PIERCING AFTERCARE
Basic Piercing aftercare
WASH your hands thoroughly prior to cleaning or touching your piercing for any reason.
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Clean your piercing with a mild, antibacterial soap, no more than twice a day. While showering, lather up a pearl size drop of the soap to clean the jewelry and the piercing. Leave the cleanser on the piercing for no more than thirty seconds.
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RINSE thoroughly to remove all traces of the soap from the piercing. It is not necessary to rotate the jewelry through the piercing.
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DRY by gently patting with clean, disposable paper products. Cloth towels can harbor bacteria and snag on jewelry, causing injury and/or issues with the piercing.
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Submerge piercing in a saline WOUND WASH, or SEA SALT SOAK for five to ten minutes, 2-4 times per day. For certain piercings, it may be easier to apply using clean gauze or paper towels saturated with solution. Avoid using cotton balls or qtips as the cotton may get stuck in your piercing. A brief rinse afterward will remove any residue.
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Sea salt soak: dissolve 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt into an 8oz of hot water.
Do not use regular table salt or epsom salt.
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Oral piercing aftercare
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With an alcohol free antiseptic mouthwash, rinse mouth for about 60 seconds, 2-3 times per day, as well as after eating, drinking, smoking, or vaping. (anything other than water). For lip, cheek or any piercing that is on the outside of the mouth as well, will ALSO need to be cleaned just like any other non oral piercing using the instructions above, for the non-oral side of the piercing.
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PLEASE AVOID
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-Pools, hot tubs, lakes, rivers, and ponds for about 2 weeks.
-Rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, bactine
-Petroleum based products such as Neosporin, a&d ointment, aquafor, etc
-Avoid contact with others' bodily fluids of any kind on or near your healing piercing.
-Try and keep all clothing clean and free of pet dander, dust, dirt, etc.
-Jewelry should not be removed during the initial healing time for any reason unless your piercer or doctor tells you otherwise. Piercings heal from the outside in, and although it may feel or appear to be healed, the tissue remains fragile. Be patient and follow the aftercare instructions throughout the entire healing process.
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Estimated Healing Times
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Everybody is different, and everyone's body will heal piercings a little different. Most piercings on most people have a general healing time expectation, ranging anywhere from 6 weeks, to 6 months, depending on the piercing. Please be patient, and adamant about the provided aftercare. This guide is a basic time frame of what you may expect for your new piercing's healing time, understanding that some piercings may take more time to heal. Please check with your piercer to check if you're good to change jewelry or stop your normal aftercare practices.
Lobes 6-8 weeks
Brows 2-3 months
Cartilage 2-6 months
Nostril 2-6 months
Septum-2-4 months
Navel 6-12 months
Tongue 4-6 weeks
Lip 6-8 weeks
Cheeks 8-12 weeks
Nipples 2-6 months
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**ask your piercer for any other piercings that are not on this list.**
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Questions about the healing process? Please call us at 720-851-2282! We are more than happy to help.
If you think you have a serious medical issue or signs of infection (extreme pain, swelling, fever, yellow or green pus discharge) or allergic reaction, please immediately contact your healthcare provider.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS?
we've got answers.
Where is Chroma Collective? I can't find it!
We are the best kept secret in the Parker West II Plaza, located on the southwest corner of S. Parker Rd. and E. Plaza Dr.
We are directly behind Domino's Pizza and next door to Posh Pastries (check them out, they make awesome birthday cakes! Mostly we just love walking into our shop in the morning and smelling cinnamon rolls from next door - it's pretty fantastic.)
We may be hiding in the back corner, but finding us will be the best part of your day.
Is Chroma a clean tattoo shop?
YES.
We adhere to the strict body art regulations set forth by the Tri-County Health Department and we are inspected by their staff annually. Our artists are trained in blood borne pathogens and cross-contamination as well as universal precautions.
We use an autoclave (medical sterilizer), one you would find in a dentist or doctor's office. It is spore tested monthly. Feel free to ask to see our log to verify for yourself. For the most part, our artists use cartridge systems, which are single-use, and all piercing needles are single use.
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All of our needles are presterilized and used only on you and then are disposed of properly into sharps containers. Our ink is dispensed into single-use caps and then thrown away after each client. We practice good handwashing and sanitation procedures and we truly care that your tattoo is done as safely as it is beautifully.
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Can my kiddo get a piercing?
We actually do pierce under 18! With some limitations. The following piercings are available for minors:
AGES 6-13 EARLOBES ONLY
AGES 13-17 EARS AND NAVEL
AGE 17- EARS, NAVEL, NOSTRIL, SEPTUM, LIPS, EYEBROWS
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If you are planning on bringing in your minor, we always recommend an appointment, so give us a call or swing by and we can get you scheduled! Walk ins are welcome, if there is availability and because our piercer is just wonderful, she usually books her days solid.
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A MUST!!!! We are required to obtain a copy of the minors birth certificate, as well as one of the parents ID. Definitely don't forget that or we'll have to change your appointment to a later date/time.
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How do I get an appointment at Chroma?
**Its always best to come into the shop to discuss scheduling/appointments/designs if that's an option for you.**
1) Choose your artist. He or she may have an individual appointment booking process.
2) Consult with your artist on design, price, and possible dates.
3) Place your non refundable deposit, depending on artist/procedure, this amount differs.
4) Get your time in the books! Your deposit will go TOWARDS your procedure (if its multiple sessions, it will go towards the final session)
5) Send any applicable photos, references, ideas to your artist via email or drop by the shop.
6) Get tattooed!
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What do I need to do before my appointment? What should I bring?
Please bring:
Your Government-Issued ID, driver's license, or passport. We cannot tattoo you if you do not have this on the day of your appointment.
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Any reference photos, imagery, etc. for your artist to use
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Your healthy, well-fed and hydrated self. This is important. Low blood sugar or dehydration may decrease your ability to sit well for your tattoo, and is not good for your body. Eat and drink before you come in!
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What will my tattoo cost? How do I pay? Do I need to make a deposit?
We typically charge an hourly rate for tattoos, or specific costs for specific piercings.
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Typically, the hourly rate for your artist is for tattoo time only, and doesn't go towards draw time, set up time or breaks.
When you come in for a consultation, your artist will give you their best guess on a time estimate for your piece. We are unable to give exact price quotes over the phone or email.
Payment Process:
Cash is always preferred, however, we take all major credit cards. No checks, please.
We also have gift certificates available - tattoos make fabulous presents!
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We DO require a non-refundable deposit for all tattoo appointments. Deposit costs vary for different artists, $100-$200, and $25 for piercings.
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This holds your time slot for you. The deposit is then put towards the final cost of your tattoo/piercing, and is nothing extra.
If you cannot make your appointment, please call no less than 48 hours in advance to reschedule. If you no-show, we keep your deposit - and you will have to make a new deposit to make a new appointment. If you reschedule the same appointment more than two times, we keep your deposit.
Three strikes - you're out.
We aren't jerks, we just have families to feed and since we are mostly an appointment -only shop, when you don't show up, our artists are out of work and also out of a pay check.
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Will you draw me something and then let me decide if I want to get it or not?
When you schedule an appointment and put down a deposit, we will happily draw your tattoo for you.
If you would like to make changes - great! We will absolutely do that and make sure that you are happy with it before you get in the chair.
Unfortunately, because of our busy schedules, we are unable to draw in advance for most tattoos. Typically, your artist will draw for you the day of the appointment - unless the tattoo is extremely involved. We do not send previews of drawings over email or text or social media under any circumstance.
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Can I bring my Grandma, BFF, Football Team, or my kids to my appointment?
Often we have clients that bring in support while they are getting their first tattoo, or something that is meaningful like a memorial piece. We are totally fine with this - tattooing can be a healing/fun experience for you and those around you.
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We do ask that if you are bringing company with you, to respect the shop environment and the artists. Give them space so the area around the tattoo is not at risk of contamination and they are not interuppted or accidentally bumped. Please do not bring in food or beverages (they must stay in the lobby if you do), and do not place your personal belongings like jackets, coats, phones or purses on the countertops or floors in the tattooing area.
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If you are bringing children, please do not allow them to roam around the shop.
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I have a question about my new tattoo, can you help me?
Check out our aftercare above! If you still have questions, please reach out to the shop via email or call us at 720-851-2282 and speak directly to your artist who will be more than willing to help.
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Do you repair damaged tattoos or do cover-ups?
Absolutely! Especially combined together with a few sessions of Laser Tattoo Removal in-house at Chroma Collective, we can get really fantastic results.
Cover-ups definitely have their limitations if you are not opting for laser removal, and it is best to have an open mind when it comes to subject matter of your new piece. Sometimes that pretty little yellow flower isn't going to cut it when you are trying to hide a big dark name of someone you now hate.
Our artists will work with you to come up with a plan specifically for your situation - stop by for a consultation!
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Will you touch up my tattoo?
Of course! If your tattoo needs a touch-up, we offer them for free for all tattoos done at our shop, even if the original artist has moved.
However, touch ups are meant to be done within a few months after the tattoo is done, to make sure it all heals and looks perfect. 'Touch ups' are not meant to mean 're do my tattoo that's years old and is now damaged by years of tanning and natural aging'
If you have a tattoo that needs reworked and was not done by us, we charge our standard hourly rates and are more than happy to help you out and get your piece looking great!
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Do you offer services for mastectomy patients?
We are now offering professional tattooing services for breast cancer survivors and mastectomy patients. Whether you want a realistic areola tattoo or a custom tattoo that incorporates a more intricate or specific subject matter, we are more than happy to help you - and would be honored to take a small part in your journey of healing.
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Do you offer UV or black light ink?
Nope - and they will not be in our future service offerings as our artists are not comfortable using these ink types on our clients due to safety concerns.
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I'm 16 and my parent said I could get a tattoo and/or piercing. Will you do it?
It's awesome that you have such cool parents, however, the age requirement at Chroma Collective is 18+ only. If you still want a tattoo when you hit the magic 18, come on in!
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I'm pregnant or breastfeeding. Can I get a tattoo or piercing?
If you are pregnant, we will not tattoo or pierce you.
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If you are breastfeeding, we ask that you wait until your milk supply has regulated, your breastfeeding routine is well-established, and you are at least three months postpartum and you have been cleared by your OB or midwife to resume normal activity before you decide to get a new tattoo or piercing.
Ultimately, it is up to you to make an informed choice on whether or not you are comfortable with getting a tattoo while breastfeeding your baby.
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Its always a good idea to do extra research yourself, and consult with your healthcare provider for further information.
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I want to be a tattoo artist! Will you apprentice me?
Awesome! Tattooing is a rewarding career in so many ways. Unfortunately we are not looking for an apprentice at this time.
You didn't answer my question... who can I ask?
If you have a question that we didn't cover, please don't hesitate to email, call or stop by!
Chromacollectivetattoo@gmail.com or 720-851-2282