Tattoo Aftercare Secrets!

Freshly Inked... 

Tattoos are a major gra of mine, from the smell of the tattoo shop, to the stencil and placement to the pain. Yes, I enjoy the pain. I'm able to compartmentalise myself pretty well and so even if I'm in a lot of pain while under the gun, I will sit like a rock. It's probably in be to sit so steadily because I've an awful short fuse for fidgeting.

While I love all aspects of tattoos and admire the qualities that make artists great, I have to admit the healing process sucks the most bitter of lemons! I don't like the throbbing ache you've to deal with for a week, the tight itching skin and the peeling. I honestly don't mind cleaning and minding it, hell when you've shelled out as much money over the years as I have, you wont mind either. Its not the process, it's the irritations that go with it. So here's my list for minding your new ink, that your artist didn't tell you.

First and most important... Follow your artist's after-care instructions to the letter!! They know what they're doing, and they know what's best for your fresh work.

Take preventative measures. Clip and file your nails so they're not long or sharp. I do this every time I get work done because scratching your new body art is detrimental to it. I love my nails, but I love my investments more, and even with the most rock solid determination, you will still scratch unconsciously when you're asleep. I know, I've woken myself up trying to get at new ink...

Peeling and itching like a mother...

Change your bedclothes. I know this seems ridiculous, but there's a reason you cover your pillows when you've a fresh ear or facial piercing - hygiene is everything! Buy dark sheets and a dark duvet cover, that way if your new work weeps during the night you wont have an ungodly smudge on your lovely silk bedding! Keep it for when you're planning new pieces.

Try not to sweat for a while. Avoid running, gym sessions, zumba, etc until your healed up. If you have to zumba or run, take it handy, ok?? Just avoid pools and the like at all costs. I'm serious. Chlorine is evil.

Carry your lotion with you everywhere. I've learned that tight, dry, itching flaking skin will drive you nuts if you don't moisturise it slightly. Find somewhere private and reapply a light layer of your lotion over your new tattoo. Trust me, even if you're in some quasi-public space, wierd looks are better than slowly losing the will to live from itching skin.

Find what works for you and stick to it. Personally, Bepanthen (the plain nappy rash ointment) is my lotion of choice for the first 2 to 3 days of healing, and after that it's over to my good buddy E45. This time around, I've found a brand called CaraDerm and their seaweed soothing lotion is the biz! The same goes for soap. Dove plain soap is usually my choice, but Sanex 0% is great too. If you're unsure, get your artist to recommend something and then go hunt it down.

Arnica!! Arnica tablets will set you back around 6 euro. They are tiny little things but they are the absolute shizznit. Arnica tabs will take down your swelling and bruising in double quick time. If like me, you bruise and swell like nothing else on earth, you need arnica. Zinc would be good too, it's helpful for your natural defences and since you're healing a very nicely designed open wound, you'll be needing all the help you can get!

Patience, grasshopper. It's going to heal, just give it time, okay?? Don't pick, don't rub, don't scrub, don't worry. It will get there.

Enjoy your new ink, and remember two weeks of irritation is nothing for a lifetime with your new art! 

Amy

x

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Lip Service - Tattoo Hatin'

5. Arrow; Right Forearm

If you follow me on Twitter, you'll know that I recently had my 5th tattoo. I love tattoo's and can honestly say that if I meet someone who has a visible piece, I will compliment it. It's a kinship of sorts, I feel. 

I absolutely love the whole thing that goes with being tattooed, from the design process, to the stencil application, I mean, I can't pass a studio without smiling or commenting on the smell of the rubbing alcohol or the sound of the guns, it's just a really unique experience, that ends with you having a piece of art with you for life. 

That's pretty special. 

 However, the point of this post isn't really to talk about how much I love indelible body art. The purpose of this post is to address the topic of Tattoo Haters! I'm going to try and address the most common things I've experienced personally, from people I know and strangers, alike!

• In General; The people who passively just don't see the appeal! 

4. Venus Doom & Heartagram

I know that there are people out there who dislike tattoos and don't understand why others like them or get them. I have plenty of people in my life who dislike the whole concept of ink and that's okay, it's their opinion. After rolling into college, fresh out of a 2-ish hour session in Spilled Ink, I was chatting to a guy in my course who just plainly doesn't see the appeal, and that's okay! Tattoos are most definitely not for everyone. I have absolutely NO problem with someone who is just passive and says "That's nice for you, but it's not my bag!", because I know that those people know they have no right to judge me for what I do... 

Take my mother as an example, she's pretty cool about tattoos. I mean, she signed the paperwork for me at the age of 16 to have my first tattoo. I cannot say more than that. She doesn't like them, she sees no appeal, but she knows she would not be able to stop me. I suppose it helps that I am respectful enough to say, "Look, I'm getting more work done, I'm telling you so I don't catch you off guard. You're informed beforehand, that way we avoid having any kind of row or anything of that nature.". She's always been cool with it, it's my body at the end of the day. 

• Judgmental People: The people who are just rude and offensive! 

3. Evlish LOTR quote; Right-Hand Ribcage

Okay, I know plenty of these people too. As a tattooed woman, who has some visible work, as well as hidden tattoos, I can definitively state that I have met my fair share of people who are really fucking rude about it. "Tattoo's are stupid!", "You're going to regret them when you're older!!" "Why would you waste your money on that?!" And to those people I have the following replies: 

1. "Tattoo's are stupid!" - Well, your judgmental attitude, your ignorance and tone are unpleasant, and lets not get stared on your face, love!
2. "You're going to regret them when you're older!" - That is my risk to take and I'd thank you not to comment on what I do with my own body.
3. "Why would you waste your money on that?" - Why the hell does it matter to you (or anyone for that matter) what I do with my own money? And also, it doesn't occur to you that I handed over the money in the full knowledge that this is coming with me everywhere, from the moment it's done even beyond the day I die. The only time that it will be gone is, as gross as it sounds, when I've decomposed in the ground or when I'm cremated!

I really cannot wrap my head around why anyone would think they have any right to dictate to another human what they do or pass comment on their choices. I understand that they think they have a point, but none of their reasoning stands up to rebuttal in terms of their opinion of what they believe I should be doing with my body. I don't want to die a beige, wrinkled old lady who regretted not taking the chance to be more aesthetically interesting than those who vehemently shove their beige-ness down my throat. 

• The people who deliberately try to demean you - and usually they fail!

2. Ambigram of my Name; Left shoulder.

These people are less common but they are still the worst ones to encounter. I have been unfortunate enough to have experienced these people who are flat out the worst kind of human. These are the people I go out of my way to annoy because it's hilarious that they think their opinion means anything. In fact, these people, while being out-and-out rude, are also kind of my favorite because they make me laugh too. 

I have a rather large tattoo dedicated to the band that helped in a major way, to save my life. It took me 5 years to work up to a tattoo dedicated to them. Do these people really think they have any kind of place to say things like "Oh you won't love that band in 5 years time...". Well take it from me, pet, if I still thought it was a good idea 5 years after I originally decided I wanted it, and thought about it for those 5 years, a grand total of 60 months, I'm pretty sure my decision was a good one. Similarly with my newest piece, I don't care what anyone says about it because I know that it was a good decision, that it's going to make me smile every day because it represents a sport where I excelled, and that gave me friends I know I'll have for a very long time to come. 


All in all, tattoos are a personal choice for those who have them. I love 90% of the attention garnered from them, because it's usually like-minded, colorful people (both in body and spirit) who are an absolute pleasure to talk to. I adore my tattoos and would never regret them, because they are important to me and my life's milestones as well as achievements. They remind me who I am and that I am the product of every struggle and success so far in my life, as well as what is to come. 

Have you experienced tattoo hating people? 
If you have how do you deal with them?
What do you think of my body art?

Amy xx

Newry Haul (Beauty and Make-Up)

For those of you who follow me on  Twitter, let me apologise for the week of going on, and on and on some more about my trip to Newry. I was so excited for it! And, it didn't disappoint.

I suppose I should clarify straight of the bat, that I was hell bent on getting Sleek products, but despite trawling the city, couldn't find a single hint of a Sleek counter. I made up for it though. As you'll soon see...

The first place we went to ("We" being my long suffering boyfriend, and I) was to Superdrug. I was admittedly like a demon when I was told by a very apologetic sales lady that there was, in fact, no Sleek products to be found in this branch. Grr! But, while the sun shines, you make hay, as we say back home. I was still in Superdrug, I still had a wad of pounds in my wallet, sure, I was obliged to make the most of it!

On the first trip around Superdrug, I bee-lined for the MUA stand.

Blush! I was not leaving without my two blush products that I lusted over on the website! I picked up Bubble Gum and Marshmallow, two gorgeous blushes for £1.00 each!

 

Then I remembered needing bright blue liquid eyeliner, and I found that on the MUA stand, again, for a seriously steep (sarcasm doesn't go well over text) £1.00 price-tag. 

 

Last but not least, I spied a lipstick trio, of 3 gorgeous red shades, under the moniker of "Temptress". £1.50? I am Red-Lips-Red-Hair, so it would have been rude not to! I have yet to swatch them, but I will be doing some filmed reviews so keep an eye on my YouTube channel for those!
 

Right around the corner from the MUA stand, was the NYC stand, and while I am fully aware we can get NYC down south, in any Primark worth its salt, I couldn't let the prices go un-noticed. £2.49 for a beautifully scented, Appleliscious Glossy Lip-Balm? It had to be mine. It's also got a sheer, yet still pigmented payoff, so I was subsequently impressed, and SOLD! The shade I picked up was 356: Big Apple Red. 

Who failed to inform me that Accessorize had a line of really nicely pigmented eye shadow palettes?! I was thrilled to see these amazing, 32-Shade Palettes, and so I picked up the "Exposed" Palette. It was £6.95, and worth every penny, since the pigmentation is fabulous and the colours range from matte, to full on shimmer.

My last make-up purchase on the first trip to Superdrug was the Look Beauty Cheeky Trio. I was not leaving without a face contour kit of some description, so I picked this up, in the shade Candy-Floss (For Light Skin). It's very pigmented and soft, so I think it will be blendable and gorgeous on the cheeks. It comes with a peachy bronzer, a dusty rose-pink blush, and a champagne coloured, slightly shimmering highlight. The packaging, while plastic, does not feel even the slightest bit cheap. £8.00 for this very impressive, and compact trio. 

Finally, I knew from spending time on Superdrug's website, that they had a 4 for 3 offer on facemasks. Who was I to pass up such value?! I picked an Apricot Exfoliating Mask, a Dead Sea Purifying Clay Mask, a Purifying Cucumber Peek Off Mask, and a Fruit Sorbet Antioxidant Peel-Off Mask. I am dying to try each of these out, and I will review each one in detail. For £.99p each, but £3.00 in the offer, how could you go wrong?

After going from Superdrug, across the river to The Buttercrane, the first place I went was Sally's Salon Supplies. I did ask Chris, as we were walking over to the shopping centre to slap me if he saw me with nail polishes in my hands at any point, but I think he knew, when he saw my face after seeing China Glaze on sale in Sallys for £1.28 a bottle, that he knew better.

I picked up three crackle glazes, and one regular shade. The crackle glazes are Tarnished Gold, Crushed Candy, and Latticed Lilac. The plain shade is Elephant Walk. I adore all 4 polishes, even though I hardly even glanced at them before I paid for them. I have a problem.

Before we went home, I decided to get some last minute bits in Superdrug, so I went back over where the Maybelline Colour Tattoo's were on a 3 for 2 deal. I had noticed them when we were there the first time, but decided to leave them because I was trying to exercise rationality and have some sense. I think we can all agree I have none of those things, so when we went back over (Chris wanted to get some shaving stuff and the like) I nipped over, picked up 3 neutral shades and handed him the money, so we could pay together. 

The Maybelline 24hr Colour Tattoo's that I got were Timeless Black, Permanent Taupe, and Eternal Silver. Yum! 3 very "Me" shades, and very me prices!

All in all, I think I was very reserved in Superdrug, though I did go a bit blind in Sally's. I swear, I didn't see the shades, just the bargains.

This is only Part One of my Newry Haul, I also bought DVD's, a Book, Shoes, and clothes too, as well as a glorious handbag. Keep an eye out, It should be online tomorrow or the next day!

What do you think of my purchases? Do you think I went overboard? What is your favourite bargain in this haul?

Drop me a comment!!

Shopaholics of Ireland, Unite!!
Amy.
xoxo