Tattoo Aftercare with Protat

Getting a tattoo isn’t as simple as walking in and out of the studio. There’s the research before concerning the design of course, but there’s also strict aftercare you need to adhere to. From basic health reasons (don’t pick at it) to aesthetic reasons (moisturise to keep the colours bright), you’ll have instructions to follow once you get a tattoo. Follow them and everything should be fine!

Sunset recommend Protat tattoo after cream

At Sunset, we suggest Protat Aftercare Cream. Protat are the world’s first tattoo aftercare company. By using chemists from their development team and overseas they are constantly researching new ingredients, with natural products receiving special attention. Each Protat product has been precisely formulated with highly experienced members of the tattoo and piercing profession. New developments by Protat can only benefit the industry and enhance respect for body art practitioners everywhere. Protat Premium After Care cream has been designed to be the primary product in the Protat range. It utilises the technology of the Soothing After Care Cream with the added ingredients.

How to use Protat Aftercare cream

Apply Protat Aftercare Cream (Protat Premium Cream for normal skin or Protat Soothing Cream for sensitive skin) Always wash your hands before applying cream or touching the tattoo. Evenly apply cream over the tattooed skin. Use only as much cream as the skin will absorb. Rub cream in gently as this will help stimulate the skin and bring blood flow to the area which helps in the body's natural healing process.

DO NOT leave a thick film on the surface. Most people experience a mild tingling sensation after the first few applications, this is quite normal. After 10 minutes or so, clothing will not stick to the tattoo. Apply cream 2 to 3 times a day or as necessary to keep the tattoo slightly moist.

DO NOT allow the skin to dry out. Wear clean clothes. Avoid close fitting clothes as they may absorb cream and dry the freshly tattooed skin. If you suffer from any allergies, seek advice from your GP and advise your body artist. Discontinue use of any product should irritation occur.

Just remember, stick to these basic rules and you’ll be fine. We sell Protat Cream here in the studio, so make sure you leave with a bottle on your way out! For long term care, always use sun screen (which you should be using anyway), and keep your tattoo moisturised.

Sunset Tattoo are looking for an artist to join their team!

We started strong here at Sunset, and we're getting stronger! And as we grow we're looking for a talented tattoo artist to join our exclusive team. Do you have what it takes to work for Sunset? 

What we're looking for

If you're applying for the position then please read this.

We're considering experienced artists only. Absolutely no apprentices under any circumstances. Any applicants must have a solid portfolio of work and preferably a strong client base. If you're planning on moving to Auckland and don't have any clients, then don't worry, we'll still consider you, as long as you have the ability to build a base.

All styles are welcome! We already cover a wide range of styles here at Sunset, including traditional, Japanese, and Maori, so we are looking for an experienced tattoo artist to compliment and add to the range of styles that the shop provides. 

The team at Sunset Tattoo

Meet the team you'll be working with if you join us.

Tom McMillan has been tattooing for over 10 years and focuses on specializing in his own unique take on western traditional and Japanese tattoo styles. Tom switches easily between large-scale full body tattoos to palm size one-shot tattoos, and is always on the lookout for new, original design challenges.

Tristan Marler is of Te Rarawa descent, from the Hokianga in the far north. In 2014 he graduated from the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts institute with a diploma in Whakairo Rakau (traditional wood carving). Tristan is now tattooing full time, and specializes in Ta Moko, Blackwork, pattern work, geometric and dot-work tattoo styles.

Fabian Bidart hails from Chile, and has been tattooing in Auckland City since 2007. He specialises in western traditional tattooing.

If you think you have what it takes, please apply with your portfolio to info@sunsettattoo.co.nz

The New Zealand Tattoo and Art Festival is back!

The New Zealand Tattoo and Art Festival will be held at the TBS Stadium in New Plymouth for the 6th year running, and the guys from Sunset Tattoo will be there. The festival is being held this year on the weekend of the 26th & 27th November, and our three artists, Tom, Tristan and Fabian, will all be taking pre-bookings and walk-ups. But not only will the Sunset boys be heading down, we’re also packing a couple of aces up our sleeve. Regular guest artist Jacob Cross will be joining us, and the outstanding Makoto Horimatsu is flying over from Japan for this special occasion!

In only five short years, the festival has become Australasia’s biggest tattoo show, with over 250 artists and models attending. As usual, the standard of the artists attending is world class. The festival will see such names as Tommy Helm from Empire State Studio and Megan Massacre from Grit N Glory tattoo, both in New York. Also representing the States is Jesse Smith, from Loose Screw Tattoo, and Teresa Sharpe from Studio 13 Tattoo.

This year’s festival will have more entertainment than ever before! With Freestyle Motocross shows featuring Levi Sherwood, BMX from the Freestyle Lifestyle crew, live music from Ash Grunwald & Bleeders, live performances from LuckyHell & Elegy Ellem, ALC Ramp Riot mini ramp skate comp, Tattoo Competitions, retail stalls, food vendors, café & bar plus much more!

If you’re heading to New Plymouth for the festival, pre-book with one of our artists today! Simply email info@sunsettattoo.co.nz

A quick history of Maori tattoos

The styles and methods of tattooing in 21st century New Zealand are extremely diverse. From traditional Maori and Pacifica styles, through to modern traditional, the style is varied, but tattooing first began in New Zealand with Ta Moko.

Ta Moko tattoos

It’s impossible to establish when Ta Moko started as there are no written records pre-colonisation, as there was no formal Maori written language. Instead, historians have had to rely on archaeologists and the accounts of the first European settlers. Excavated sites have found tattooing tools dating back to the very earliest settlers, with some of the tools the same as the ones used in Samoa. Although the patterns and designs vary throughout the Pacific when it comes to tattoos, the technique of rhythmically tapping a bone chisel, lashed to a small wooden shaft remains the same.

Captain Cook arrives

Some of the earliest accounts of tattooing in New Zealand were by Sydney Parkinson. Parkinson was Captain James Cook’s artist on board the Endeavour, when it landed in Poverty Bay in 1769. He sketched and painted local Maori displaying their Moko, and described in detail the different styles and patterns he witnessed.

The Explorers noticed that Maori women were not as extensively tattooed as the men. Their upper lips were outlined, usually in dark blue, and their nostrils were also very finely incised. The chin moko was always the most popular, and continued to be practiced even into the 1970s.

Ta Moko facial tattoos aren’t just for decoration, they also tell a story. A person’s ancestry is indicated on each side of the face. The left side is generally (but not always, depending on the tribe) the father's side, while the right hand side indicates the mother's ancestry. If one side of a person's ancestry was not of rank, that side of the face would have no Moko design. Likewise if, in the centre forehead area there is no Moko design, this means the wearer either has no rank, or has not inherited rank.

Protat aftercare cream from Sunset

The process of getting a tattoo doesn’t end when you walk out the door of our studio. There’s aftercare that need to be adhered to, both for health reasons and to get the most out of your new ink! Follow these simple instructions after getting a tattoo, and it will still look awesome years from now.

Protat tattoo after cream

At Sunset, we recommend using Protat Aftercare Cream. Protat are the world’s first tattoo aftercare company. By using chemists from their development team and overseas they are constantly researching new ingredients, with natural products receiving special attention. Each Protat product has been precisely formulated with highly experienced members of the tattoo and piercing profession. New developments by Protat can only benefit the industry and enhance respect for body art practitioners everywhere. Protat Premium After Care cream has been designed to be the primary product in the Protat range. It utilises the technology of the Soothing After Care Cream with the added ingredients.

Application of after cream 

Apply Protat Aftercare Cream (Protat Premium Cream for normal skin or Protat Soothing Cream for sensitive skin) Always wash your hands before applying cream or touching the tattoo. Evenly apply cream over the tattooed skin. Use only as much cream as the skin will absorb. Rub cream in gently as this will help stimulate the skin and bring blood flow to the area which helps in the body's natural healing process.

DO NOT leave a thick film on the surface. Most people experience a mild tingling sensation after the first few applications, this is quite normal. After 10 minutes or so, clothing will not stick to the tattoo. Apply cream 2 to 3 times a day or as necessary to keep the tattoo slightly moist.

DO NOT allow the skin to dry out. Wear clean clothes. Avoid close fitting clothes as they may absorb cream and dry the freshly tattooed skin. If you suffer from any allergies, seek advice from your GP and advise your body artist. Discontinue use of any product should irritation occur.

So there you go, stick to these basic rules and you’ll be fine. We sell Protat Cream here in the studio, so make sure you leave with a bottle on your way out! For long term care, always use sun screen (which you should be using anyway), and keep your tattoo moisturised.