Tattoos by Ping

1–2 weeks out:

• Drink water and moisturize twice daily if you don't already
• Dry skin? Exfoliate at the start of your routine, then again the day before, followed by a good moisturizing

Affiliate picks: Aveeno → · Lubriderm → · Hustle Butter → · Exfoliating Pads →

You're welcome to trim the tattoo area yourself. I'll give it a proper shave the day of. Skip alcohol and get a good night's sleep beforehand.

Day of:

• No lotion on the area — it's hard to fully remove before we start
• Eat a real meal beforehand (protein helps), and bring snacks for longer sessions
• Wear something that gives easy access to the area — I'll never ask you to remove more than necessary
• Bring a blanket or robe if you'd like one
• Bring music or something to read — talking is welcome, never required

Running late? Call the shop as soon as you know. After 15 minutes, I start breaking the station down for my next client, so please check travel time before you head out.

We'll review your design, make any final adjustments, and get the stencil placed. (Major changes at this point risk needing to reschedule: the more specific your booking form, the more the first design reflects what you want.) While the stencil dries, you'll fill out paperwork and get settled in.

Then we tattoo. Tell me honestly if you need a break. That's always fine.

Numbing cream: allowed, but I recommend against it. It can lead to harder, less predictable healing, and in my experience it tends to wear off early, making the second half of the session more intense. Cut short, you're still charged for the time booked. Any touch-ups or healing issues tied to numbing cream use are your responsibility. I do have a numbing spray that takes the edge off slightly (used only after linework is done).

When we're finished:

1. Photos
2. Aftercare walkthrough
3. Checkout — I accept cash, Zelle, and credit cards

Tips are appreciated, never required: 10–25%, depending on how much you appreciate your artist.

Getting the tattoo is one appointment. Healing it is the next few weeks, and it matters just as much. How you care for it now decides whether this piece looks as good in ten years as it does today.

Traditional Healing

Leave the bandage on 2–4 hours. Wash your hands before you touch it.

Days 1–4, wash 2–3 times a day:

1. Wash with an antibacterial, fragrance-free soap (Dial, HibiClens, or unscented Dr. Bronner's), using just your hands — no washcloth or loofah
2. Pat dry with a clean paper towel, not a regular towel
3. Let it air-dry 5–10 minutes
4. Apply a thin layer of unscented healing ointment (CeraVe or BioTat) — don't smother it

Around day 4, it'll start to peel or flake. Don't pick at it. Switch to a gentle, fragrance-free lotion and keep the area moisturized for the next several weeks. Indefinitely is even better.

Affiliate picks: CeraVe Healing Ointment → · Dial → · HibiClens → · Dr. Bronner's →

Using a second-skin/TegaDerm bandage?

1. Leave it on 3–5 days
2. Remove in the shower, pulling in the direction of hair growth
3. Wash, pat dry, air dry, and moisturize the same as above

If I didn't apply it for you, you can self-apply within 24 hours:

• Wash and fully dry the area first
• No ointment underneath
• Leave about an inch of border
• Overlap edges if applying in sections

Reminders:

1. Small bubbles under the bandage are normal. Don't pop them.
2. Redness or bumps off the tattoo itself? Remove the bandage right away and follow the standard healing steps above.
3. Leftover adhesive is normal too. It comes off with a few washes, no rubbing alcohol or abrasives.

Also: stay out of direct sun, no swimming for 2 weeks, don't pick or scratch, and keep pets away from the area while healing. Pet dander is the #1 cause of tattoo infections. At the gym, wrap it in saran wrap for the first week, max 1–2 hours at a time, and clean well after.

Sun protection: UV breaks tattoo ink down over time — yes, even here in North Carolina, where it's easy to underestimate how much sun you're actually getting. Once your tattoo is fully healed, SPF 30 or higher whenever it's exposed keeps it sharp for the long haul. Somewhere sunnier than usual, like a beach trip, bump that up to SPF 50. Before it's healed, skip sunscreen on the area entirely — broken skin and sunscreen don't mix. Just keep it covered instead.

What not to use on it: a few things people reach for actually work against healing. Vaseline and heavy ointments trap moisture and bacteria under a thick layer instead of letting the skin breathe. Raw coconut oil is another one — it's pore-clogging, which is the last thing healing skin needs. Stick to a thin layer of what's already listed above, and you'll heal faster and cleaner than piling on more product.

Infection warning signs: some redness, warmth, and mild itching in the first couple of days is normal — that's just healing. What's not normal: redness that's getting worse instead of better after day 3, red streaks spreading out from the tattoo, pus that's yellow, green, or foul-smelling, a fever, or swelling that feels hot and hard. Any of that, stop guessing and see a doctor. It's rare, but it's not something to wait out on your own.

Why it looks dull before it's done: somewhere around weeks 2 to 4, your tattoo might look milky or a little faded, like the color's not quite there. That's not the ink fading — it's a new layer of skin settling over it while the deeper layers finish healing underneath. The surface heals in about 2 to 3 weeks, but the deeper skin takes another 3 to 4 months to fully remodel. That dull stage clears up on its own as it settles. Give it time before you panic.