Vanguard Tattoo Collective
Tattoo Aftercare Instructions
1) Always wash your hands with non-scented, anti-bacterial soap before touching your tattoo.
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2) Use non-scented anti-bacterial soap to wash your tattoo gently. Rinse and pat dry with a clean paper towel. (No fiberous towels as they can leave fluff behind to get stuck in your tattoo.)
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3) If you have purchased the Mad Rabbit Tattoo Balm from the shop, lightly apply in small circles to the tattoo area. (Mad Rabbit is made with natural and organic ingredients that promote healing. ALWAYS double check the ingredients of any product for allergies.)
If you did not, please use non-scented lotion (aquaphor, aveeno, etc..) and apply a very light layer to the tattoo area.
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4) Repeat steps 1-3 two to three times a day until your tattoo is completely healed.
5) Do not scratch, peel or rub the tattoo. It will peel naturally. Avoid sunlight, swimming pools or baths or bodies of water for 2-3 weeks.
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6) If your tattoo artist gave you specific instructions, please follow the artists instruction.
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7) If you have any questions, please contact your artist directly! They are best qualified to answer about your tattoo.
Vanguard Tattoo Collective
Saniderm Tattoo Aftercare Instructions
1) Saniderm (also know as Second Skin) acts as a barrier for your new tattoo. Its clear, allowing you to keep an eye on the healing process, and flexible, allowing you to move freely while your tattoo heals.
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2) If you have allergies to adhesives, medical tapes and the like, please do not use saniderm. The irritation can cause issues with your healing tattoo.
Even if you have no allergies, it is good to watch around the edges for any redness or itching. If you see this, contact your artist and allow them to decide whether you should remove it.
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3) Please leave the saniderm on for atleast 5 days, unless otherwise instructed by your artist.
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4) Blood, Plasma and Ink may collect in what is referred to as an "Ink Sack" under the saniderm, This is a normal part of the healing process.
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5) Avoid sunlight, swimming pools or baths or bodies of water for 2-3 weeks. You can get the saniderm wet, but you cannot submerge the saniderm. Showers are fine.
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6) If your tattoo artist gave you specific instructions, please follow the artists instruction.
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7) If you have any questions, please contact your artist directly! They are best qualified to answer about your tattoo.
Vanguard Tattoo Collective
Piercing Aftercare Instructions
NON-ORAL and Outside of oral piercing: You have two options to take care of your new piercing:
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Option 1) Spray H20cean, NeilMed, or Saline Spray Solution 2x daily for 1 month. Use a Q-tip to gently clean around the piercing and clean off any crustys that may have form around the piercing.
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Option 2) Mix a 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt with a 16oz bottle of purified water. Use a Q-tip to apply the solution to the piercing 2x a day for 1 month.
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*Whichever method that you use DO NOT use any soap, cream, ointment, alcohol or peroxide to clean the crustys off the piercing. Buiild up is a normal part of the healing process and can be removed via Option 1 or 2 from above.
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*DO NOT submerge yourself in any large body of water for at least 4 weeks. This includes the pool, hot tub, jacuzzi, bath tub, lake, pond or ocean. You can still take a shower; just make sure your piercing is the last thing you rinse off befoer you get out. You do not want to leave any soap or shampoo in the piercing or it may become irritated.
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*Leave the jewelry in for at least 1 month before you change it. When you do change the jewelry, a piercer at Vanguard Tattoo Collective will change it out for free, if the jewelry is bought from us.
If you chose to purchase other jewelry outside of the shop and want to change it yourself, please make sure you soak the new jewelry in a shot glass full of rubbing alcohol for a minimum of 20 minutes before you put it in the new jewelry.
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*Nostrils: Leave the jewelry in for at least 2 months before you change it. If the jewelry comes out and you are having troubles getting it back in, put a regular earring stud in, cleaned with rubbing alcohol first, to hold the hole open. Come to see us at the shop immediately to have a new one put in. Nostril piercings close up extremely fast and will hurt more to put new jewelry in if its starts to close up. Using a stud may feel stupid, but it is in the best interest of your piercing.
Be careful using towels and washcloths on your face. Your jewelry could get caught and pulled out.
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ORAL PIERCINGS:
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1) Rinse your mouth with Listerine, H2Ocean Mouthwash or an ANTISEPTIC MOUTH RINSE every time you eat, drink, smoke or put anything in your mouth that is not water. If you are not sure if a mouthwash is antiseptic, look at the label. It must say antiseptic on the bottle. If it does not, this is considered a "breathe freshener" and will not help heal your piercing.
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2) Your piercing will be swollen for a couple of days. This is completely normal. Take an Anti-inflammatory such as Advil , Aleve or Ibuprofen to control the swelling. Tylenol and some prescription medications will not work.
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3) Do not have contact with anyone else's body fluids for at least 6 weeks. This means no tongue kissing or oral sex.
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4) Try to abstain from alcholic beverages, however if you must drink, do not drink beer. Beer has yeast and will cause a yeast infection in a new piercing. Please stick to the liquors. ​
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Always feel free to reach out to the shop or piercer if you have any questions or concerns!