Before
You Get
Tattooed
Self Care, Responsibility, and Education
Some considerations before you get tattooed:
the decision to get tattooed should never be taken lightly. permanently marking your body can be a deeply moving and rewarding experience, but it also comes with its share of risk. it is important to take a moment to acknowledge and honour the complexity of this process so that you are in the best possible position to make an informed decision about whether it is the right choice for you or not.
We offer you the full scope of our expertise to ensure that your needs are met, and we work hard to provide a safe, clean, and peaceful environment for you to get your tattoo in.
it is our goal to cultivate a mutually supportive relationship with our clients; this depends on strong and clear communication, patience, compassion, and trust. We believe the best way to start this process is by offering you a more in depth and transparent perspective on the tattooing process.
The tattoo process & stressors:
Tattooing is a unique art form in that factors such as your diet, sleep patterns, lifestyle, and overall immune health will determine whether the tattoo heals properly or not. It is vital that the care of your tattoo extends to the overall care of your body. If your body is unable to heal itself effectively, then the tattoo can become scarred or be left vulnerable to more serious infections. Without proper care, even a flawlessly executed tattoo is at higher risk of complications.
The tattoo process will put strain on your lymphatic system, kidneys, and liver as your body attempts to break down, absorb, and filter the ink out of your skin. Your immune system will need to work to heal the broken skin, and your endocrine system will be stressed, as your adrenal glands work to help your body manage the physical and emotional strain of feeling pain.
All of this requires energy that will be less readily available if you are exhausted when you arrive, or under-fed, or if your body is trying to heal other injuries or illness.
If you have a chronic illness or injury then your immune system is under constant stress and the added strain of a tattoo can lead to further complications.
If this applies to you, then we encourage you to seek counsel from a trained health professional so that you can make an informed decision about whether receiving a tattoo is the appropriate choice for you or not.
You can put additional strain on your body and increase the chances of complications during the healing process in many different ways. Some of the most common are:
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Eating inflammatory foods, such as sugar, gluten, dairy, or heavily processed foods like bacon, lunch meats, potato chips (anything deep fried). These will put strain on your skin, joints, and digestive system.
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Drinking alcohol strains your liver, kidneys, immune system, and your body’s ability to recover from injury.
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STRESS! Stress can be the hardest factor to identify and manage since it is unique for each individual. Stress has a massive impact on our body’s ability to heal itself. Finding a variety of ways to manage your stress will help you to support your body as it heals a new tattoo.
If you are interested in learning more about what happens to your body when you get tattooed, and the importance of informing yourself before committing to a tattoo, please follow this link to our blog
Responsibility and Accountability:
It is solely your responsibility to assess your body’s readiness to accept the strain of the tattoo, and to take every necessary precaution to support your continued well-being throughout the healing process.
You will be handed Aftercare instructions at the end of your visit, and the same instructions are posted on this website in the 'aftercare' section. Please email us any time at torchlighttattoo@gmail.com if you have any questions.
If you feel uncertain or unclear about any part of the tattooing process, please ask your artist for clarification.
If you feel uncomfortable at any time during the tattoo process, please bring it to your artists' attention and we will gladly make any reasonable adjustments to accommodate your needs.
If you are feeling unwell, then do not get tattooed.
A few words about studio etiquette: