Tattoo and Piercing Healing Guide
Please note these are studio instructions from Rumble and Hum, your individual tattoo artist/Piercer may have varying guidelines – Please respect them.
Tattoo Dry Healing
You will need the following:
- A Shower, bath or basin with running warm water (*NB* you may not submerge or soak your NEW tattoo in any body of water for at least 10-14 days)
- A bar of Dove or Protex gentle soap, if you use hypoallergenic soap, that is fine too (most non-scented soaps are fine – we recommend the 2 mentioned above) – keep your soap clean and in a container like a Tupperware or closed soap dish, yes you have to wash the soap after you’ve used it and keep it safe from germs and bacteria that could settle on it if left exposed.
- A non-fragranced moisturiser – we recommend any plain aqueous, E45 or Epimax.
We highly recommend as an alternative to using products from Flashink tattoo aftercare. Their aftercare products are available to purchase in our studio or online at the Flash Heal site here. These products have been personally tried and tested, They are Proudly South African, Locally produced, all-natural and Vegan and contain additional antibacterial and microbial protection. Definitely, the best in the industry as far as we are concerned.
Instructions:
1. Wash your hand and nails thoroughly before you begin!
2. Under lightly running warm water, remove any barrier like cling film or bandage your artist may have applied (it should be left on for at least 3 – 4 hours after your tattoo before you begin washing this excludes dermal plaster unless it is already coming off), you can do this with your non-dominant hand to avoid cross-contamination.
3. Use your clean hand to gently wash off any residual plasma your body has excreted, you will feel the consistency of the surface of your tattoo go from slimy to slightly abrasive. It is important that you remove all of the ‘slime’ as residual slime can lead to infections and thick heavy scabbing – we want beautiful flakes during healing, not tortoise shells
4. Lather the soap in your hand and wash gently using circular motions again making sure we have no residual slime – this step can be used in conjunction with step 3.
5. Rinse off your tattoo thoroughly
6. Allow to air dry for about 20 minutes – You can pat dry with a clean sterilised cotton towel, DO NOT use anything with loose fibres and try not to come into contact with anything whilst you air dry
7. Apply your moisturiser or studio-supplied aftercare to the area – remember that a little goes a long way; a pinkie nail-size dollop can cover an entire forearm for example. There is no need to over-moisturise.
DO NOT use Bepanthen, Vaseline or anything else that is considered to be a barrier product, so stay away from the baby bum creams no matter what your mom, sister, cousin or aunty says.. Your new tattoo needs to breathe.
8. Repeat steps 1 – 7 twice daily (morning and evening) for about the next two weeks. (healing periods differ from person to person, once your tattoo is done flaking it is considered healed)
9. Dry healing tattoos are prone to itching when they are healing and flaking – Try and keep your dirty fingernails away from your new tattoo. DO NOT pick any scabs
Contact the studio after 2 weeks with a picture so we can see if any touch-ups are needed. Contact the studio if there are any abnormal fluids, swelling or irritations on or around your new tattoo. We are always there to help with any concerns, no matter how big or small.
Dermal Plaster Healing
1. You only have to look after the plaster, and tape down any loose or flapping ends with surgical tape or Elastoplast.
2. You may get what we call an “ink sac” it looks gross and sometimes distorts the lines and colours under the plaster – This is completely normal, it is your body excreting plasma which is our white blood cell army coming to heal.
3. If your plaster comes off by lifting, leaking or breaks within the first 48 hours after application, follow the Dry Healing steps guide as soon as possible.
4. The Dermal plaster can be removed after 7 days from application, your brand new healed tattoo will be waiting for you – give it a wash with some warm water and soap and apply a small amount of moisturiser
Contact the studio after removing the dermal with a picture so we can see if any touch-ups are needed. Contact the studio if there are any abnormal fluids, swelling or irritations on or around your new tattoo. We are always there to help with any concerns, no matter how big or small.
Wet Healing (Only For The Experienced!)
You will need the following:
- A Shower, bath or basin with running warm water (*NB* you may not submerge or soak your NEW tattoo in any body of water for at least 10-14 days)
- A bar of Dove or Protex gentle soap, if you use hypoallergenic soap that is fine too (most non-scented soaps are fine – we recommend the 2 mentioned above) – keep your soap clean and in a container like a Tupperware or closed soap dish, yes you have to wash the soap after you’ve used it and keep it safe from germs and bacteria that could settle on it if left exposed.
- A non-fragranced moisturiser – we recommend any plain aqueous, E45 or Epimax.
- A roll of cling film or body wrap film
- Surgical tape or Elastoplast
We highly recommend it as an alternative to using products from Flashink tattoo aftercare. Their aftercare products are available to purchase in our studio or online at the Flash Heal site here. These products have been personally tried and tested, They are Proudly South African, Locally produced, all-natural and Vegan and contain additional antibacterial and microbial protection. Definitely, the best in the industry as far as we are concerned.
Instructions:
1. Wash your hand and nails thoroughly before you begin!
2. Under lightly running warm water, remove any barrier like cling film or bandage your artist may have applied (it should be left on for at least 3 – 4 hours after your tattoo before you begin washing this excludes dermal plaster unless it is already coming off). You can do this with your non-dominant hand to avoid cross-contamination.
3. Use your clean hand to gently wash off any residual plasma your body has excreted, you will feel the consistency of the surface of your tattoo go from slimy to slightly abrasive. It is important that you remove all of the ‘slime’ as residual slime can lead to infections and thick heavy scabbing.
4. Lather the soap in your hand and wash gently using circular motions again making sure we have no residual slime – this step can be used in conjunction with step 3.
5. Rinse off your tattoo thoroughly
6. Allow to air dry – You can pat dry with a clean sterilised cotton towel or paper towel, DO NOT use anything with loose fibres and try not to come into contact with anything whilst you air dry
7. Apply your moisturiser or studio-supplied aftercare to the area.
DO NOT use Bepanthen, Vaseline or anything else that is considered to be a barrier product, so stay away from the baby bum creams no matter what your mom, sister, cousin or aunty says.
8. Wrap your tattoo with the inside layer of the cling film/body wrap film, be sure to try and seal the tattoo off as best as possible from any air or external hazards such as dirt, hair or substances that may cause infection.
9. Use tape to secure any lifts or loose ends
10. This process needs to be repeated twice daily for 7 days minimum, with no exceptions! After 7 days you can wash and moisturise the tattoo once a day or as needed
P.S. Creating a wet warm place that isn’t sealed off is a breeding ground for bacterium and germs that lead to infection – we strongly advise against using this healing method if you are a novice healer or it is your first tattoo, we always encourage our clients to try new things but not at the expense of your new amazing body art that I’m sure you saved for.
Piercings
You will need the following:
- A small clean glass or bowl of warm water – the basin works fine too
- A bar of Dove or Protex gentle soap, if you use hypoallergenic soap that is fine too (most non-scented soaps are fine – we only recommend the 2 mentioned above) – keep your soap clean and in a container like a Tupperware or closed soap dish, yes you have to wash the soap after you’ve used it and keep it safe from germs and bacteria that could settle on it if left exposed.
- Cotton pads / Earbuds
- Saline solution (no surgical spirits!), any saline is good so long as it specifically says saline on the bottle.
Rumble and Hum do sell specific industry-related aftercare brands for the products listed above with additional antibacterial and/or microbial protection – it is at your discretion whether to purchase these products or not.
Instructions:
1. Place one clean side of the earbud into the water and then rub it on the soap.
2. Clean your piercing around both sides (front and back), use multiple earbuds if necessary, repeating step one if necessary.
3. DO NOT double dip your used earbud into the water or the soap or the surface you are cleaning, once you have removed the earbud from the area you are cleaning, you need to use a new clean side or earbud… Don’t skimp.
4. Dip the other clean end or new earbud into the water and take off any soap residue in and around the piercing (back and front).
5. It is not advised to turn the piercing while cleaning but preferably move it back and forth.
6. Apply the saline solution with a spray bottle or cotton pad or earbud and then leave it alone.
7. Do this twice daily for the next 6 weeks.
8. For multiple piercings follow steps 1-6 for each individual piercing.
9. Piercings are prone to itching when they are healing – Try and keep your dirty fingernails away from them.
Contact the studio if there are any abnormal fluids, swelling or piercing bumps in and around your new piercing. We are always there to help with any concerns, no matter how big or small.