Aftercare

1. Your artist has thoroughly cleaned your tattoo; it is safe to go home without any bandage or plastic wrap.
2. Do not touch your tattoo on the way home. Avoid leaning on it, rubbing it with clothing, or letting anyone else touch it.

1. Always wash your hands with mild, fragrance free soap and warm water before touching your tattoo.

2. Gently wash your tattoo 2–3 times per day for the first few days:

   • Use lukewarm water and a mild, fragrance free liquid soap.
   • Use only your fingertips to lightly clean away any plasma, excess ink, or surface residue.
   • Do not use a cloth, sponge, or anything abrasive.
3. Rinse well with clean, lukewarm water. Do not soak the tattoo or hold it under running water for long periods.
4. Pat the area dry with a clean, soft towel or disposable paper towel. Do not rub.
5. After cleaning, let the tattoo air dry completely and then leave it open to the air.
6. Once dry, apply a small amount of ointment (Bepanthan Tattoo cream) to the tattoo, if you apply too much, you may risk infection.

1. Continue washing the tattoo gently 1–2 times per day with mild, fragrance free soap, then pat dry and allow it to air dry.
2. Your tattoo will start to look dry, then flake and peel like a sunburn. This is normal.
3. Do not pick, peel, or scratch any flaking skin or small scabs. Let them come off on their own to avoid pulling out colour and causing scars.
4. Mild itching is expected. If it itches, gently pat the area or rinse with cool water, then dry and leave it alone. Do not scratch.
5. The outer layer of skin usually settles in 2–3 weeks, but deeper healing continues for longer. During this time, the tattoo may look slightly dull or cloudy until the new skin fully settles.

For at least 2 weeks (or until your artist at Hexed Ink Tattoo Collective confirms healing), avoid the following:

• Soaking the tattoo in water: no baths, swimming pools, jacuzzis, or the sea. Quick showers only.
• Direct sun and tanning beds on the tattoo. Keep it covered with loose clothing and completely avoid sunburn.
• Heavy sweating on the area (gym, contact sports, tight training gear) that causes friction and irritation.
• Tight or dirty clothing rubbing on the tattoo; choose loose, clean, breathable fabric.
• Perfumed soaps, scrubs, exfoliators, alcohol based products, or harsh disinfectants on or near the tattoo.
• Any creams, balms, petroleum jelly, or oils during the dry healing phase unless your Hexed Ink Tattoo Collective artist specifically tells you otherwise.
• Touching the tattoo with unwashed hands, or allowing pets to lick or lie on the area.

1. Once your tattoo is fully healed (no shiny, dry, or flaky patches and no open skin), you may return to your normal gentle body lotion routine if you wish.
2. Sun exposure is one of the main reasons tattoos fade. Always protect your healed tattoo with high SPF sunscreen when it is exposed, and avoid excessive sun and tanning.

1. Normal signs: mild redness, swelling, tenderness, and light clear fluid in the first few days.

2. Contact Hexed Ink Tattoo Collective if you notice:

   • Spreading or worsening redness around the tattoo.
   • Increasing heat, swelling, or pain after the first 48 hours.
   • Yellow or green discharge, a strong odour, or thick scabs forming quickly.
   • Rash, hives, or other signs of an allergic reaction.
3. If symptoms are severe or you suspect infection or an allergic reaction, seek medical advice immediately. Do not wait for it to “go away on its own”.

• Permanent makeup is a form of cosmetic tattooing. The skin is open and vulnerable for several days and must be treated gently while it heals.
• Colour will look darker, bolder, and more defined for the first few days. It will soften and lighten as the skin heals and exfoliates.
• Outer healing is usually ±3–6 days for eyeliner and ±7–10 days for brows and lips; inner healing and final colour result can take up to 4–8 weeks.

Unless your artist gives you different instructions, follow the dry healing routine below.

For at least 7–10 days, or until the skin has finished flaking, do not:

• Do not rub, scratch, pick, or peel the treated area.
• Do not use makeup, mascara, brow pencil, lipstick, or tinted balms directly on the PMU until fully healed.
• Do not use cleansers, toners, scrubs, acids, retinol, or active skincare over the area.
• Do not expose the treated area to heavy moisture: no swimming, saunas, steam rooms, or hot, steamy showers directly on the face.
• Do not do facials, peels, dermaplaning, microneedling, Botox, or fillers in or around the treated area for at least 4 weeks.
• Do not sleep with your face pressed into the pillow; try to sleep on your back to avoid rubbing and swelling.
• Do not pick at any flaking or scabbing – this can pull out pigment and cause uneven healing or scarring.

Days 1–3

1. Keep your brows dry and clean. Avoid getting them wet in the shower or bath.

2. If your artist has recommended gentle surface cleaning:

   • Wash your hands thoroughly first.
   • With a slightly damp (not wet) cotton pad and clean water, lightly blot around the brows to remove any lymph fluid, then gently pat dry.
   • Do not rub or drag the skin.
3. Do not apply creams, oils, or makeup to the brow area unless your Hexed Ink artist has given you a specific aftercare product and instructions. Dry healing means keeping the area as dry and untouched as possible.

Days 3–10

1. Brows will darken slightly, then start to flake and peel like a dry sunburn. This is normal.
2. Do not pick or peel the flakes. Let them fall off naturally; picking can remove pigment and leave gaps.
3. Protect the brow area from sweat, steam, and sun. Lightly blot sweat if needed – do not wipe.

First 24 hours

1. Expect the eyeliner area to look darker and slightly swollen immediately after the procedure.
2. Keep the area dry. Do not wash directly over the lashes or lash line for the first 24 hours unless your artist instructs otherwise.
3. Do not rub your eyes. If they water, gently dab tears away below the eye with a clean tissue – do not drag across the lash line.

Days 2–7

1. Continue to keep the eyelids dry – avoid direct water, steam, sweat, and heavy crying where possible.
2. Do not apply mascara, eyeliner, lash serums, or lash extensions until the area has fully healed.
3. If light flaking occurs along the lash line, do not pull off flakes. Let them detach on their own.

First 24–48 hours

1. Lips will appear brighter and more intense in colour right after the procedure, with some swelling.
2. Keep lips as dry as possible – avoid hot drinks directly on the lips, spicy or salty foods, and very hot steam.
3. Drink through a straw for the first day where possible to minimise friction and staining.

Days 2–7

1. Lips will start to feel tight and dry, then flake and peel.
2. Do not pull off flaking skin. Let it come away naturally to avoid uneven colour and scarring.
3. Avoid kissing, biting, or excessively stretching the lips while they are healing.
4. Do not use lipsticks, glosses, or tinted balms on the treated area until all flaking has finished.

• You may gently cleanse the rest of your face, avoiding the brows/eyeliner/lips directly.
• Use a mild, fragrance free cleanser and a soft cloth or your hands, being careful not to soak or rub the PMU area.
• Pat dry with a clean towel. Do not drag the towel over the treated area.

• UV light will fade PMU faster and can change the colour over time. Avoid direct sun and tanning beds on the treated area for at least 4 weeks.
• Once healed, always use a high SPF sunscreen around brows and lips and wear sunglasses/hat where possible to protect your investment.
• Avoid regular use of acids, retinol, and strong exfoliants directly over PMU, as these can fade pigment more quickly.

• PMU usually heals with a softer, lighter result than the first day; this is normal and expected.
• A perfecting touch up is typically recommended no sooner than 6–12 weeks after the initial procedure to allow full healing and colour settling.
• Do not book or perform a touch up earlier than this, as working on skin that has not fully healed can cause scarring and poor pigment retention.

Normal signs include mild redness, swelling, tightness, and flaking. Contact Hexed Ink Tattoo Collective if you notice:

• Spreading or worsening redness around the area.
• Strong heat, throbbing pain, or swelling that increases after the first 48 hours.
• Yellow/green discharge, a strong odour, or thick, oozing scabs.
• Rash, hives, or other signs of an allergic reaction.

If symptoms are severe or you suspect infection or an allergic reaction, seek medical advice immediately.

• A new piercing is an open wound and needs time, cleanliness, and minimal disturbance to heal.
• It is normal for the area to be red, swollen, tender, and to leak a little clear or pale yellow fluid in the first days and weeks.
• Healing times vary depending on placement, jewellery, and your own body. Earlobes may take 6–8 weeks or longer, while cartilage and body piercings can take several months.

Your piercer will tell you your approximate healing time. Always follow their specific advice.

For most piercings, we recommend sterile saline wound wash as the main cleaning solution.

• Look for a pre packaged sterile saline spray or wound wash labelled for wound care, with approximately 0.9% sodium chloride as the only active ingredient.
• Do not use homemade sea salt mixes, contact lens solution, eye drops, alcohol, peroxide, or harsh antiseptics – these can irritate and delay healing.

If we have given you a specific aftercare product, follow the instructions we provided.

Clean your piercing twice a day during the initial healing period, or as advised by your Hexed Ink piercer.

1. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before touching your piercing or jewellery.
2. Rinse the area gently under clean running water in the shower to soften and loosen any dried discharge.

3. Spray or apply sterile saline directly to the piercing and surrounding area:

   • You can soak a piece of clean, non woven gauze or paper towel with saline and use it as a gentle compress for a few minutes if needed.
   • Make sure the saline reaches the entry and exit points of the piercing.
4. Rinse away any remaining saline and softened discharge with clean water if your skin feels sticky or crusty.
5. Gently pat the area dry with clean paper towel or let it air dry. Do not use fluffy towels that can snag.

Important:

• Do not twist, spin, or move the jewellery during cleaning; this can tear healing tissue and introduce bacteria.
• Do not remove your jewellery during healing unless instructed by a medical professional; the hole can close very quickly, sometimes within minutes.

During the entire healing period:

• Avoid touching or playing with your piercing or jewellery, except when cleaning with clean hands.
• Avoid sleeping directly on the piercing (use a travel pillow for ear piercings so the ear can rest in the hole).
• Avoid tight clothing, hats, bras, waistbands, or straps rubbing on the piercing; choose loose, clean clothing instead.
• Avoid swimming in pools, jacuzzis, rivers, dams, and the sea until the initial healing phase is complete, as these waters can introduce bacteria.
• Avoid makeup, lotions, perfumes, hair products, and harsh cleansers directly on or around the piercing.
• Avoid alcohol, peroxide, Betadine, strong antiseptic creams, and any product not recommended by your piercer on the piercing.
• Avoid changing jewellery too soon; wait until the piercing is fully healed and use high quality jewellery only.

Ear lobe and cartilage piercings

• Change pillowcases often and keep bedding clean.
• Try not to sleep on the pierced side; a travel pillow with the ear in the centre can help reduce pressure.
• Be careful with headphones, helmets, hats, beanies, and hairbrushes – anything that bumps or snags the piercing can prolong healing.

Nose and septum piercings

• Be gentle when blowing your nose; use soft tissues and avoid pressing or dragging over the jewellery.
• Keep makeup, foundations, and harsh face washes away from the piercing.
• Do not rotate or flip septum jewellery while healing.

Oral/lip piercings

• Rinse your mouth with an alcohol free antiseptic mouthwash or saline mouth rinse after eating, drinking (anything other than water), and smoking, as recommended by your piercer.
• Avoid spicy, salty, very hot, or acidic foods in the first few days.
• Avoid playing with the jewellery using your teeth or tongue.

Navel and body piercings

• Avoid tight, high waisted pants and belts that press on the piercing.
• Choose soft, loose fabrics and avoid anything that snags.
• Showering is preferable to bathing while healing.

Normal:

• Mild redness, swelling, and sensitivity for the first days or weeks.
• A small amount of clear or pale yellow fluid that dries into a light crust.
• Itching and slight dryness as healing progresses.

Contact Hexed Ink Tattoo Collective or a doctor if you notice:

• Increasing, spreading redness or a red streak spreading away from the piercing.
• Strong heat, throbbing, or severe pain that worsens after the first 48 hours.
• Thick yellow/green discharge, a strong smell, or the formation of a hot, painful bump.
• Fever, feeling unwell, or any signs of a serious infection.

Do not remove the jewellery yourself if you suspect infection; seek professional advice first, as removing it can trap infection inside.

• Even after the initial healing time, the piercing can still be delicate. Continue gentle saline rinses if the area is irritated.
• Only change your jewellery once your Hexed Ink piercer or a medical professional is confident the piercing has fully healed.
• Always choose high quality jewellery (implant grade titanium, high quality stainless steel, solid gold, etc.) to reduce the risk of reactions and complications.