AFTERCARE & FAQ
Upon completion of your tattoo, we will typically do one of two methods of bandaging. Their instructions are below; first described is traditional aftercare (a bandage with black or white “soaker pads”) and the second described is saniderm aftercare (a clear adhesive bandage).
AFTERCARE:
TRADITIONAL
// Be sure to have clean hands before caring for your tattoo.
// Leave your bandage (and any plastic wrap) on for a minimum of two hours. If you’d like to leave it on longer (even as long as overnight) that’s ok too, just no less than two hours.
// Remove the bandage and wash the tattoo with a comfortable temperature water and a soft, mild, non-scented soap. We personally recommend a foaming hand washing soap. This way it comes out soft and you don’t need to rub your sore tattoo more than necessary.
// Pat dry with a paper towel.
// Once dried, apply a layer of ointment over the tattoo. We highly recommend Hustle Butter (which you can buy at Lady Liberty Tattoo). Apply as many times a day as you feel is necessary until the tattoo is fully healed. Hustle Butter is recommended because it is all natural and doesn’t contain petroleum and therefore, won’t clog the skin.
// Wash your tattoo 2-3 times a day with mild soap and paper towels.
// During the first two weeks of healing, the tattoo will begin to flake like a sunburn. This is normal. Don’t pick or help any of this flaking off. Depending on the tattoo, placement, skin type, there may even be some spots of scabbing which will last longer than the flaking. This is also normal but doesn’t always happen. Leave these spots alone and don’t pick the scabs. They will heal naturally on their own even if they take longer. Do not fully submerge your tattoo in water until it is fully healed. Showering is okay!
AFTERCARE:
SANIDERM
// Leave your Saniderm bandage on for four days.
// Saniderm is a breathable, yet waterproof bandage that helps your tattoo heal from the inside out.
// It is normal for fluid to develop beneath the bandage, this is helping the tattoo heal. If for any reason the fluid leaks out of the bandage, the protective seal has been broken and the bandage must be removed and the above aftercare must now be followed.
// After four days, carefully remove the bandage (under warm running water helps), and wash the tattoo with a mild soap.
// Pat dry with a paper towel.
// The tattoo at this point is mostly healed but will require applying ointment or mild lotion daily until the tattoo feels smooth like the rest of your skin. We highly recommend Hustle Butter (which you can buy at Lady Liberty Tattoo). Apply as many times a day as you feel is necessary until the tattoo is fully healed. Hustle Butter is recommended because it is all natural and doesn’t contain petroleum and therefore, won’t clog the skin.
FAQ
How do I set up an appointment with you?
What has been working great for me lately due to being booked out months at a time is to go directly to my booking link and select the appointment type you would like to book for our time together. Please be prepared to pay a nonrefundable deposit when you book. This deposit will be deducted upon completion of the tattoo. If you do find that you have any questions feel free to email me cmrutledgetattoos@gmail.com.
Can you give me a quote for my tattoo?
There are many variables that go into how much a tattoo will actually cost such as the size of the tattoo, the amount of detail in the tattoo, whether it’s color or black & grey, body placement, how well the skin reacts to being tattooed (swelling, bleeding, etc.) and how well a person can sit through being tattooed.
These variables make accurately quoting a tattoo difficult sometimes which is why I give “guesstimates” when asked.
When can I see the drawing?
The day of your appointment. Why? There are a few reasons:
1. I typically don’t draw for most of my appointments until the morning of. Sometimes I’m up at 6 a.m. the day of drawing for your tattoo, other times I’m drawing only a couple of hours prior to our appointment. This has been a system that’s worked well for me for over a decade. This allows your artwork to be the most recent thing I’m thinking about, not something I drew a week ago and need to find inspiration for again.
2. It never fails, when someone sees their drawing prior, they want everyone’s input on it, mom, grandma, bff, the third cousin who “tat’s” out of their bedroom, etc., usually causing more confusion and second guessing for the client than is necessary, limiting any input/explanation from the professional artist that they hired to create their tattoo. I’d rather show you in person, the day of, and let your first impression (whether you love or hate the drawing) be the deciding factor.
3. Many times the line drawings that I do look more like a topographical map of a the Andes Mountains than the what the final product will look like, making it very confusing or even weird looking. The many hundred marks, dashes, crosshatching, strange shapes, etc. are all a “roadmap” for me to follow and indicate certain things for me to accomplish a good end product.
What is the deposit for?
Most everybody wants a tattoo, few are serious about getting a tattoo and a deposit separates those who are serious, from those who aren’t.
When a client books hours and days on my schedule, the deposit is a commitment to not only that time, but also the many hours that I put into designing your custom tattoo. I can’t count how many times I’ve seen appointments scheduled with no deposit and the person never shows up.
I deduct half of the deposit from the total cost of the last session of a tattoo. The other half covers my draw/design time.
Can I bring all of my family and friends with me to my tattoo appointment?
Maybe choose your favorite one person and let them accompany you. Too many people tend to make for a potentially over stimulated and distracting experience. Not to mention, everyone will be tempted to tell you where and how the tattoo will look the best for you.
Can you fix my old tattoo?
Maybe, but I’d much rather stick to doing new work as that is where you’ll get my best results.
If a tattoo requires “fixing”, then it usually means you aren’t happy with it and that it probably doesn’t look very good. This makes ensuring that I can change those things pretty tricky and I’d rather not lend to doing something that leaves you still not 100% satisfied.
I might however direct you to the option of laser treatment by https://falleninktattooremoval.com/. Usually just enough laser treatment to lighten the old tattoo is enough to open the doors for more options for you.
Do you do cover ups?
See the previous question and answer.
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