Pre and Post Care

What you need to know before your appointment

Initial treatment takes about 2-2.5 hours. A perfecting touch up session takes about 60 minutes (1.5 hours allowed for appointment). People under the age of 18 are not permitted in the room due to WHS law. We also DO NOT allow friends or family in the room during your treatment as this may cause distractions for our technician and client. If you need to bring your child please make sure you have someone who is able to look after them outside of the consultation room. 

A $100 deposit is required to secure your appointment. This amount is non-refundable if you don't show up to your appointment or cancel your appointment within 48 hours prior to your appointment.

If you are using ROACCUTANE, RETIN-A or photo sensitising antibiotics eg: Doxy Cycline and high doses of anti-inflammatory medicine or topical medical creams you cannot be treated until 6 months after you have ceased usage of these drugs. Some antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs interact with the tattooing adversely. Please inform the staff at EMPIRE before your treatment date as you may need to be cancelled. 

Cosmetic tattoo cannot be performed on you if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. 

Prices are per website/booking system.
All new clients are treated as a NEW tattoo even if you have old tattoo done by another technician (consult is required if you have had tattoo elsewhere)

No Coffee or Alcohol is permitted 24 hours before your appointment as this will jeopardize the healing process and the final outcome.
No Fake Tan on the face as this could jeopardize the tattoo and the healing process

For anyone getting LIP BLUSH and is prone to COLD SORES, you will need an anti viral medications to take 5 days BEFORE and AFTER your appointment, for anyone not prone to coldsores lysine is reccomended for those 10 days aswell. (contact your nearest Chemist)

For Lip Blush you must keep your lips well hydrated 7 days prior to appointment for best pigment retention

Colour matching can be difficult at times but we endeavor to match as close to your colour needs as possible. Many things can alter the end result of the pigment colour in the skin; colour and depth of pigment, oils in your skin, sun exposure, skin care you use at home, general health and medications used and neglecting to follow home care instructions.
 

Colours will appear darker and bolder immediately following the procedure, colours will lighten and soften.  Often clients think they have lost their colour, it has lightened too much, wait four to six weeks and then judge the result. It can be completely normal to lose up to 80% of the colour on the first session, please don’t worry and trust the process, that is why we have a touch up in 4-6 weeks after your initial appointment 
 

Does it hurt?

Everyone's pain tolerance is different, some feel it more than others. Most clients describe it as a light scratch, with some people not feeling it at all (60% of clients have fallen asleep).

Some clients take pain relieving medication prior to their treatment. You can purchase a small tube of EMLA cream from the chemist and apply this one hour before coming to your appointment to numb the skin (please advise us if you have applied any numbing agents before we begin). This will take the edge off. 

Why does cosmetic tattoo change over time?

It all depends on the treatment area, colour used, age of client and skin condition all play a large part in the longevity of your tattoo.

Cosmetic tattoo is implanted into the very top layer of the dermis(skin) and into lower layers of the epidermis where the colour can be metabolised by the body over time. The larger the particle, the harder it is for the body to metabolize it.

Eyebrow Tattoo After Care

Gently pat dry your brows every hour with a clean damp cotton round for the first 24 hours
Make sure to wait 4 weeks to see the healed results
Apply healing balm morning and night (given to you by us) for the first 7 days after your appointment
Do not pick at scabs or flakes
No hot showers, steam, saunas and spas for 14 days
Do not apply any makeup to the area for 14 days
Do not use active ingredients for 30 days 
Do not sweat on tattoo for 14 days as the salt in the sweat will alter the pigment 

No soap, water or cleansers on the treated area for 7-14 days.
You must change your pillow case to a fresh case the day of your appointment to avoid a bacterial infection

Lip Blush After Care

Wipe your lips every hour with a clean damp cotton round for the first 24 hours
If swelling occurs, apply a clean cold compress and take an Advil to reduce swelling and soreness
Keep your lips extremely moisturized between days 1-5 after your appointment
Drink through a straw for days 1-5 
Wear a lip balm with SPF in the 6 week healing period and continue to use for longer lasting results
Make sure to wait 6 weeks to see the healed results (8-12 weeks for dark lip neutralization)
Avoid Spicy food for the 5 days 
Do not pick at scabs or flakes

For anyone prone to COLD SORES, you will need a prescription for anti viral medications to take 5 days BEFORE and AFTER your appointment, for anyone not prone to cold sores lysine is recommended for those 10 days aswell. 

No hot showers, steam, saunas and spas for 5 days
Do not apply any makeup to lips for 5 days
Do not use active ingredients around the area for 30 days 
Do not sweat on tattoo for 5 days as the salt in the sweat will alter the pigment

You must change your pillow case to a fresh case the day of your appointment to avoid a bacterial infection 

Keep nourish oil on brows for 24 hours after appointment (this is applied at the end of your treatment)
Nourish oil can be applied every day and night to look after and protect your brow hairs from damage
Avoid getting them wet or exposed to steam for 24 hours
Brows need to be brushed in place every day to get the full effect of the lamination 
Lamination can only be done minimum every 8 weeks no sooner

Avoid food/drink that may stain a white t-shirt for 72 hours (the teeth are really exposed at this point and can stain extremely easy)
Avoid smoking or drinking for 72hours
Avoid acidic foods
Tooth sensitivity can occur post treatment 
Top Up sessions within 1-4 weeks are recommended for better and longer lasting results

Skin will become temporarily darker and tight before it starts to shed (this is the lifting of pigmentation and dead skin cells)
When skin starts to peel/shed, avoid picking and peeling at skin, this will jeopardize the result and the healing and will cause more damage.
Avoid all active skincare products for 7 days (Retinol, Vitamin A, AHS's, BHA's, Glycolic Acid, Salicylic Acid)
Avoid direct sun exposure for 7 days post treatment
SPF must be worn for minimum of 14 days post peel (we advise to wear it every day moving forward to protect your skin)
Avoid excess sweating for 7 days as skin can be easily irritated
Keep up with all hydrating products as skin will be feeling dry and possibly itchy.

LOOK BELOW FOR SKIN PEEL PROCESS OVER 7 DAYS

 1 DAY PRE-TREATMENT

Please shave the treatment area thoroughly. 

3 DAYS PRE-TREATMENT

Avoid cosmeceutical Vitamin A, AHA’s & BHA’s, and Vitamin C application. 

1 WEEK PRE-TREATMENT

Avoid benzyl peroxide application in the treatment area.

If prone to cold sores, please speak to your pharmacist about a prophylactic course of antiviral medication.

2 WEEKS PRE-TREATMENT

Prepare the skin with suitable skincare. This will include a tyrosinase inhibitor for Fitzpatrick Skin.

Types III+ and any skin prone to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIHP).

Your treatment provider will advise you of your skincare recommendations.

Avoid prescription-strength exfoliant creams on the treatment area. Avoid muscle relaxant injections in the treatment area. 

4 WEEKS PRE-TREATMENT

Avoid the use of fake tan and gradual tanning creams in the area to be treated.

Avoid tanning and incidental sun exposure, including tanning beds/booths (including between treatments).

The area needs to be covered and protected from the sun for safe and effective treatment.

Avoid filler injections in the treatment area

8 WEEKS PRE-TREATMENT

Avoid waxing, plucking, threading (or removing the hair from the follicle), using depilatory creams or undertaking electrolysis (including between treatments).

IMMEDIATELY AFTER & UP TO 5 DAYS POST-TREATMENT

A mild sunburn-like sensation. Swelling of the hair follicles (peri-follicular oedema) can occur and appear as small, raised red bumps. This is a normal histamine reaction (Urticaria). Itchy or dry skin.

1-3 WEEKS POST-TREATMENT

The appearance of “stubble”. This is not hair re-growth. It is the remnant of treated hairs being expelled from the follicle. Allow this hair to fall out on its own, or encourage it with gentle exfoliation. Do not pluck or tweeze. You may shave during this period.