Tattoo/PMU Eligibility​

 

Contraindications for tattoo/permanent makeup procedure:

*If any of the following apply you are not eligible to receive a tattoo.

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• Liver disease – high risk of infection
• Pregnant or Nursing
• Compromised skin near/on treatment area
• HIV or Hepatitis or any other infectious or viral diseases
• Undergoing Chemotherapy 

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The following conditions are typically fine to work with, but you should talk to your doctor first to make sure they do not foresee any issues:

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• Diabetes Type 1 and 2 (including pre-diabetic conditions)
• Uncontrolled high blood pressure
• Auto-immune disease
• Thyroid / Graves’ disease
• Cancer / Past Chemotherapy/Radiation / Cancer Remission
• Any other medical condition that causes slow healing or high risk of infection

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How to Prepare for Your Tattoo/Permanent Makeup Appointment​

 

Preparing for your tattoo appointment is vital so that your tattoo has the best possible healing process. Caring for a fresh tattoo after an appointment is necessary. It is also important to put the same care into getting your skin ready for your tattoo appointment to acheive the best final healed results. Hydrating, moisturizing, and avoiding irritation will ensure that your skin is in the best possible condition to be tattooed. Tattoo application is key, but a proper combination of both pre care and post care is just as important.

 

Numbing is used throughout permanent makeup procedures (typically only secondary numbing is needed). Numbing is not traditionally used during body tattoo treatments, and is recommended to go without it. Everyone's pain tolerance is different. Please do not numb on your own before hand as numbing too long, or with the wrong product can thicken skin and affect the artists ability to implant pigment into the skin, producing negative results and less retention. If you feel you may need some form of numbing, please talk about the options with your artist.

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Hydrate and moisuturize.

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Be sure to drink plenty of water. Drink at least 1-2 liters a day leading up to your tattoo appointment. Properly hydrating before your tattoo appointment helps ensure that your skin is properly hydrated as well. Having properly hydrated skin is a huge factor in helping to guarantee that your tattoo will heal well. Staying hydrated will also help you to withstand longer tattoo sessions. Taking time to moisturize the area 1-2 times a day will help with moisture and skin health as well. However, do not apply any creams or lotions to the area on the day of your tattoo appointment.

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Avoid consuming alcohol or caffeine 24 hours prior.

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Being hungover for your tattoo appointment is no fun for you, or your artist. Alcohol and caffeine can thin your blood, diluting pigment, creating poor retention. They also cause increased inflammation, making your tattoo more painful. Avoiding these two things along with getting a good nights sleep before your tattoo appointment will also help with pain management during the procedure.

 

Avoid trauma/weakening of the skin to the area being tattooed.

 

Your artist will do all necessary skin preparation, such as shaving, before beginning your tattoo. Shaving the area that will be tattooed yourself before arriving to your tattoo appointment is not recommended. You could irritate your skin, making it impossible to tattoo over the irritation.

 

The following things should be avoided no less than two weeks prior to your procedure: alpha hydroxy (AHA), retinoids, anti-aging or skin brightening products, Omega 3 supplements, exfoliating treatments such as microdermabrasion.

 

Chemical and laser peels, or any other procedures that can damage your skin, should be avoided no less than 6 weeks prior to procedure.

 

Try to stay out of direct sun and avoid tanning.

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Eat before your appointment.

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Taking time to eat a healthy meal before your tattoo appointment will benefit both your session, and final tattoo. Eating before your tattoo appointment helps your body function properly throughout the duration of the procedure. It also helps you physically and mentally withstand the stress of being tattooed. If you are hungry during your tattoo session, it makes pain management more difficult.

 

Choose proper attire for tattoo placement.

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Please keep clothing choices in mind to accommodate for the location of your tattoo. Your attire will also help with your comfort levels through the duration of the tattoo procedure. If you’re getting tattooed on your leg, wearing shorts or loose sweat pants would be an appropriate choice. If you have long hair, bring an elastic to put it up if needed. If you have concerns about how to accommodate for your placement, please reach out to your artist directly for advice.
 

Additional steps for Lip Blush or Neutralization Treatments.

 

For best results and to be accepted for lip micropigmentation, you MUST do the following starting 5-7 days PRIOR leading up to your appointment: Gently exfoliate your lips before bed with a lip scrub, baking soda & water(forming a thick paste), or with your toothbrush for 1-3 minutes and immediately moisturize with a lip mask or balm.

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If you have cool undertones in your lips you may need a neutralization first to correct the cool tones. They your target colour at a following appointment. 

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**If your appointment is booked during an outbreak of cold sores on your lips the procedure may not be done. Please be aware that you may risk triggering an outbreak following this treatment. Even if the last outbreak was many years ago, it is highly recommended to take an anti-viral medication such as Valtrex or Zovirax 5 days before and after, including the day of your appointment, or as advised by your doctor or pharmacist. To ask for this, you can contact your doctor or pharmacist, let them know you have an upcoming lip tattoo appointment and would like to take an anti-viral medication as a precaution.**

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PMU Aftercare Instructions​

 

Congratulations on your new permanent makeup tattoo! Taking care of it post-procedure will greatly impact its healing, color retention, final appearance, and longevity.

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What to Expect Following Your Treatment:

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• Until the next morning, avoid touching the fresh tattoo with your hands (use a clean q-tip instead). Afterward, remember to wash your hands before touching your tattoo.

• To keep your tattoo area from becoming dry or feeling tight, apply coconut oil 2-4 times a day for the full 7 days.

• Some swelling, redness, and bruising are normal and expected. You may apply refrigerated gel packs (covered with a plastic bag to protect from moisture) and take over-the-counter pain relievers, following the manufacturer's instructions, to ease any discomfort.

• It's common for your brows to appear darker or show redness the next day. As they enter the natural healing process, the color will gradually fade over the next 7 days.

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Avoid Picking Flaking or Scabbing:

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• During the natural healing process, you may notice some flaking and/or scabbing. Please resist the urge to pick or peel, as this could cause pigment loss and scarring. Only touch the treatment area when applying coconut oil.

• While some pigment may rub off, taking precautions to protect your linens and towels is a good idea.

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Skin Care Tips and Activities to Avoid:

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• Starting the morning after your treatment: Every morning and night, wash your brow with a mild, fragrance-free soap, pat dry with paper towel (do not use fibre towels) and apply coconut oil. On days when your brows feel tight or itchy you can apply more coconut oil. 

• For at least 10 days or until the treatment area is fully healed, avoid activities like pools, hot tubs, tanning, excess sweating, facials, and saunas.

• Do not use skin creams or products containing Retin-A, AHA, or any skin peel directly on the tattooed area, as they might fade and distort the micro-pigmentation. Always apply sunblock over your tattoos.

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Final Appearance and Touch Ups:

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• Initially, the color after tattooing may appear sharp and dark, but don't worry, as it will soften and fade considerably during the healing process. The pigment may even seem to almost disappear, but it will return over time as the area continues to heal. The final appearance should be evaluated after 6-8 weeks following the final visit.

• Since we work conservatively to give the most natural results, a perfecting session is done at 6-8 weeks. During this session we will make any adjustments needed, including going darker or more full if desired. Remember, we can always add, but we can't take away! Most people are satisfied after the perfecting session, but some may require further touch-ups (usually due to specific health circumstances which your artist will go over).

 

Final Appearance and Touch Ups:

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• With proper care, permanent makeup can last up to 3+ years, depending on factors such as skin type, products used, and lifestyle. Your technician will discuss this with you to set the right expectations. Most clients come in for a refresh bi-annually, however, some prefer to come sooner to do a colour boost and others prefer to wait until it is almost disappeared and start fresh.

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Common Questions and Concerns:

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• Having questions or concerns following your permanent makeup procedure is perfectly normal. Please don't hesitate to reach out to us. We're here to help and provide any answers you need. 

• Though infections are rare, it's important to be vigilant. If you notice any signs of infection, such as increasing redness, persistent pain, pus, or warmth around the treated area, consult with a family physician within 24 hours to address the issue promptly.

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Tattoo Aftercare Instructions​

 

How you take care of your new tattoo post procedure will ultimately determine it’s healing, colour retention, final appearance and longevity.

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1. Your artist will apply the second skin patch immediately following your tattoo procedure*.

2. Do not remove the second skin patch for 3 days to allow it to lock in the body's natural fluids and enzymes for better healing.

3. Always remember to wash your hands immediately before touching the tattoo site to prevent any potential infection. 

4. When removing the second skin, find an edge and pull along the skin in the direction of the skin, similar to pulling off a 3M strip tape from the wall. This method will avoid pulling off any scabs and minimize discomfort. If it's challenging to remove, consider wetting it or taking it off in the shower.

5. After removing the second skin, wash the tattooed area immediately with warm water, using your fingertips and a mild soap or antibacterial soap.

6. Pat the area dry with a clean towel; avoid rubbing, as it may irritate the tattoo.

7. Wash the tattoo 2-3 times a day for the first 2 days, and then once a day for the remainder of the healing time or as needed.

8. Apply a light layer of your preferred tattoo aftercare lotion (such as Coconut Oil) 2-3 times per day until the skin returns to normal (around 4 weeks).

9. Do not pick or scratch scabs, as it may lead to pigment loss, possible scarring, and the need for touch-ups.

10. Avoid direct sun exposure, hot tubs, swimming, or tanning for the first 2 weeks. Showering is fine, but do not soak or tan your new tattoo. If your tattoo is still flaking after 2 weeks, wait until it stops.

11. After the initial 2 weeks or once flaking stops, use a good sunscreen with SPF 30 to protect your tattoo from harmful UV rays.

12. Soreness, swelling, and bruising are normal and expected after getting a tattoo. You can apply a cold compress to reduce swelling and take over-the-counter pain relievers as needed, following the manufacturer's instructions. 

13. Though infection is rare, it can happen, if you notice any signs, such as, increasing redness, persistent pain, pus, or warmth around the treated area, consult with a family physician within 24 hours to address the issue promptly.

14. You tattoo will be fully healed with final results around 4-8 weeks. (Younger skin heals quicker than more mature skin). 

15. If a touch up is needed, it can be done 1 to 3 months following your initial session.

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Follow these aftercare instructions diligently to ensure the best possible healing and results for your new tattoo. If you have any questions or concerns during the healing process, don't hesitate to reach out to your tattoo artist or healthcare provider for guidance and support.

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*If you have an adhesive allergy or have had a reaction to the second skin in the past, please let your artist know so they can discuss an alternative aftercare plan for your. 

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Tattoo Design Process

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What to expect in regards to tattoo design/art set-up.

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Once your request is submitted the artist will reach out to you to discuss and get your design or stencil started. We typically reach out a few days before, however, we may do so in the last 24 hours leading up to your appointment. Some of our tattoo services have a small art set up fee included, such as flash work, bouquets, fingerprints. Custom work will have an additional design/art set-up fee. A design or art set up fee is any amount of time the artist uses to create your stencil, whether it is replicating something you have supplied or custom art designed specifically for you. If you need an estimate ahead of time, please contact us. Because art and design are subjective, we are only able to give an estimate of how long we expect it to take. Although we are pretty good with out time estimates, you may be notified if the artist is getting close to that point and expects your project to incur additional design fees. This is especially the case for larger projects. Designs submitted to you for approval by the artist will be allowed minimal revisions/adjustments. If you need a new design created or have more extensive requests an additional art fee will be discussed and applied. If you choose to cancel your tattoo appointment once the design has started you will be responsible to pay for the artists time spent creating your design/setting up your stencil (minus any deposits already paid). All designs, created by Glow North artists are the property of Glow North and are non-transferrable without obtaining written consent from the artist/Glow North (a licensing fee may apply). This also applies to cancelled appointments . Not all designs submitted to Glow North are able to be tattooed. If your design is created by another artist, you will have to obtain a license/rights to use the design. Any fees required to license your requested image are the responsibility of the client in addition to any other service and design fees. If you/we are unable to purchase the rights to the design, we will not be able to tattoo that design for you. However, we can give you an estimate to create something similar.

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Studio Waivers

Below are the different waivers you may need sign at your appointment. 

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