Important information

HEALTH CONDITION

A tattoo is a superficial wound, and during the tattooing process ink is introduced into the dermis with a needle. To aid the healing process, it is essential to pay attention to your overall health, as the body’s condition plays a significant role in tattoo healing. If your immune system is weak, if you have poor nutrition, lack of sleep, constant stress, hormonal problems, skin conditions, and similar issues, all these factors can affect the healing period, making it longer and more challenging.

Keep in mind that a fresh tattoo is essentially an open wound that requires the development of a new layer of skin. During the first few months, this young skin is exceptionally thin and sensitive, requiring specific care.

Before getting a tattoo, please notify us if any of the following health conditions apply to you on the day of your appointment:

diabetes
epilepsy
hemophilia
severe cough
skin conditions
heart problems
flu-like symptoms
breathing difficulties
elevated temperature
blood pressure issues
pregnancy and/or breastfeeding
fainting when getting blood drawn
bloodborne diseases (HIV, hepatitis…)

In some cases, the listed health conditions may not pose a problem for tattooing. For example, if you have a runny nose due to allergies or low blood pressure, the tattoo artist may recommend taking an immunity booster and having a regular meal before tattooing to raise your blood sugar levels.

Certain conditions may require prior consultations with a general practitioner or other medical professionals (e.g., a dermatologist for specific skin conditions). If you have diabetes, epilepsy, heart or blood pressure problems, bloodborne diseases, or any skin issues (seborrhea, psoriasis), please consult with medical experts about the impact of a tattoo on your health before scheduling an appointment.

We do not tattoo pregnant or breastfeeding women (without exception). During pregnancy and breastfeeding, the body undergoes numerous changes. Although the chances of a tattoo causing any specific health harm are minimal, medical practice in Croatia tends to attribute any minor health changes to the tattoo. “You developed a rash on your neck? It’s because of that leg tattoo.” Jokes aside, during pregnancy and breastfeeding, the health of both the mother and child takes precedence. The tattoo studio will still be here after you’ve finished breastfeeding.

In the event that a client fails to disclose their health condition to Octopus staff before the tattoo procedure for any reason, Octopus studio is not responsible for any health complications that may arise or for any difficulties in the tattoo’s healing process.

CONSUMPTION

Food
Please have a regular meal at least 2 hours before your tattoo appointment, especially if you have low blood pressure or experience significant anxiety. If you come on an empty stomach or have not consumed anything besides coffee and cigarettes due to nervousness, low blood sugar levels intensified by stress may make you feel unwell during or after tattooing. If you tend to feel faint during blood draws, please mention it before the tattooing begins. Our staff is always ready to help if someone faints, but it would be more comfortable for everyone if it doesn’t come to that.

Medication
If you have taken any medication within 24 hours before your tattoo appointment that dilates the blood vessels (e.g., aspirin or blood-thinning drugs), please inform the tattoo artist before the tattooing begins. Dilated blood vessels can result in increased bleeding during tattooing, which may lead to the ink leaking out of the skin with blood, causing uneven ink distribution and interrupted lines. If you are on a specific regular therapy (e.g., diabetes or epilepsy medications), please consult with your general practitioner before scheduling a tattoo appointment.

Alcohol and substances
If you have consumed significant amounts of alcohol and/or any intoxicating substances (drugs) within 24 hours before the tattoo appointment, please notify the tattoo artist, as alcohol dilates the blood vessels, leading to more significant swelling and bleeding during tattooing, resulting in lower tattoo quality. Both alcohol and intoxicating substances also affect pain sensitivity, making the tattooing process more painful than usual.

Octopus tattoo studio reserves the right to refuse service to individuals suspected of being under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

INDIVIDUAL FACTORS

Tattoo healing can be influenced by specific individual factors, including:

• skin type: Some individuals have skin prone to developing hypertrophic tissue or scarring, which can cause certain parts of the tattoo to become raised or scarred. People with oily skin prone to acne may experience redness and pimples on the tattoo, as well as prolonged healing. If pimples appear on the tattoo, do not squeeze them; instead, contact us for an assessment.
• tattoo placement: Tattoos on specific body parts may heal more slowly due to the skin’s stretchiness and constant movement (e.g., bending points on arms and legs). Skin in these areas is thin and sensitive, so ink blowout and uneven healing of lines may occur. Skin on the inner lip, soles of the feet, and palms (including the sides of the fingers) does not hold ink as well as on the rest of the body because the skin cells regenerate more quickly in these areas, causing the tattoo to fade faster.
• activities: If you plan to go on a beach vacation, skiing trip, attend a festival, or engage in similar activities, keep in mind that these activities can affect your ability to care for a fresh tattoo or the tattooing process itself. If your skin becomes sunburned in the area you intend to tattoo, you will need to wait for the inflammation to subside.
• cosmetics: The composition of cosmetic products you use near a fresh tattoo can affect its healing or irritate it. Do not wash your new tattoo with scented shower gels or apply regular skin creams over it, as they contain substances that can be irritating. Avoid using products containing glitter or self-tanning creams on the skin at least 10 days before the tattoo, as it is practically impossible to clean those from the skin during tattooing.

OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION

The inks used for tattooing are produced by reputable manufacturers and certified in accordance with REACH regulations.

Classic black tattoo ink is carbon-based, and reactions to it are extremely rare. Octopus has experienced only one case of an allergic reaction to black ink in seven years.

People prone to allergies may have problems with red or green tattoo ink. If you are unsure whether the ink composition could be a problem for you and are planning a color tattoo, a dot test can be performed. Using the colors you want, a few tiny dots are tattooed in the area where the tattoo will be done. If there are no allergic reactions within the next 14 days, we can use those colors for your tattoo. If any reaction occurs (significant redness, pimples, swelling, severe itching, rash, etc.), we do not recommend a color tattoo, and you should consider the black and gray version of your desired design.

The choice of placement and design itself are the client’s final responsibility. The tattoo artist may suggest avoiding very visible body parts where the tattoo cannot be concealed with clothing or refraining from tattooing the name of a partner you have been with for half a year. However, the ultimate decision is yours, and you bear full responsibility for your choice.

When choosing a position, keep in mind that the human body is not a flat surface and is not perfectly symmetrical. Therefore, some designs may appear distorted, especially on body parts that bend (e.g., a straight line down the arm will only look straight when you stand upright and keep your arm close to your body; moving and turning the arm will cause the line to appear curved). When applying stencil to the body, thoroughly inspect the design from all angles, as subsequent complaints are not possible.

If any problems with tattoo healing arise (inflammation, significant redness, pimples, severe swelling or bleeding, pus discharge, etc.), please contact Octopus for an examination as soon as possible. If you are unable to come in person, you can send us a picture of the tattoo to help assess the issue. The images should be sharp and taken up close, and you can email them to info.octopustattoo@gmail.com