About Wicked Scribbles Ink
My Philosophy
My Philosophy
My Philosophy
At Wicked Scribbles Ink, we believe that tattoos and piercings are more than just body art - they are a form of self-expression and individuality. That's why we work closely with each customer to create a design that truly reflects their personality and style.
About yous
My Philosophy
My Philosophy
We have a team of highly skilled and experienced artists who are passionate about their craft. Whether you're looking for a realistic portrait, traditional design, or something completely unique, our artists can bring your vision to life.
Our Standards
My Philosophy
Our Standards
We take safety and sanitation very seriously at Wicked Scribbles Ink. Our studio is fully licensed and regulated , We only use single-use needles and pre-sterilized equipment. Rest assured that your health and safety are our top priority.
Tattoo Aftercare & Info
Tattoo Aftercare and Information!
The First Hours:
A tattoo is considered minor surgery. It may bleed a bit at first, but it should stop within a couple of hours. Most artists recommend the tattoo be kept bandaged overnight or for at least two to five hours. If the gauze sticks to the skin, soak the area with cold water until the gauze loosens, then remove carefully.
The First Days:
Once the tattoo is exposed, wash it carefully in cold water, gently applying Tattoo Goo® Deep Cleansing Soap with fingers (never use a cloth) to remove all surface blood. Rinse with cold water, pat dry with a clean towel and air dry for 15 minutes. Then, gently and sparingly apply a thin layer of Tattoo Goo® Salve. Repeat three or four times a day for seven to 10 days.
The First Weeks:
After five to 14 days, the tattoo may start to peel and scab. This is normal—like a sunburn. DO NOT pick or peel the skin away. Let it fall off naturally during washing or application of Tattoo Goo®. Fresh skin will soon replace the dead skin. Colors may fade a bit during this process but will return when healing is completed.
The First Months:
After a few weeks, all scabbing will be gone, but the area may still be sensitive. Continue regular cleaning and application of Tattoo Goo® Salve or Lotion for proper aftercare of your tattoo.
How long does it take a tattoo to heal?
It depends on the person and the location of the tattoo. Sometimes a tattoo can look healed on the surface but the layers under the skin are still being repaired. Two months is on the longer spectrum of healing time by most standards, but it’s a good rule of thumb to make extra sure your skin has fully healed — we say this because products with SPF can irritate healing skin, so the two-month mark is a good rule of thumb to be extra-sure your skin has fully recovered.
My tattoo is peeling and itching. Is that normal?
Yes! It’s perfectly normal for a tattoo to peel like a sunburn — and itch like a sunburn. Make sure you resist the temptation to scratch or peel off the skin as that can pull out your ink. Rather, let the skin flake off on its own. To help with this maddeningly itchy, peeling phase, our Tattoo Goo Lotion has an ingredient called Panthenol that helps relieve the itch. You can learn more about our lotion here.
The skin that is peeling is colored like the tattoo—is my tattoo coming off?
No, this is a natural part of a healing tattoo. The top layer of dead skin has been colored or dyed during the tattooing process. That outer layer will fall off revealing the fresh skin underneath.
My tattoo looks like it’s fading. Is that normal?
A tattoo is VERY bright when it is first completed but during the healing process, it starts to look discolored and dull. Don’t worry, when the tattoo is finished healing, the color will come back.
My tattoo is scabbing. Is that normal?
Yes! Scabbing is typically normal and happens during the healing process of a tattoo. Just like any open wound, your body is creating its natural defense to guard it against infection while the skin underneath repairs itself. If the skin does scab, it’s very important that you don’t pick or pull at the scabs since that can pull out your ink and in some extreme cases, lead to scarring.
What causes scabbing with a tattoo?
Like with any open wound, your body responds by producing plasma
A lack of moisture can also cause scabbing. The philosophy behind all Tattoo Goo products revolves around the importance of replacing the moisture that’s lost in the skin during the tattooing process. By doing this, it can help prevent scabbing as well as speed up healing time.
My tattoo seems to be losing ink. It is runny, wet and it looks like the ink is coming out. What should I do?
It sounds like the tattoo is leaching. When too much aftercare is applied, the body will naturally try to push whatever is on top off so it can breathe. Wash the tattoo off and pat it dry. Do not put anything on it for one day. After that, start using Tattoo Goo® Lotion around three times a day—be sure not to over apply. Continue using the lotion until it heals completely. It may scab a bit, but do not pick the scabs—let them fall off naturally.
Can I wash my tattoo?
Yes, you should wash your tattoo 2-3 times a day with a product such as Tattoo Goo® Deep Cleansing Soap. Do not use a washcloth, use only your hands, gently wash off the tattoo and pat it dry. Let it air dry for 10-15 minutes before applying aftercare. It is important that it is completely dry before applying aftercare. Do not soak the tattoo in water, swim, etc. until the tattoo is completely healed.
Should I re-bandage my tattoo?
No, once you’ve taken off the original bandage, you should not re-bandage your tattoo. The tattooed skin needs to breathe in order to heal faster and more effectively.
Can I use sunscreen on my tattoo while it is healing?
Sunscreen should not be used on a healing tattoo as it has many chemicals that can cause adverse reactions. You should keep the tattoo out of the sun until it is completely healed. Most artists recommend two weeks or more. After it is healed, you should always use sunscreen, such as Tattoo Goo Renew® SPF 50+ if your tattoo is going to be exposed. Tattoo Goo® Salve and Lotion contain no sunscreen.
Hopefully this provides some decent guidelines for those of you with healing tattoos. Of course as with any healing wound, if you have questions or especially concerns with anything during the healing process, it’s very important to seek medical advice from your doctor to ensure your tattoo is healing properly.
Piercing Aftercare & Info
Piercing Aftercare and Information!
CLEANING INSTRUCTIONS FOR BODY PIERCINGS
- WASH your hands thoroughly prior to cleaning or touching your piercing for any reason.
- SALINE rinse as needed during healing. For certain placements it may be easier to apply using clean gauze saturated with saline solution. A brief rinse afterward will remove any residue.
- RINSE thoroughly to remove all traces of the soap from the piercing. It is not necessary to rotate the jewelry through the piercing.
- DRY by gently patting with clean, disposable paper products because cloth towels can harbour bacteria and snag on jewelry, causing injury.
WHAT IS NORMAL?
- Initially: some bleeding, localized swelling, tenderness, or bruising.
- During healing: some discolouration, itching, secretion of a whitish-yellow fluid (not pus) that will form some crust on the jewelry. The tissue may tighten around the jewelry as it heals.
- Once healed: the jewelry may not move freely in the piercing; do not force it. If you fail to include cleaning your piercing as part of your daily hygiene routine, normal but smelly bodily secretions may accumulate.
- A piercing may seem healed before the healing process is complete. This is because tissue heals from the outside in, and although it feels fine, the interior remains fragile. Be patient, and keep cleaning throughout the entire healing period.
- Even healed piercings can shrink or close in minutes after having been there for years! This varies from person to person; if you like your piercing, keep jewelry in—do not leave it empty.
HINTS AND TIPS
JEWELRY
- Unless there is a problem with the size, style, or material of the initial jewelry, leave it in the place for the entire healing period. See a qualified piercer to perform any jewelry change that becomes necessary during healing. See the the member locator to locate an APP member, or to request a copy of our Picking Your Piercer brochure.
- Contact your piercer for a non-metallic jewelry alternative if your metal jewelry must be temporarily removed (such as for a medical procedure).
- Leave jewelry in at all times. Even healed piercings that you have had for years can shrink or close in minutes! If removed, reinsertion can be difficult or impossible. See the APP brochure Preparing for Medical and Dental Procedures for more information.
- With clean hands or paper products, be sure to regularly check threaded and threadless ends on your jewelry for tightness.
- Should you decide you no longer want the piercing, simply remove the jewelry (or have a professional piercer remove it) and continue cleaning the piercing until the hole closes. In most cases only a small mark should remain.
- In the event an infection is suspected, quality jewelry or an inert alternative may be left in place to allow for drainage of the infection, if approved by your physician. On rare occasion, when the jewelry is removed, the surface cells close up, which can seal the infection inside the piercing channel and result in an abscess. Until an infection is cleared up, discuss with your physician if you should leave in quality jewelry or an appropriate substitute.
FOR PARTICULAR AREAS
NAVEL:
- A hard, vented eye patch (sold at pharmacies) can be applied under tight clothing (such as nylon stockings) or secured using a length of elastic bandage around the body (to avoid irritation from adhesive). This can protect the area from restrictive clothing, excess irritation, and impact during physical activities such as contact sports.
EAR/EAR CARTILAGE AND FACIAL:
- Use the t-shirt trick: Dress your pillow in a large, clean t-shirt and turn it nightly; one clean t-shirt provides four clean surfaces for sleeping.
- Maintain cleanliness of telephones, headphones, eyeglasses, helmets, hats, and anything that contacts the pierced area.
- Use caution when styling your hair and advise your stylist of a new or healing piercing.
ALTERNATIVE AFTERCARE
- Aftercare is an evolving conversation in the progression of body piercing. Aftercare needs can differ from one region and climate to another and not all products are widely available, discuss your specific needs with your body piercer. If you choose to use soap on a healing piercing consider using a gentle soap free from harsh chemicals, dyes, and perfumes. The use of an antibacterial soap is not suggested as it may over-dry and irritate your piercing. If your piercer suggests the use of a soap fully rinse away product after use.
- If sterile saline is not available in your region a sea salt solution mixture can be a viable alternative. Dissolve 1∕8 to 1⁄4 teaspoon (.75 to 1.42 grams) of non-iodized (iodine free), fine grain sea salt into one cup (8 oz. / 250ml) of warm distilled or bottled water. A stronger mixture is not better; salt solution that is too strong can irritate the piercing.
NAVEL:
- You can protect your piercing from excess irritation, physical trauma from activities like sports, or tight clothing with a hard, vented eye patch (sold at pharmacies). To avoid irritation from adhesive/medical tape, you can secure it over your piercing using tights/stockings or using a length of elastic/ace-type bandage around your body.
EAR/EAR CARTILAGE AND FACIAL:
- Clean bedding and pillow cases are important. You can use the t-shirt trick: slip your pillow in a large, clean t-shirt. You can get up to four clean surfaces for sleeping by rotating the pillow and turning the t-shirt inside out.
- Surfaces like phones, headphones, eyeglasses, etc can be cleaned with an appropriate disinfectant. Items like hats, scarves, headbands, etc should be washed regularly.
- Use caution when styling your hair and advise your stylist of a new or healing piercing.
- Sleeping directly on a healing cartilage piercing can cause irritation, even causing shifts in the piercing’s angle. Placing a travel pillow, on top of your pillow, and then placing your ear in the opening can be helpful to avoid this
NIPPLES:
- The support of a tight cotton shirt or sports bra may provide protection and feel comfortable, especially for sleeping.
WHAT TO DO
- Wash your hands prior to touching the piercing; leave it alone except when cleaning. During healing it is not necessary to rotate your jewelry
- Exercise during healing is fine; listen to your body.
- Make sure your bedding is washed and changed regularly. Wear clean, comfortable, breathable clothing that protects your piercing while you are sleeping.
- Showers tend to be safer than taking baths, as bathtubs can harbor bacteria. If you bathe in a tub, clean it well before each use and rinse off your piercing when you get out.
ORAL PIERCING HINTS AND TIPS
- Sleep with your head elevated in the beginning to minimize overnight swelling.
- Once the swelling has subsided, it is vital to replace the original, longer jewelry with a shorter post or barbell to avoid damage to the teeth and gums.
- Because this necessary jewelry change often occurs during healing, it should be done by a qualified piercer. This information should have been given to you during the piercing. If not, consult with a professional piercer about your downsize.
- With clean hands or paper products, be sure to regularly check threaded ends on your jewelry for tightness. For threadless jewelry make sure there is no gap between the post (inside) to the top (outside). In case of a gap, place your index finger and thumb on both sides of the jewelry and press them together. Be sure to check that the gap is closed.
- Contact your piercer for a non-metallic jewelry alternative if your metal jewelry must be temporarily removed (such as for a medical procedure). See the APP brochure Preparing for Medical and Dental Procedures for more information.
- Should you decide you no longer want the piercing, simply remove the jewelry or have a professional piercer remove it and continue cleaning the area until the hole closes. In most cases, only a small mark will remain.
EATING
- Take your time with eating until you are used to the piercing and the jewelry is downsized to prevent irritation or prolonged healing.
- Avoid eating spicy, salty, acidic, or hot temperature foods or beverages for the first two weeks (no specific foods need to be avoided).
- Cold foods and beverages can be soothing and help reduce swelling.
- For labret (cheek and lip) piercings: be cautious about opening your mouth too wide as this can result in the jewelry catching on your teeth.
WHAT TO AVOID
- Do not play with your jewelry. Long term effects include permanent damage to teeth and gums. See the APP’s brochure Oral Piercing Risks and Safety Measures for more information.
- Avoid undue trauma; excessive talking or playing with the jewelry can cause scar tissue, migration, and other complications.
- Avoid using mouthwash containing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. It can irritate the piercing and delay healing.
- Avoid oral sexual contact including wet kissing or oral sex during healing.
- Avoid chewing on tobacco, gum, fingernails, pencils, sunglasses, and other foreign objects that could harbor bacteria.
- Avoid sharing plates, cups, and eating utensils.
- Avoid using straws. Straw use can increase the risk of swelling and bleeding.
- Minimize the intake of smoking and vaping (tobacco or cannabis). It increases risks and prolongs healing time.
- Avoid aspirin, alcohol, and large amounts of caffeine as long as you are experiencing bleeding or swelling.
- Avoid submerging healing piercings in bodies of water such as lakes, pools, oceans, and even the bathtub.
- Each body is unique and healing times vary considerably. If you have any questions, please contact a professional piercer.
WHAT TO DO TO HELP REDUCE SWELLING
- Allow small pieces of ice to dissolve in the mouth.
- Take an over the counter, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen or naproxen sodium according to package instructions.
- Don’t speak or move your jewelry more than necessary.
- Sleep with your head elevated above your heart during the first few nights.
CLEANING SOLUTIONS
Use any or all of the following solutions for inside the mouth:
- Alcohol-free and hydrogen peroxide-free mouth rinse. Or you can use dry mouth oral rinse for hydration
- Plain clean water. Bottled or filtered water is preferred.
- Packaged sterile saline solution with no additives (read the label). This is not for internal use but external use only (like cleaning the outside of your lip piercing).
- Regardless of the brand of saline, the can should list sterile and isotonic. The only ingredients included should be water and 0.9% or 9mg/ml sodium chloride. Mixing your own sea salt solution is no longer a suggested practice from the APP. Mixing your own sea salt solution will commonly result in the product being far too salty and strong. This can over dry the piercing and interfere with healing.
- Do not use contact solution, eye drops, or nasal rinse products on your piercing.
CLEANING INSTRUCTIONS
INTERNAL:
- Wash your hands thoroughly prior to cleaning or touching your piercing for any reason.
- Keeping good oral hygiene practices is important in maintaining a healthy mouth and piercing.You will want to floss, brush and use mouth rinse at least twice a day. It is vital to not overuse the mouth rinse.
- Gently brush the jewelry with a clean toothbrush regularly to avoid plaque build up.
- Rinse with water (bottled or filtered) thoroughly after every time you eat, drink or smoke.
EXTERNAL:
- Wash your hands thoroughly prior to cleaning or touching your piercing for any reason.
- Be sure to rinse your piercing thoroughly with warm water in the shower once a day. Then rinse with saline twice a day.
- Gently remove any discharge or crust that may have built up on your jewelry, then dry the area carefully with gauze.
WHAT IS NORMAL?
- For the first three to five days you may experience swelling, light bleeding, bruising, tenderness, and/or a whitish to yellowish secretion that may form crust on the jewelry.
- After the first week, you may still continue to experience some minor swelling and secretion.
- A piercing might seem healed before the healing process is complete. This is because piercings heal from the outside in. Although it feels fine, the tissue remains fragile on the inside. Be patient, and keep cleaning throughout the entire healing period.
- For lip piercings, it is typical for the jewelry to “nest” slightly into the lip (on the inside) once it is healed.
- Even healed piercings that you have had for years can shrink or close within a few hours if the jewelry is removed. This varies from person to person; if you like your piercing, keep jewelry in! Do not leave the hole empty for a long period of time.
TO MAINTAIN GOOD ORAL HYGIENE
- Use a new soft-bristled toothbrush and store it in a clean area away from other toothbrushes.
- Brush your teeth and use your chosen rinse (saline or mouthwash) after every meal.
- During healing floss daily, and gently brush your teeth, tongue and jewelry. Once healed, brush the jewelry more thoroughly to avoid plaque build up.
TO STAY HEALTHY
- The healthier your lifestyle, the easier it will be for your piercing to heal.
- Get enough sleep.
- To help healing and bolster your ability to fight infection, eat a nutritious
diet(1) or consider taking nutritional supplements daily. - Avoid emotional stress, which can increase healing times by up to 40%. (2)
Frequently Asked Questions
Tattoo Pain
Yes, tattoos can be somewhat uncomfortable, some areas more then others. However Everybody feels pain differently and some have more sensory nerves in certain areas than others. Make sure you chose your tattoo location based on the beauty you will love forever not on the pain as pain is temporary the tattoo location is forever.
Gift Cards
Give the gift of body art with our gift cards. Perfect for birthdays, holidays, or just because.
Available in any denomination.
Piercings
Our professional piercers use only the highest quality jewellery and sterilization techniques to ensure a safe and comfortable piercing experience. Contact us to schedule your appointment.
Tattoos
Our skilled tattoo artists specialize in a variety of styles, including traditional, blackwork, and watercolor. We use only the best inks and equipment to ensure a beautiful and long-lasting tattoo. Book a consultation today to discuss your dream tattoo.
Aftercare
Proper aftercare is essential to ensure the best possible healing for your new tattoo or piercing. We provide detailed instructions and high-quality aftercare products, including aftercare balms and saline solution.
What is the cost of a tattoo at Wicked Scribbles Ink?
The cost of a tattoo at Wicked Scribbles Ink depends on the size, complexity, and placement of the design. We offer competitive pricing and our artists will work with you to create a design that fits your budget.