve created for my clients after I tattoo)

To ensure a top quality result in your tattoo, the rest is up to you. Please strictly follow these instructions for the healing process of your tattoo to ensure maximum results and avoid any error on your part.

Unwrap your tattoo 1-3 hours after the tattoo is completed. Wash gently with an anti-bacterial liquid soap (like Dial) DO NOT USE BARS OF SOAP, AND DO NOT SCRUB!

Pat dry with new paper towel. DO NOT USE SAME HAND TOWEL IN YOUR BATHROOM.

Apply thin layer of unscented, non coloured, lotion/moisturizer.

Repeat morning and night for the duration of the healing process, and if your tattoo is exposed to dirt, heavy sweating, or any outside elements.

No swimming, soaking, suntanning for at least 2 WEEKS! Does not mean you can’t shower, this means you can no soak!

DO NOT TOUCH TATTOO AREA UNLESS YOU ARE CLEANING/APPLYING LOTION OR MOISTURIZER. HANDS ARE DIRTY. DIRT CAUSES INFECTION.

Following these instructions strictly will ensure the best result in your new tattoo. Do not follow what anyone else says is “good” for your tattoo. different applications have different rules.

I’ve decided to split my step by step instructions up, so each post can have its own information, to give more attention to each step. For my HOW TO STICK AND POKE Series.  

Starting the Tattoo

WIth everything all sanitized and setup from the previous steps, gloves on, its now time to start your tattoo.

Take the tattoo needle out of the pre-sterilized package, careful not to poke yourself with the sharp tip. (I tape my needle to a Popsicle stick, to make it easier to hold. 

Dip the needle into the ink. If you see a large drip of ink on the end of your needle, dab off the excess on a piece of paper towel, and start pokin!

You will know the needle is going in enough by feeling it pop through the surface layer of your skin.

[ If you are bleeding, you might be going too deep. some watery looking blood, or plasma is normal, but if you are bleeding, its safe you just clean up and try again when you are all healed up. if you notice you are swelling too much, and the ink is having trouble retaining in the skin, it is also best to stop now and continue when you’re fully healed.]

Complete the first go around of your design. It may look spotty if you didn’t do your pokes close together the first round, but that’s okay! It will look better the second round! ( I normally go around twice, and then just touch up in a 3rd round. You DO NOT want to over work the skin! it can cause scaring, or a raised tattoo. NOT pretty!

Wipe away the ink with some distilled water/soap solution or witch hazel ( witch hazel has skin calming properties). Continue, but keep watch on the swelling. Know when to stop and let yourself heal before finishing. Its okay to not finish your tattoo in one session.

Once you have completed your poke, clean it with the soap/distilled water solution or witch hazel, and wrap with plastic wrap. 

NOTE: Rubbing alcohol is drying and irritating to the skin. DO NOT USE IN YOUR TATTOO AFTERCARE ROUTINE! Use only in sterilizing steps.

I’ve decided to split my step by step instructions up, so each post can have its own information, to give more attention to each step. For my HOW TO STICK AND POKE Series.  

Some more random info about tattoo products.

Inks Always shake well before use. 

Inks are made out of 2 main elements. The pigment, and the carrier(solvent),but can also contain other pigments and products with special properties such as astringents, like alcohol or witch hazel.

Storing inks Store your inks away from sunlight/heat, and do not have ink in areas of freezing temperatures. Always close your inks tightly, and never touch your ink bottles with dirty gloves.

I’ve decided to split my step by step instructions up, so each post can have its own information, to give more attention to each step. For my HOW TO STICK AND POKE Series.  

Setup

Setting up Your Tattoo Work Station Wash your hands with an anti-bacterial soap (I use Dial) and warm water. If you have any open cuts/wounds, make sure it is covered with a new bandage, and then put on your gloves. 

Prepping the work station and tools clean the work surface with a disinfectant spray, and tape down a sheet of tinfoil, or plastic wrap (it makes for an easier clean up) and then lay down paper towel on that. Have extra gloves, as well as prepping the paper towel sheets you need during the tattooing process. Put out ink cups, and clean with rubbing alcohol. Shake your ink bottle well, and fill cups. (I always give myself more ink than i think i need so i don’t have to refill ink cups in the middle of a tattoo). If you do need more ink in the middle of a tattoo, discard of old ink cups and gloves, and fill new clean ink cups away from your work station to avoid all cross contamination. DO NOT TOUCH TATTOO INK BOTTLE OR ANY OTHER NEW CLEAN SUPPLIES WITH DIRTY GLOVES. Gloves are considered DIRTY as soon as they are in contact with the tattoo/bodily fluids/your work station. 

I’ve decided to split my step by step instructions up, so each post can have its own information, to give more attention to each step. For my HOW TO STICK AND POKE Series.  

Prepping the Stencil

You can draw directly on your skin using a body marker/surgical pen/single use pen. Or you can use tattoo stencil paper.

If you’re using a pen If you are just going to draw your design directly on your body, the best thing to use is a marker made for drawing on your skin. A surgical body marker/single use pen, because it won’t just rub off in one wipe when you’re tattooing. If you must use a normal ball point pen, at least have it be a brand new pen, and only use it once to help the cleanliness side of it. If you do have access to a surgical marker, use that! 

If you’re using tattoo stencil paper There are countless stencil paper tutorials you can find on Youtube. but I’ll quickly sum it up for you.

The stencil paper is made up of 4 pages lets call it a booklet. 

The protective back page (sometimes will be yellow, or coloured)

The thermal or carbon plastic sheet. (will be black, or blue depending)

The protective middle sheet (will be very thin, and won’t be attached to the other pages)

The top page, which you will transfer your stencil onto.

First, remove page #3 from the rest.Throw it away. Lay the booklet #1 page down. Next, take the design you have drawn on a separate piece of paper, and place it on top on the booklet, #4. (I tape mine down, to avoid it slipping while I move onto the next step). Next, using a pointy tip pen, or pencil, trace over your original drawing using a good amount of pressure. This will make the carbon or thermal ink transfer onto the back of page #4, thus creating your stencil! When you’ve finished tracing your design, if you peel #4 off of #2, you will see your design, mirrored on the back on #4. This is your stencil. 

ITS BACKWARDS!? Don’t worry, it is backwards, because you lay it ink side down onto your body. It will be the right way when you lay your stencil.