COSMETIC TATTOO

Pre-Care Guide

Your best results start with a good canvas.

A little preparation before your cosmetic tattoo appointment can make a difference to your treatment, healing and final result.

Please take a few minutes to read through this guide and follow the relevant instructions in the lead-up to your appointment.

FOR ALL COSMETIC TATTOO APPOINTMENTS

2 WEEKS BEFORE

Avoid excessive sun exposure and tanning.

Please arrive with healthy, intact skin. We cannot tattoo over sunburnt, irritated or compromised skin.

Avoid strong facial treatments around the treatment area.

This includes treatments such as chemical peels or other intensive resurfacing treatments.

If you're unsure whether a treatment you have booked is suitable before your cosmetic tattoo appointment, please contact Skin & Ink.

Botox

Avoid Botox in or around the treatment area for 2 weeks before your appointment.

1 WEEK BEFORE

Pause strong active skincare around the treatment area.

Avoid retinol/retinoids, AHAs, BHAs and other strong exfoliating skincare directly around the area being tattooed for approximately one week before your appointment.

MEDICATIONS + SUPPLEMENTS

Some medications and supplements can affect bleeding, bruising or the way your skin responds during treatment.

Do not stop prescribed medication for your cosmetic tattoo appointment unless your prescribing doctor has advised you to do so.

If you take blood-thinning medication, aspirin, anti-inflammatory medication or supplements that may affect bleeding, please let Skin & Ink know prior to your appointment if this has not already been discussed.

If you're unsure whether a medication, supplement or health condition may affect your treatment, please contact us before making any changes yourself.

24–48 HOURS BEFORE

Avoid alcohol for 24–48 hours before your appointment.

Where possible, avoid unnecessary use of anti-inflammatory medication immediately before treatment. If medication has been prescribed or is medically required, do not stop taking it without medical advice.

Continue keeping your skin well hydrated and avoid anything that leaves the treatment area irritated, sensitised or sunburnt.

ON THE DAY

EAT + HYDRATE

Please have a substantial meal before your appointment and make sure you've had plenty of water.

SKIP THE CAFFEINE

Avoid caffeine before your appointment where possible, including coffee, energy drinks and other highly caffeinated drinks.

ARRIVE WITH CLEAN SKIN

Please arrive with the treatment area clean and free from makeup where possible.

And remember — cosmetic tattoo appointments take time. Come prepared to relax and let us create something beautiful.

BROW TATTOO

Before Your Appointment

For one week before your appointment, avoid:

  • Waxing

  • Tweezing

  • Tinting

  • Electrolysis around the brow area

Allowing your natural brow growth to remain gives us the best canvas to assess and design your brows.

Continue to avoid retinol, AHAs, BHAs and strong exfoliating products around the brows during this time.

Please arrive with healthy, calm skin around the treatment area.

LIP TATTOO

Before Your Appointment

KEEP YOUR LIPS HYDRATED

Beautiful lip tattoo results start with healthy, hydrated lips.

In the lead-up to your appointment, keep your lips well moisturised and drink plenty of water.

24 HOURS BEFORE

Gently exfoliate your lips approximately 24 hours before your appointment to remove dry or flaky skin.

Keep it gentle — the goal is smooth, hydrated lips, not irritated lips.

Do not exfoliate if your lips are cracked, broken or irritated.

LIP FILLER

Allow at least 4 weeks between lip filler and your lip tattoo appointment.

Your current protocol also recommends waiting a minimum of 4 weeks after lip tattooing before having lip filler.

HAVE YOU EVER HAD A COLD SORE?

Lip tattooing can trigger a cold sore outbreak in people who carry the virus — even if you've only experienced a cold sore once.

If you have a history of cold sores, please speak with your GP or pharmacist before your appointment about whether preventative antiviral treatment is appropriate for you and how it should be used.

Preventative treatment may reduce the likelihood or severity of an outbreak, but cannot guarantee that one will not occur.

If you have an active cold sore or outbreak around the time of your appointment, please contact Skin & Ink before attending.

EYELINER TATTOO

Before Your Appointment

LASH EXTENSIONS

Please have all lash extensions completely removed before your eyeliner tattoo appointment.

LASH LIFT + TINT

Do not have your lashes lifted, permed or tinted immediately prior to your appointment.

LASH GROWTH SERUMS

Your current Skin & Ink protocol requires lash growth serums to be discontinued 3 months before eyeliner tattooing.

If you use a lash serum and are unsure whether this applies to your product, please contact us before your appointment.

ON THE DAY

Please arrive without eye makeup where possible.

If you wear contact lenses, bring your glasses and contact-lens case so your lenses can be removed for treatment if required.

HAS SOMETHING CHANGED SINCE BOOKING?

Please contact Skin & Ink before your appointment if you:

  • Develop irritation, broken skin, sunburn or an active skin condition around the treatment area

  • Develop a cold sore before a lip tattoo appointment

  • Start a new medication or have a significant change to your health that may affect treatment

  • Have recently had an injectable, facial or other treatment around the area being tattooed

  • Are unsure whether you've followed the pre-care correctly

It is always better to ask before your appointment than arrive and discover that your treatment needs to be postponed.

READY FOR YOUR APPOINTMENT?

You've done the prep — now leave the rest to us.

Following your pre-care helps give us the best possible canvas to work with and sets you up for a smoother treatment and healing process.

If you have any questions before your appointment, please contact Skin & Ink Studios.

✦

SKIN & INK STUDIOS

Your best results start with a good canvas.