Stick And Poke Tattoo Aftercare

Safety And Tattooing Time

The time tattooing time will vary depending on the size of the design, the artists expertise, and the part of the body being tattooed. That said, stick and poke tattoos usually take longer than getting inked with a machine because the poking motion is performed by hand.

As for safety, getting a stick and poke is not any more dangerous than getting a machine tattoo as long as its performed by a professional. That said, if you opt to get a DIY tattoo at home, you should sterilize all the accessories you use and create a safe environment to reduce the chance of infections and other side-effects. If youre getting a tattoo from someone who has never done a stick and poke before, be extra precautions and do some research before starting.

How Long Do They Last

Make no mistake stick poke tattoos are permanent when done correctly.

There *is* a possibility the ink wont stay if the needle doesnt puncture deep enough. Puncture too deep, however, and you run the risk of bleeding or blowout, not to mention scarring and pain.

Thats another reason why seeking out a professional hand-poke tattoo artist is important. Theyve mastered the technique and depth needed to achieve a clear and lasting tattoo that wont fade as quickly.

Stick & Pokes Are As Versatile As Regular Tattoos

There is a certain punk aesthetic associated with stick and pokes because of their DIY origins but they are incredibly versatile tattoos. You can opt for classic grungy looking ink or you can have something beautiful and effervescent tattooed onto your body. If you have a good design stenciled on your skin, and a steady-handed artist who knows what they’re doing, big and beautiful masterpieces may follow.

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A Comprehensive Guide To Stick And Poke Tattoo Aftercare

While stick and poke tattoos and machine ones differ in technique and style, they are both as permanent as one another and both involve an open wound by the end of the process. With this in mind, DIY tattoos require the same level of aftercare if you want to achieve the best results possible and

Avoid These For The Next 2 Weeks:

Suntanning: The sun will make your tattoo fade and you risk getting burnt! Neither of these are good for healing skin.Bathing/Swimming: Soaking your body in water will also not be healthy for healing skin post stick n poke.Scratching: You want your skin to heal on its own. If it feels a little itchy that is normal. Let it be. It is scabbing over and it will peel on its own. If the scratching is more than mild you may want to see a doctor and reflect on the cleanliness of your stick n poke process. Remember you always must use sterile equipment and tattoo in clean environments.

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Preparing The Stick And Poke Tattoo Equipment

2.1 Wash your hands with water and soap. Cover wound you may have with a plaster and put on medical gloves.

2.2 Prepare the area and the tools youll need for your stick and poke tattoo. First, make sure the surface on which you are working is uncluttered and clean. I use a household bleach solution as a disinfectant. Then, lay out paper towels or a medical tray cover to place the rest of your material. Have few pair of gloves nearby but outside of your work area in case you need to change them during the process.

2.3 Shake your stick and poke ink for about 1 minute and fill the ink container. Close the cap tightly and wipe the excess ink. Pour rubbing alcohol into another container. Remove the ink and rubbing alcohol containers from your work area to prevent cross contamination . If you have to refill ink during the tattoo process, you should throw away the ink container with your gloves and then prepare a new one, outside of your working area, after putting new gloves on.

Stick & Pokes Tattoos Take Longer Than A Tattoo With A Needle Gun

Stick and pokes can take longer than tattoos given with a professional’s needle gun. With the gun, artists are able to lay down lines quickly and easily. With stick and pokes, the artist literally needs to take the time to create the line with the little dots they’re making. Usually the first layer of dots doesn’t make for a dark enough line, so the artist has to go over the outline multiple times to fill in the lines. Depending on the speed and skill of the artist, stick and pokes can take as long as a couple of hours, which can get tedious for both the artist and the skin.

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What You Need To Know Before Getting A Hand

Spoiler: You shouldn’t DIY them at home.

Tattoos â whether completed by machine or hand â present a unique opportunity to turn your skin into a literal work of art. While the idea of wearing permanent art on your body is beautiful, there are a number of things you should consider before ever sitting down in the tattoo parlor chair. For those thinking about getting a hand-poked tattoo, also known as stick-and-poke tattoos, NYLONturned to experts to find out everything you need to know about your first foray into this type of ink.

But before artists Kelly Thorn of Brooklyn’s Welcome Home Studio and UK-based artist Dommy Sullivan dive into every detail of the application process, there is one thing that should probably be addressed right away. Despite the DIY feeling often associated with the concept of hand-poked tattoos, the experts agree that you shouldn’t trust your friend or an amateur artist with giving you a tattoo. Beyond having to potentially deal with a blotchy constellation or some crooked text on your arm for the rest of your life, serious skin and health consequences can occur when anyone who isn’t a trained tattoo artist attempts to ink your skin. “Please go to an actual artist,” Sullivan cautions. “Theyâll know what theyâre doing and have proper hygiene and equipment. Youâll come out with a design youâre happy with rather than something that you might regret later on.”

Tattoo Aftercare Instructions: Complete Guide

Now that youve got an awesome, brand new tattoo, what comes next? Taking good care of it for the years to come.

You might be surprised to know that aftercare is the most important part of getting a tattoo.

Although a tattoo is just a cosmetic procedure, its effects go much deeper than your skin. For this reason, aftercare is essential not only for keeping your tattoo looking fabulous, but also for your overall health.

How fast your tattoo heals depends on your age, health, hygiene, and where on your body you get it.

Navigating the steps of tattoo aftercare doesnt have to be overwhelming and committing to your artists instructions will ensure your tattoo looks fantastic for years to come.

Follow this complete tattoo aftercare guide for a stunning, healthy tattoo.

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Maintain Hygiene Of Your Tattoos

You need to maintain the cleanliness of your tattoo religiously. Its the most important part of the stick and poke tattoo aftercare.

Strip off the first wrap and clean the tattooed area gently with lukewarm water and a bar of gentle, non-scented soap. Do not rub or scrub your tattoo. You only need to wash it with your clean hands.

Dont try to soak the tattoo in water. Avoid using extremely hot water to wash it. Because it wont do you any good. It might scorch your skin, and it will remove the ink from the tattoo.

What Is A Hand Poked Tattoo

Hand poked tattoos are usually done by people who want to DIY. You can buy kits on the internet at a low cost, which is what makes this type of tattoo popular, with millions around the globe using stick and poke kits. Before I go any further, Its important to note that you need to be careful with stick and poke tattoos. This is because, as with all cosmetic procedures, you can easily get infected, which can lead to multiple problems.

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Stick & Poke Tattoos Are More Cost Effective

Unless you know an artist personally or have your tattoos done by an apprentice, professional tattoos can cost a fortune, with artists charging as much as a few hundred dollars per hour for onedesign.

Stick and pokes can be ridiculously affordable. The supplies needed for the job are so minimal and cheap, usually just consisting of tattoo ink and a sewing needle . A complete stick and poke kit usually costs less than $100.

For more diligent and conscientious artists, they invest in sterile needles that come in individual packing, which are also super cheap . And if you’re lucky and have a friend who does them, you may even be able to get them for free.

This article was originally published on May 17, 2015

Tattoo Aftercare Is A Crucial Final Step To Ensure A Great Stick And Poke Tattoo Follow These Essential Tips In Caring For Your Newest Ink

Unlike the majority of machine tattoos, home made tattoos are usually small and simple, and therefore heal faster and rarely make a scab if done well. Nevertheless, as any other tattoo they also need aftercare. The first week of healing is critical to how your tattoo will look for the rest of its life, so lets take a look at the proper way to care for your new permanent accessory.

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Thoughts On Diy Stick

Talking about inexperienced people tattooing themselves, Shyamli confessed, I think its great that people are curious about tattooing, and the art form has become as ubiquitous as it is. However, it isnt something to be taken lightly either. A lot of stick-and-poke tattoos that I see in India simply arent well done. When done by experienced artists, they are clean-looking with solid lines and smooth shading or colouring. Much like machine-made tattoos. She further elaborated, You need to worry about making mistakes as well. Its a permanent piece of work on your body. Take it seriously give it and yourself enough respect to make it well. Some good practice pieces are old school and traditional tattoos, with solid outlines and solid filling.

Does It Hurt More Than A Normal Tattoo

There are a few factors that set stick-and-poke tattoos apart from electric ones. The simple answer: less pain, takes longer to craft, heals fast, says Bouma. In her experience, people tend to rate the experience as less painful than a machine tattoo due to the fact that only one needle is slowly inking your skin at any given moment. But as with any type of tattoo, everyone has a different pain threshold. Dont go into the experience expecting it not to hurt at all, but if youve gotten a machine-done tattoo before, youll likely be fine with this one. The hand-poke method generally causes less trauma to your skin, which means less scabbing and less irritation, she explains.

Bouma says the pain level will also depend on how light-handed or heavy-handed your artist is. And of course, all the usual tattoo factors apply. If your design is especially large or intricate, youre going to feel it more. Youre also more likely to feel pain if its on certain body parts where the bone is close to your skin .

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Step By Step Instructions

HOW LONG SHOULD I KEEP THE FILM ON?

As long as it remains properly adhered to your skin, covering the entirety of the tattoo, you can forget about the film and keep it on for up to five days. Dont worry too much if you remove it or lose it before that. The first 6 to 12 hours are the most important ones.

REMOVING THE FILM

The easiest way to remove the film is under the shower. Peel off the film slowly from the top, making sure you dont rip the scab while the water rinses over it. Wash the area gently without scrubbing it, using a ph-neutral, perfume-free soap until you get rid of the aforementioned black ooze. Once you come out of the shower, avoid touching the tattoo with your towel. During the first week, dry it only with a paper towel, softly tapping the area. Dont worry if your skin gets a bit red and feels irritated for a few minutes after removing the film and cleaning the tattoo for the first time.

BEFORE YOU APPLY OINTMENT

AFTERCARE OINTMENT

If you have experience healing tattoos and youre used to a different cream, you should stick to what works best for you. We at Unikat use Pegasus, which is a cream with a base of panthenol. If you prefer to buy something at the pharmacy, Bepanthen will do the trick.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD I CREAM THE TATTOO?

HOW MUCH CREAM SHOULD I USE?

DONT STOP CARING

TOUCH-UP

If once the tattoo is fully healed, you think it needs a touch-up, get in touch with your tattooer, who will take a look at it and proceed as needed.

PROTECTIVE FILM

Apply Ointment To Your Tattoo

Once youve washed and dried your tattoo, apply a barrier ointment such as Aquaphor or Vaseline for the first 2-3 days. When you apply this ointment, massage it into the tattooed skin. This will protect and provide moisture to help your skin heal. During this time, you may see your tattoo weeping, or leaking fluid or excess ink. Keep the skin clean and moist with ointment, and as needed dab seeping fluid from skin with a clean, dry paper towel. After the first few days you can switch from protective ointment to unscented lotion to moisturize your tattoo as it dries out. Keep applying a moisturizing lotion to your tattoo and in 2-4 weeks it should be completely healed. If you notice the skin around your tattoo becoming red or irritated, try switching to a hypoallergenic lotion, or reducing the number of times you apply lotion each day.

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Tattoo Aftercare Guide: How To Care For Your New Tattoo

OHLAMOUR STUDIO / Stocksy

The world of tattooing is an intricate realm. What most people dont realize is that its a space where art, health, body strength, technique, etching, shading, and beauty are all on a level playing field. Here at Byrdie HQ, we love a fresh tattoo just as much as the next person, but we know that proper tattoo aftercare is crucial, if you want your new ink to last. Whether it’s your first or your 20th, we’ve rounded up the best short- and long-term tips that’ll help keep your tattoo care game in tip-top shapefrom how to clean it to signs it’s time to visit your doctor.

Below, we spoke to two experts on how to take care of a tattoo.

Meet the Expert

• Anka Lavriv is a Montana-based tattoo artist and the co-owner of Black Iris Tattoo.
• Tuki Carter is a rapper and tattoo artist.

Alison Czinkota/Byrdie

@miryamlumpini

According to Lavriv, tattooing puts a strain on your immune system, and internal preparation is just as important as external aftercare. A tattoo is an invasive cosmetic procedure, and your immune and lymphatic system will be working hard on healing a fresh tattoo, so partying and anything excessive is not recommended,” she says. In other words: take it easy.

Best Tattoo Ink For Stick And Poke

Disclaimer:

• Best Ombre Wig

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Applying A Bandage On A Stick And Poke

Because of the context in which they stick and poke, many artists dont bandage their stick and poke tattoos. The first stick and poke aftercare measure is to bandage it. This will prevent contaminating the newly poked skin.

First, clean the tattoo with a green soap and distilled water solution using a 1 to 8 ratio. If you dont have green soap, rubbing alcohol is better than nothing. Then, apply an antiseptic ointment and bandage the tattoo with a sterile absorbing pad or gauze. To fix the pad, use a sterile self-adhesive fabric tape avoid any other tapes you would find at home. Bandages should be kept between 2 to 6 hours.

Sterile absorbing pad or gauze

Dont use plastic wrap to bandage stick and poke tattoos as it creates a low oxygen, wet and warm environment that helps bacteria grow.