NORFOLK INK GALLERY    2100 Monticello Ave, Norfolk, VA 23517

Norfolk's Custom Tattoo & Piercing Studio

Norfolk Ink Gallery is a custom and walk-in friendly tattoo studio located in Norfolk, Virginia. We also offer a wide variety of body jewelry and body piercing. Stop in today and chat us up about your ideas.


Piercing

We carry a large stock of body jewelry from


Our jewelry for initial piercing is high quality implant certified F-136 implant certified Titanium, F-138 implant certified Steel, 14k or 18k solid Gold or Niobium and is either internally threaded or threadless. All of our initial jewelry carries a lifetime guarantee against defects, and meets Association of Professional Piercers standards.
See our work on Instagram!

Aftercare

Tattoo

No matter what, your body will heal. Touch ups are always available. This is why we guarantee our work. Remove the bandage after 3 hours. There is no need to re-bandage the tattoo. All wounds need to breathe if they are to heal properly.


Wash the tattoo using your fingertips or hand only. Use a mild antibacterial soap and warm water. Take care to gently wash away all traces of blood (if dried blood is left to dry on the tattoo it can form a scab). Do not scrub the tattoo with a washcloth during the two week healing period. Always gently pat the tattoo dry with a clean soft cloth or just let it air dry.
Apply a thin coat of Fragrance Free lotion to the tattoo. Aveeno, Eucerin, Keri, Lubriderm, Curel, or Jergens will do. Apply moisturizer five to seven times a day for the remainder of two weeks. Do not use lotions that contain color or fragrance or sparkles until the healing is complete. (Usually anywhere from ten days to two weeks; Possibly longer for slower healers.) For larger color-work tattoos we recommend: Aquaphor ointment (Just enough to make it shine, a little goes a long way ) Work it in well. Dab off all the excess with a paper towel. You should barely be able to tell that it's there This is just enough to keep the tattoo moist and to keep it from scabbing. Your body heat will liquefy the ointment and it may become glossy looking or runny. This means there's too much on there. Dab more off. Too much ointment will only suffocate the tattoo and liquefy any scabs that may have formed causing the ink to fall out and look blotchy.Aquaphor or Lotion can be applied whenever the tattoo is feeling stiff or dry but beware of over-moisturizing. Your body will absorb what it needs where it needs it. Your skin will form a protective layer no matter what you do. If you do not keep it moist or keep it too moist (it's a personal balance, different for each individual), it will form a thick, hard scab that may crack when you move. When you form this kind of a scab the ink sits within it and slowly heals into the skin. When the tattoo is kept moist it doesn't have a chance to form a scab but does form a thin membrane to protect the tattoo while it heals. This layer peels off very similar to a sunburn (do not peel your tattoo, you will pull the ink out!) and it is normal to see small flakes of colored skin falling off during this stage of healing.
You must keep your tattoo clean, however, long showers or baths must be avoided for 2 weeks. Prolonged soaking can and will loosen scabs if any have formed, or will soak through the soft tissue and cause your ink to flow down the drain. This includes Swimming in the Ocean or a Pool, Hot Tubs, and Saunas. Short showers are best under ten minutes if possible.
Please refrain from scratching or picking at the tattoo. Scrubbing with a washcloth can be very harsh on a tattoo and will cause your colors to fade. It is normal for the tattoo to become very itchy during the healing time. To relieve this spray the tattoo with rubbing alcohol or slap it with your hand (this will sting it and take away the itch).
Remember that hands and feet reproduce skin cells much faster than other parts of the body. A tattoo in these areas will sometimes take an extra two weeks to heal. During this time refrain from washing dishes, wearing gloves, or wearing socks and shoes (sandals must not rub the tattoo). Any friction of this type WILL wear away the tattoo within a very short period of time. Tattoos in these areas are almost never guaranteed.
No buts about it, the sun is BAD for your tattoo even if you've had it for a long time. A sunburn on a new tattoo can cause a lot of problems. It will dry out your tattoo and cause it to form a horrendous scab much of the time causing the tattoo to fade before it is even healed. It will take much longer to heal completely. It promotes scarring in a new tattoo. Wait until it is fully healed to go back in the sun or a tanning bed and make sure you put on a high quality SUNBLOCK. (Do not apply sunblock while the tattoo is healing.) The tattoo is under your skin, and your tan will form above it. If you get too dark, some colors (white, yellow, pink, and orange) may not show up as brightly as they could. Over time, excessive exposure to sunlight will cause your tattoo to fade no matter what colors are used.
Individuals heal in so many different ways, it's hard to tell (especially for first-timers) exactly what will happen whether the tattoo will scab or peel. A tattoo in one spot may heal completely different from a tattoo in another spot. The way an artist works the skin can also make a difference in the way a tattoo heals. There is no way to fortell exactly what every tattoo is going to do while healing or how to heal it. Yes, it's probably better for a tattoo to peel, but sometimes people just don't heal this way. Sometimes a scab will form no matter what you do. For some, it's hard to tell whether or not a scab is forming. Sometimes a piece will look like it's scabbed over but will peel, other times it's obvious that a thick, hard scab has formed. If a scab does form you may have to do things a bit differently You should always check with your artist before you change any of your aftercare procedure. In most shops, if you follow their directions and the tattoo heals badly, they usually offer a touch up. If you deviate from their aftercare without seeking their advice and the tattoo heals badly, you usually forfeit that guarantee.

Almost all artists will advise you to keep the tattoo moist. This can keep it from forming a scab. But what happens when that doesn't work? We notice a lot of people over-applying ointment and lotion too frequently or just too much of it. Keeping it too moist, to the point that it's nearly turning any repairing tissue to mush. Then, while they sleep the mush hardens, turning to a scab. Morning comes and on goes more goo that then absorbs into the scab turning it to mush again and later, dries out to form a thicker scab. More is not better. It won't make healing go any faster. This is not a scraped knee.

Oral Piercing
Use either one or both of the following solutions for inside the mouth:
  • H2Ocean mouth wash
  • Antimicrobial or antibacterial alcohol-free mouth rinse
Rinse mouth 4-5 times daily with cleaning solution for 30-60 seconds after meals and at bedtime during the entire healing period. If you over clean, it may cause discoloration or irritation of tongue.

Soak in H2Ocean solution and/or wash with liquid antimicrobial or germicidal soap* as described below:

1 WASH your hands thoroughly prior to cleaning, or touching on or near your piercing for any reason.

2 SOAP no more than once or 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 no more than thirty seconds, then rinse thoroughly to remove all traces of the soap from the piercing.

3 DRY with disposable paper products such as gauze or tissues, because cloth towels can harbor bacteria and catch on new piercings causing injury. Pat gently to avoid trauma.

  • For the first three to five days: significant swelling, light bleeding, bruising, and/or tenderness.
  • After that: Some swelling, light secretion of a whitish yellow fluid (not pus).
  • A piercing may seem healed before healing is complete. This is because piercings heal from the outside in, and although it feels healed the tissue remains fragile on the inside. 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, leave the jewelry in place.
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 Naproxyn Sodium* according to package instructions.
  • Sleep with your head elevated above your heart during the first few nights. To maintain good oral hygiene.
  • Use a new soft-bristled toothbrush and keep it clean.
  • 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.
  • The healthier your lifestyle, the easier it will be for your piercing to heal.
  • Get enough sleep and eat a nutritious diet.
  • DO NOT PLAY WITH THE JEWELRY. Long term effects of playing with and clicking the jewelry against the teeth can result in permanent damage to teeth and other oral structures.
  • Avoid undue trauma; excessive talking or playing with the jewelry during healing can cause the formation of unsightly and uncomfortable scar tissue, migration, and other complications.
  • Avoid any mouthwash containing alcohol. It can irritate the area and delay healing.
  • Avoid oral sexual contact including French (wet) kissing or oral sex during healing (even with a long term partner).
  • Avoid chewing on gum, tobacco, fingernails, pencils, sunglasses, etc.
  • Avoid sharing plates, cups, and eating utensils.
  • Avoid smoking! It increases risks and lengthens healing time.
  • Avoid stress and all recreational drug use.
  • Avoid any aspirin or alcohol, and large amounts of caffeine.
  • Avoid submerging in bodies of water such as lakes, pools, etc.
  • Once the swelling has subsided, it is vital to replace the original, longer jewelry with a shorter post.
  • Consult your piercer for their downsize policy.
  • Because this necessary jewelry change may occur during healing, it should be done by a qualified piercer.
  • With clean hands or paper product, be sure to regularly check threaded ends on your jewelry for tightness ("Righty-tighty, lefty-loosey").
  • Carry a clean spare ball in case of loss or breakage.
  • Contact your piercer if your jewelry must be temporarily removed (such as for a medical procedure). There are non-metallic jewelry alternatives.
  • Should you decide you no longer want the piercing, seek professional help in the removal of the jewelry and continue cleaning the piercing until the hole has closed. In most cases only a small indentation will remain.
  • In the event that an infection is suspected, quality jewelry or an inert alternative should be left in place to allow for drainage of the infection. Should the jewelry be removed, the surface cells can close-up sealing the infection inside the piercing channel, resulting in an abscess. Until such time an infection is cleared up, leave quality jewelry in!
  • Slowly eat small bites of food, placed directly onto