PRESERVING YOUR INK

Seasoned tattoo artist Kai shares his tips on keeping your tattoos pristine

- STUART DANKER

IN THE BUSTLING NEIGHBOURHOOD of Jalan University lies Kai’s Tattoo House, a welcoming beacon to ink enthusiasts both local and international.

Located in the artisanal marketplace called Kedai KL, this tattoo parlour provides not only good skin art, but great aftercare education as well. And it’s this very topic that we’ve asked Chia Thew Chai – better known as Kai – to shed some light on.

Kai has been in the business for some 15 years, and this abundant experience, coupled with his commitment to excellence, led him to develop a unique aftercare procedure that prioritises the longevity and health of his clients’ tattoos.

“It’s a two-way thing,“ he says. “I can’t take care of everything, especially once the client is home. And if you pay a lot to get a nice tattoo, you deserve to have long-lasting art on your skin,” he says.

His approach to aftercare begins right after the tattoo is completed. Kai wraps his clients’ tattoos with SecondSkin plasters, but cautions against leaving the wrap on for more than two hours. This is because everybody’s body is different, and some people could develop allergies from the material that SecondSkin is made out of.

The next step provides an interesting premise, especially since it’s a value-added service that not many tattoo parlours offer. It’s a specially-formulated handmade soap that Kai’s team produces.