Aftercare is a vital part of the tattooing process. Upon completion of your tattoo, the artist will supply you with a set of aftercare instructions that must be followed if the best possible results are to be achieved. These instructions are as follows:

• Remove the dressing after two hours and wash your tattoo with lukewarm water before patting it gently dry with a clean towel.

• Leave your tattoo exposed as much as possible. Try to wear only 100% cotton items over your tattoo.

• For the first 2-3 days, wash your tattoo with cold water, pat it gently dry with a clean towel before applying a fingertip's worth of Savlon cream. Repeat this treatment 2-3 times daily.

• Once your tattoo has a hard scab, stop washing it and apply a natural moisturiser i.e Cocoa Butter cream or E45. We also recommend Acriflex, which can be bought at most chemists. Again, a fingertip's worth is sufficient until the scab has come off and the new skin (silver skin) has gone.

• Do not submerge your new tattoo under water. For this reason, a shower is better than a bath. Do not go swimming, use saunas, jacuzzis, or expose your tattoo to oil, dirt or grease. Do not pick your scabs, your new tattoo must heal naturally. Do not expose your new tattoo to UV rays without using sunblock.