Cold and flu season
With the change in the season and the colder months approaching, the cold and flu season is upon us, and we have been seeing a steady rise in colds and bugs.
The health and safety of our artists and clients is our top priority. If you exhibit any symptoms of illness, please contact us as soon as possible before your appointment to help keep everyone safe.
Getting a tattoo while you have a cold or flu, or are feeling ill generally with any other bugs, isn't ideal and we generally discourage coming in for your appointment for a few reasons:
Weakened immune system: Your body is already fighting off an infection, so your immune system is compromised. Getting a tattoo creates an open wound, which requires your immune system to work on healing, potentially delaying recovery from your cold and increasing the risk of infection in the tattooed area.
Risk of infection: A tattoo is, essentially, a controlled wound. If your immune system is already busy dealing with a cold or flu, it may not be as effective at keeping bacteria or other bugs/pathogens at bay in the tattooed area.
Increased pain sensitivity: Being ill can make you more sensitive to pain, making the tattoo process more uncomfortable and difficult to tolerate.
Risk to others: Hygiene is our top priority, along with the health and safety of our clients and artists. Coming in to get tattooed while you're coughing or sneezing can put both the artist and other clients at risk of illness. Keep in mind, too, that all of our artists are self-employed - if they have to take time off due to illness, they aren’t compensated for a loss of earnings.
Healing process: Your body needs to focus on recovering when you’re ill. By forcing it to handle both your illness and the tattoo healing process, you might experience slower recovery on both fronts.
We, along with other reputable tattoo artists, recommend waiting until you’re fully recovered before going through with a tattoo. Taking some time to recover will give you a better experience and help ensure that your tattoo heals well.
What to do if you feel ill:
If you feel like you’re coming down with a bug or suspect you might have a cold or flu, it’s generally best to reschedule your tattoo appointment. Here’s what you should do:
Contact us in advance, as soon as you suspect you feel ill:
Get in touch with us at the shop, or contact your artist directly, as soon as you realise you may be sick. Let us know you’re not feeling well and are concerned about the impact on your health and the healing process.
We are understanding and appreciative of our clients rescheduling for health reasons and want our clients to feel healthy and well, to ensure their tattoo heals as intended.
Check our cancellation/rescheduling policy:
Our cancellation and rescheduling policy requires a 72-hour notice to adjust or cancel your appointment. If you can provide enough notice and explain your situation, your deposit can be transferred to your rescheduled date and time. Read our full terms here.
Wait until you feel 100% better:
Give yourself time to fully recover before rescheduling your appointment. Aim to be symptom-free for at least a few days. This will help ensure that your immune system is back to full strength and can handle the healing process effectively.
Confirm your rescheduled appointment:
Once you’re back to full health, confirm your new appointment time and date with us or directly with your artist. It’s always better to delay your tattoo than to risk complications or prolong both the tattoo healing and illness recovery processes.
What symptoms should you look our for?
If you show any signs of sickness or illness, please reach out to us as soon as possible and avoid coming into the shop until you have fully recovered. Cold symptoms come on gradually over 2 to 3 days and the main symptoms include:
a blocked or runny nose
sneezing
a sore throat
a hoarse voice
a cough
feeling tired and unwell
You may also have:
a high temperature
aching muscles
a loss of taste and smell
a feeling of pressure in your ears and face
Is it COVID-19 or flu?
If you’re showing symptoms of flu or COVID-19, please take a test and inform your artist of the results so we can assess if it's safe for you to attend your appointment. We kindly ask that you wait to come in until your test result is confirmed negative, if you are displaying any flu symptoms, please inform your artist to reschedule your appointment.
Flu and COVID-19 symptoms can vary widely among individuals, but common symptoms include:
Fever or chills
Cough
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Fatigue
Muscle or body aches
Headache
New loss of taste or smell
Sore throat
Congestion or runny nose
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea
Symptoms typically appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s advisable to get tested and follow local health guidelines.
If you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, please inform us as soon as possible so we can reschedule your appointment. We kindly ask that you stay home and reach out to your GP for guidance.
Keeping our environment safe:
We understand being ill and unable to get tattooed can be frustrating. However, being sick lowers your immune system as it fights off the infection, which can make getting tattooed more uncomfortable and may worsen how you feel, as well as putting others at risk of being exposed to bugs. We’ll always do our best to accommodate you and get you rescheduled as soon as possible. Take care of yourself and rest up at home.
We have face masks and hand sanitiser available at the studio - just let us know if you need either during your appointment. Our goal is for everyone to enjoy a happy and healthy winter season.