Most tattoos will weep a little, (blood and plasma) for about 24 hours. Smaller tattoos less, bigger tattoos more.
For the first few days you may experience stinging, discomfort like you're sunburned or abraded, localized fever, slight swelling, redness, and/or bruising. If it's bothering you, take some aspirin.

Tattoos shouldn't scab heavy if you take care of it right. If your clothes are rubbing it or if you forget to put on the aftercare product, you may get a heavier scab.

If you have sensitive or dry skin, any or all of the healing stages may last longer. It may flake more than once and the itching could be intense. Tattoos on the calf can look ashy even after it's healed. Just use a good lotion.

NO SHAVING OF THE TATTOOED AREA FOR THE FIRST 30 DAYS.

NO DIRECT SUNLIGHT OR TANNING BEDS FOR THE FIRST 30 DAYS. UV rays can cause scarring and fading. After 30 days, UV's will fade a tattoo. Please see the FAQ page for more.

AFTER 30 DAYS, PUT SOME SUNSCREEN ON YOUR TATTOO SO IT DOESN'T FADE. See the FAQ page for more.

DON'T SOAK THE TATTOO FOR THE FIRST 2 WEEKS. Hot tubs, lakes, swimming pools, oceans, etc., are full of crap that can make you sick. Here are some of the diseases I found on the CDC website related to swimming: Crypto, E. Coli, Leptospirosis and Viral Hepatitis A.

DON'T WEAR TIGHT CLOTHES UNTIL FLAKING IS DONE. You can cover it with a bandage but the tattoo will probably still get pissed at you. Light, loose clothing is the best.

DON'T LET PEOPLE TOUCH THE TATTOO. You don't know where they've been! And keep your animals and kids away from it too.

WASH YOUR HANDS BEFORE TOUCHING YOURSELF! Here's a few diseases you can catch by touching something or someone and then touching yourself without washing your hands: influenza, tetanus and Group A Streptococcal disease (strep throat, impetigo, flesh eating bacteria, toxic shock syndrome), Staphylococcus.

WASH YOUR TOWELS AND YOUR SHEETS!

DO NOT COVER YOUR TATTOO WITH PLASTIC WRAP! Your skin can't breathe through plastic and the warm, moist atmosphere breeds bacteria.

DON'T RIP THE BANDAGE OFF THE TATTOO IF IT STICKS. OUCH! Get it wet so it will release.

DON'T RE-BANDAGE your tattoo after the first night or it could delay your healing. But you can wear some old and soft clothing to bed, like a t-shirt or PJ bottoms, to keep you from scratching or waking up with skin flakes in your bed.

DON'T SCRUB the tattoo until flaking is finished. This means loofas, washcloths, sponges or anything but your hand.

FAQ's

IS IT SAFE?
We at Local Color want you to feel safe and confident about receiving your next tattoo or piercing. We would like to encourage you to ask question about any concerns that you may have about your safety. We offer clients a safe sterile environment and we go above and beyond the Center of Disease Controls guide for Universal Precautions. All of our artist are certified by the American Red Cross and have completed the requirements for Preventing Disease Transmission and Blood borne Pathogens. We are also members of the Alliance of Professional Tattoo Artist. www.safe-tattoos.com
Here are some things we would like you know: All artist wear gloves for our protection and yours. New needles are used for each client, and then disposed of for a medical waste pick up. All equipment is ultra sonically cleaned, and then a cold germicidal sterilization is done before it is even gets to the autoclave. (Hospital Sterilization) All equipment is individually packed and sterilized in an autoclave Our autoclave is spore tested once a month, please ask to see reports if concerned All inks, razors, ointments are individually dispensed and a single service items for every client All surfaces are covered with a barrier film, counters, chairs, armrest, clip cord covers, plastic bags, etc., and then wiped down before and after each client with an anti-viral, anti-bacterial germicidal spray. We use every precaution to ensure your safety and ours
If you have any questions or concerns that were not answered please feel free to stop by our studio and we can go over everything with you
Remember, no question is a stupid question when it comes to your safety

Will I get HIV or AIDS?
HIV is a very delicate virus and does not survive long outside the human body. Nor is it spread through casual contact. Generally, the virus is only transmitted when sufficient quantities of infected blood are introduced into the body of another. According to the Center for Disease Control, there has never been a case of HIV transmission from tattooing in the United States.

What about Hepatitis?
Hepatitis, unlike HIV, is a very hardy virus that can be transmitted through an infected needle. To combat this and any other infectious blood borne pathogen, all artists have been certified from the Red Cross Disease Transmission courses. We autoclave single service equipment, use individual portions of ink and lubricant, dispose of used needles in a sharps container according to OSHA guidelines. We also use virucidals to clean our stations between clients, and use barrier protection. Basically, we treat everyone as though they were infectious, so the potential for infection is reduced to next to nothing.

What is single Service Equipment?
All equipment should be single service. This means that each needle and tube set is individually packaged and sealed and autoclaved. Any ointments, pigments, needles, or razors used are discarded after use. After your tattoo is done the artist will disinfect the work area with an EPA approved virucidal that will kill any surface bacteria or viruses
Will my tattoo get infected?
If you do not take care of your tattoo, yes, it can get infected, just like any other break in the skin. Always follow the instructions of aftercare from your artist

What if I am pregnant or on medications?
We will not tattoo anyone that thinks they might be pregnant.
If you are on any medications, Please consult your doctor before getting tattooed, especially if you are on blood thinners, any heart medications, diabetes, etc.

FAQ's CONTINUED TO THE RIGHT -->

FAQ's Continued

Does it hurt?
Getting your first tattoo can be very exciting experience and being prepared for what to expect can keep your more relaxed. First, you should be well rested, and don’t come in on an empty stomach, or your blood sugar levels are low. Drinking alcohol before a tattoo is always a bad idea, it will cause you to bleed more and have a negative effect on your new tattoo.
As far as pain goes this will vary from person to person, but usually it is about what you would expect from a cat scratch or bee sting. The best thing to do is try to relax and not fight it. The worst part of getting a tattoo for the first time is the anxiety of not knowing, once you feel the first line go in you will be relieved that it is not as bad as you thought it would be.

Can a tattoo be removed?
Yes, but it is very expensive and very painful. Think, before you ink.

Can I bring in my own design?
Of course you can. We also have a huge design selection, you can choose from, or alter any one of them, or better yet, have one of our artist designs something custom just for you

Do I need an Appointment?
Walk INS are always welcome, but appointments are a guarantee. It is very hard to judge how long a tattoo will take over the phone so we prefer that you come in to make an appointment so that we can discuss what you are getting first. To make an appointment we require a 20.00 cash deposit, which will go towards the price of your tattoo. If you do not show up you will lose your deposit. No exceptions so think before you leave a deposit. If you are running late, please call us and let us know, because if you are more than 15 minutes late, and we haven’t heard from you, and someone else is waiting to get tattooed, you will lose your deposit. We do not rush people, so please be patient if we are running late. We like to take our time with each customer, and we are sure you don’t want us rushing your tattoo to stay on schedule.

How much does it cost?
Our shop minimum is 50.00. It is really hard to give prices over the phone without seeing the design first. Please feel free to send us an email for a price estimate. Please let us know where you are placing it on your body because certain areas take longer to tattoo.

Should I tip my artist?
All of our artist work on commission. If you feel that they have done a good job then tipping is up to your discretion. Tipping is never expected, but always appreciated.

Why should I not go in the sun or go swimming for two weeks?
The sun can dry out your tattoo or cause blistering while healing. The salt water or chlorine water can cause colors to fade and lead to infections. Do yourself a favor by not throwing your money away, and just don’t do it.

Can a tattoo be covered up?
Yes, it most certainly can. Your artist will be happy to work with you on your options for cover-ups. Sometimes, your options might be limited, depending on what you have and how old or dark the tattoo is. We cannot use flesh tones to cover a tattoo instead of getting it removed.