Tattoo & Piercing Aftercare | Edmonton

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THE HEALING OF YOUR TATTOO OR PIERCING,

DO NOT HESITATE TO CALL US OR COME BY THE SHOP!

Remove bandage under warm running water after 3 to 5 days.
Gently wash your tattoo with your Bad Habit Cleansing Foam, or any unscented soap once the bandage is removed. Pat dry with a clean paper towel.
Wash the tattoo daily. Keep clean and dry.
Water-based unscented lotion can be used on the tattoo once it begins to feel itchy and/or dry. We recommend using our Bad Habit Aftercare Balm to relieve and revive your tattoos !
DO NOT soak or submerge the tattoo in water (ex. a bath, a pool) for 3 to 4 weeks.
DO NOT scratch a fresh tattoo. If the tattoo is flaking or peeling, do not remove scabs or flakes; let them fall off on their own.
DO NOT use Vaseline, oils, or oil based moisturizers on a fresh tattoo.

NATURAL HEALING:

In the shower you’re going to let the water run over your piercing for a good few minutes — if you listen to music in the shower, think 1 full song.

When you’re out of the shower, pat dry and leave it alone.
- No turning, spinning, adjusting, scratching, or swiping wth q-tips.
- Gunk and crust are normal, and an essential part of healing, treat it like you would a scab on a cut, the more you remove and mess with it the longer it will take to heal.

If your piercing is in your ear, make sure you either use a blow dryer (on cold air mode) to dry your piercing and hair, or ensure that the damp hair is pinned away from your piercing until dry. Moisture harbours bacteria and that’s how we avoid infection.

If a large buildup of gunk appears and won’t wash away in the shower, you may gently remove with a q-tip after a hot steamy shower but please limit this action to once a week or less and only do this with persistent crust. Your body is designed to heal these piercings so let them do their thing.

Generally speaking, the initial healing for most piercings is about 3 - 6 months, downsizing should wait until about the 3 month mark, but some people may be able to do it sooner.

Dairy, alcohol and caffeine are diuretics and should be avoided, as diuretics prevent the body from maintaining hydration. We don’t recommend partaking in any of these substances, but if you are going to continue to use them increase your water intake by at least double what you would normally consume.

Anytime you eat, drink, or smoke make sure you rinse your mouth with water. We recommend you carry a water bottle with you throughout your healing journey to ensure proper care is met.

In 3 weeks to 1 month you will need to come back for a downsize to prevent excessive damage to your teeth.

Aside from these steps, please maintain your regular oral hygiene routine, if you use mouthwash daily just make sure its alcohol free.

Pimple looking spots may pop up from time to time on your piercing, and this can happen at any stage of healing. They usually aren’t keloids, they’re irritation bumps, and lots of times they happen from having a post that's too long, or from switching from a straight post to a ring or even from excessive movement. If you suspect it is in fact a keloid, please consult your piercer in person.

These bumps are easily treated by doing hot compresses. We recommend taking a mug of water and microwaving it until its hot to the touch but not scalding. Then take 2 Q-tips and dip them in the water and apply light pressure directly to the bump. Once the swabs cool you will grab 2 fresh ones and repeat the process for about 5-10 minutes twice a day. This process requires consistency and can help the bump go away quickly, although for some it does take up to a couple months.

If at any point you’re having any issues with your piercings, please reach out to our piercers or a piercer you trust. We’re here to help!