To get a tattoo, you must be of legal age, which varies depending on your province (Quebec, Alberta, Prince Edward Island, Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan : 18 years old and the others British Columbia, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Newfoundland ans Labrador, Northwest Territories and Yukon : 19 years old).

It's important to arrive at your appointment feeling fresh and alert. This means not having consumed a large amount of alcohol or taken drugs.

It's also recommended to eat before getting a tattoo.

Once home, remove your bandage. Gently clean the tattoo with lukewarm water. You can use a mild soap. Do not rub or use a sponge or washcloth. Use only CLEAN hands. Avoid putting the tattoo directly under a strong stream of water. If you have a large tattooed area, take a shower and gently rinse your tattoo with water.

Dry the tattoo by pattin it with a CLEAN paper tower or washcloth. Let it air dry for 20 to 60 minutes so that all the moisture evaporates. It is important to let it dry completely each time you wet it.

When the tattoo is completely dry, apply a thin layer of Polysporin (the ORIGINAL OINTMENT, not the cream, and not the ''complete'' or ''triple' versions). A THIN layer is enough to give the tattoo a slight shine. Applying too much Polysporin will suffocate the tattoo and prevent air circulation, which can lead to bacterial growth.

• Wash the tattoo 2-3 times a day.

• Apply Polysporin after each wash/dry, always THIN layers.

• Do this for about 3 days, or as instructed by your tattoo artist.

Keep your bandage on until you get home. Avoid removing and reapplying it frequently.

Once home, remove your bandage. Gently clean the tattoo with

lukewarm water. You can use a mild soap. Do not rub or use a sponge

or washcloth. Use only CLEAN hands. Avoid putting the tattoo directly under a strong stream of water. If you have a large tattooed area, take a shower and gently rinse your tattoo with water.

Dry the tattoo by patting it with a CLEAN paper tower or washcloth. Let it air dry for 20 to 60 minutes to allow all the moisture to evaporate. It is important to let it dry completely each time you wet it.

Apply a THIN layer of Polysporin ointment, not cream. Use the original ointment, not the ''triple'' or ''complete'' versions, only the original.

Do not use creams like Vaseline (or any other petroleum-based creams) as they can clog pores. They can also cause the ink to rise to the surface of the skin, blurring the tattoo.

Your tattoo artist will advise you on the recommended waiting period for your tattoo (depending on your skin type and the location), but it's generally no more than 3 days.

If you have any doubts, contact your tattoo artist. Generally, however, when your tattoo starts to peel, you can stop using Polysporin.

The tattoo can take up to 3 weeks to heal, and during this time, it will begin to peel (like when you have a sunburn), and a little ink may come out. THIS IS NORMAL!

Once it has finished peeling, the tattoo will lokk a little glassy and will feel somewhat tight. There will be pieces of dead skin. You must resist the urge to remove them. This is ''onion skin'', it will peel off on its own in about 2 weekds. It is therefore very important not to remove the dead skin, as the healing process could take twice as long, and you could damage your tattoo.

If you follow the aftercare instrucctions correctly, you can expect your tattoo to heal and your skin to fully regenerate in about 4 to 6 weeks. Remember that a tattoo is like a wound; it takes time to heal properly.

You should avoid exposing your new tattoo to the sun. Sunlinght can cause blisters and fade the pigments. Once your tattoo has healed, protect it from the sun with sunscreen to prevent fading.

Also avoid saunas and steam rooms during the healing process, as

there will cause the pigments to fade.

Until your tattoo is COMPLETELY healed, you must avoid soaking it in water. This means :

• Avoid swimming pools

• Sea baths / spas, etc.

• and regular baths if you can keep your tattoo out of the water.

Why ?

Because soaking your tattoo for a long time can wash away the

ink and therefore damage the tattoo. There areas can be

contaminated by dirt / chemicals (chlorine, cleaning products) or

other substances. Your tattoo is an open wound ; you must be

careful about bacteria.

Tattoos that cover a large area or those located near joints, such as

elvows, knees, or fingers, can take longer to heal if the skin is subjected to excessive stress, such as during intense training or other physical activity.

For this reason, you should avoid unnecessary workouts for a few days

after getting your tattoo. If you job requires it, try to schedule your

appointment at the beginning of a 2-3 day off work.

Some people experience swelling after getting a tattoo. This is normal; take ibuprofen and apply a cold compress.

Also, if your tattoo is located on your foot, ankle, calf, etc., and you are often on you feet, it may swell slightly. This is normal. Apply a cold washcloth, elevate your legs, and take ibuprofen.

Do not shave the freshly tattooed area. If you do shave around it, be

careful not to get any shaving soap or cream on the tattoo. Also, be

careful of any freshly cut hairs that could irritate your tattoo.

If you have pets at home, be careful. If they sleep in your bed, chance your sheets, as you could have a reaction even if you don't normally have any allergies. If this happens, take Benadryl or an allergy tablet.

Remember a tattoo is an open wound.

For the first few days, avoid wearing tight or fuzzy clothing to prevent tearing the scabs and to avoid your clothing sticking to the tattoo. If this happens, don't pull. Wet the garment; this should loosen it. Tight clothing also restricts airflow and will delay healing.