General Frequently Asked Questions

I currently work out of DarkSpire Ink, located at 1-353 Provencher Blvd, Winnipeg, MB.

I currently charge $160/hr, with a minimum charge of $160 if your appointment takes less than an hour.

Cash, credit, debit, and e-transfer.

Anything except the face and genitalia.

Yes!

No, I do not.

Remove the remaining bandage under warm running water, clean the area with scent-free soap, and continue with the traditional aftercare process of cleaning the tattoo every 12 hours until flakey, then applying a light amount of fragrance-free lotion twice a day until all skin flakes are removed.

It's likely that the untattooed skin has become irritated during the removal of the bandage; this is completely normal!

If you do, however, experience a more serious reaction to the bandage removal, it's likely that you're experiencing an allergic reaction and I recommend you cease use of all SecondSkin and SecondSkin-alike products until you've sought appropriate medical attention.

No.

If you know you’re allergic to medical adhesives or one of the ingredients of SecondSkin, you should not use SecondSkin.

I recommend Dove Sensitive Skin body wash in liquid form.

If you don’t have access to the liquid form, purchasing unscented Dove bar soap is also okay.

Just make sure, with freshly washed hands, to rinse the bar off before sudsing it to use on your fresh tattoo.

I recommend Aveeno Daily Moisturizing lotion.

No, I do not recommend working out/going to the gym for at least 7 days immediately following your tattoo appointment.

Sweat will irritate the tattoo and your SecondSkin bandage (if applicable) may fall off early and compromise your tattoo's healing process.

Do not pick or scratch at your fresh tattoo. Removing the scabs/skin flakes before they naturally detach will remove ink and your tattoo will heal "splotchy".

Instead, lightly tap the tattoo, or give the tattoo a massage with a little bit of lotion. Rub it into the skin with a little pressure, and make sure that It’s absorbed.

Do not leave a layer of lotion as your skin won’t be able to breathe.

Yes.

While we all love our pets, they contain a lot of germs.

Please keep any and all pets away from your fresh tattoo until the tattoo is appropriately healed (2 weeks).

No.

Do not swim or submerge your fresh tattoo in water for at least 2 weeks immediately following your tattoo appointment.

This includes pools, hot tubs, and bath tubs.

Yes.

Avoid direct sunlight on your fresh tattoo for at least 4 weeks immediately following your tattoo appointment.

SecondSkin acts as a magnifying glass when in direct sunlight, so your new tattoo and any skin underneath the bandage will burn 10x faster when in direct sunlight.

Once your tattoo is fully healed (4 weeks), use a sunscreen with a minimum of 30 SPF.

It is OK to ice your fresh tattoo immediately following your tattoo appointment, as long as the ice is within a bag that's wrapped in either paper towel, or a freshly washed cloth towel.

Do not apply ice directly to the skin.