Your Ultimate Guide to Cosmetic Tattooing | Gold Coast
- Jordanna Leigh
- May 31
- 3 min read
From prep to perfection: how to get flawless results at Honey Cosmetic Tattoo
You’ve stalked our before-and-afters. You’ve imagined waking up with lips that don’t fade or brows that don’t vanish when you go swimming. Now you’re ready to book—or you already have—and you want to know exactly what to expect.
✨ This is your no-BS, everything-you-need guide to prepare, show up, heal, and glow ✨
At Honey, we don’t just tattoo—we tailor. Every appointment is a custom experience where art meets expertise, and this blog is your prep sheet, confidence booster, and bestie all in one.
🛁 Step One: Prepping for Perfection
Beautiful healed results start before you even walk through the door.
What applies to everyone:
❌ No caffeine or alcohol 48 hours before (that means coffee, tea, pre-workout… all of it).
❌ No exercise the day of or for 5–7 days after. Sweat = pigment loss.
❌ No blood thinners (like aspirin, Advil, fish oil, garlic, or ginseng) for 7 days before.
✅ Stop using actives (like retinol, AHAs, acne treatments) 1–2 weeks before.
✅ Wash your hair the night before. You won’t be getting wet for 10 days.
✅ Come dressed comfy. No white or designer clothes—pigment spray happens.
🕊 Remember: the more nourished and calm your skin is, the better your results will hold.
🎯 Skin Prep: Why It’s Non-Negotiable
Tattoo pigment needs a clean, smooth canvas to heal evenly. Dry, irritated, or flaky skin will reject the pigment—and you’ll end up needing more sessions.
Brows:
Use a healing moisturiser (CeraVe, Bepanthen, or Aquaphor) daily for at least a week.
Exfoliate 48 hours before with a toothbrush or mitt—gently!
Lips:
Hydrate lips consistently with Dermal Therapy or Aquaphor balm.
Exfoliate with a lip scrub or sugar + coconut oil 48 hours before.
💊 Cold Sore Protocol (Lip Blush Only)
If you’ve ever had a cold sore—even once, even years ago—you need antiviral medication like Valtrex or Famvir. This will prevent an outbreak that could ruin your healed results.
❗️If you arrive with an active cold sore, we can’t proceed and cancellation fees apply. Take the preventative medication leading up to your appointment and after to avoid this. Don’t risk it ❗️
🧊 Numbing: Yes, But You Gotta BYO
In QLD, we legally can’t apply numbing in-studio. You must:
Order numbing from a compounding chemist (not Priceline, not Emla, not TKTX).
Apply a thick layer 45–60 mins before.
Cover it with cling wrap and arrive with it still on.
Recommended:
💬 What to Expect at Your Appointment
Your session is never rushed at Honey—it’s 3 hours of precision, pampering, and perfection.
Here’s how it flows:
Consultation: We chat about goals, style, skin, and medical info.
Mapping & Design: I create a shape that enhances your natural features.
Colour Choice: Choosing a pigment colour together that will suit your skin and goals.
You Approve: Nothing starts until you’re 100% obsessed.
Tattooing Begins: I use advanced machine-only techniques—no microblading here.
Aftercare Chat: You’ll leave fully prepped with everything you need to heal.
🎧 Bring your earphones, a blanket, or anything that helps you chill. 🧘🏼♀️🍃 You deserve to relax while I work my magic.
🗓 The Healing Breakdown
Let’s be real—healing isn’t always cute. But it’s always worth it.
Days | What’s Happening |
Day 1–2 | Bold and dark. This is not your final colour. |
Day 3–5 | Flaking and peeling. Hands off! No picking. |
Day 6–10 | Looks lighter than expected. Totally normal. |
Day 14+ | Pigment begins to bloom again. |
Week 6–8 | Perfection Visit to refine and complete your result. |
✨ Aftercare Must-Knows
Keep the area dry and clean for 10 days minimum—no steam, sweat, pools, or direct sun.
Use your healing balm sparingly. Do not overuse it.
No skincare or makeup on the area until it’s fully healed.
Do not pick at scabs or flakes as this damages the result.
Healing is where the magic happens. Trust the process and don’t rush it.
📍 Last Thing: This Is Your Sign
If you’ve been thinking about it for a while… this is your green light.
Whether it’s brows, lips, or faux freckles, your new glow-up starts with a single click.
👉🏼 Book your correction appointment now here ✨ DM us @honeycosmetictattoo 📲 Contact us directly anytime for a personalised plan to get your dream cosmetic tattoo 📍 Located in Southport, Gold Coast
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