Her tattoo world: Stories & Ink’s Barbara Crane on her tattoo collection and new tattoo healing


We absolutely love independent tattoo skincare brand Stories & Ink and everything they stand for aligns with our vibe over here at Things & Ink. The Stories & Ink range has been specially created for people with tattoos, the products nourish, define and protect tattooed skin – from aftercare cream and gentle foam cleanser for freshly inked skin to vibrancy serums and exfoliating wash to inject some life back into older tattoos.

We caught up with Stories & Ink Creative Content Manager, Barbara Crane – who’s 26 years old and lives in Latvia – to find out her top tips for dealing with that dreaded new tattoo itch and her fave S&I products for new tattoo healing. Barbara’s a tattoo collector, too, of course, and her collection of blackwork tattoos is out of this world…

Barbara is the creative content manager for Stories & Ink skincare

What made you fall in love with tattoos? Do you remember when it was?
I was about six or seven years old, I think. The idea of having permanent art that’s all over your skin – and goes everywhere with you – fascinated me. When I was a child, I also loved art and drawing. I thought the idea of having drawings on your skin was amaaazzzing and I couldn’t wait to cover myself in art.

Do you enjoy the process of getting tattooed?
I would say 50/50. I do love going to the tattoo studio, talking to tattoo artists, and going through the whole process – except the pain of actually getting tattooed, of course. Yes, it is a part of the process and, to some degree, I do like it, but I don’t know what it is – age or something else – but it does feel like every next tattoo is more painful than the last. My tolerance is a lot lower than it used to be. Or maybe it just means that I keep moving to more and more painful places on my body.

The top half of Barbara’s body has been tattooed by Emīls Salmiņš

What’s your top tips for the healing process?
Hmm, I’d say leaving the healing tattoo alone as much as possible. Of course, cleaning it and applying aftercare cream when needed. But don’t go into the sun, don’t do any crazy activities, don’t pick at it and drink a lot of water. Treat it almost like a wound and just let it heal. Then the healing process happens a lot faster.

Do you have a fave Stories & Ink product? Why?
Oof, always hard to pick one. I am totally a fan of the Daily Moisturiser and the Vibrancy Serum, for sure! They both smell so amazing and nothing makes my tattoos come back to life and glow like these two products do!

How do you cope with the new tattoo itch?
Ha! Good question. I didn’t experience it that much in the past, but the last few tattoos I got, it came to bite me in the butt. I don’t scratch it – of course. Maybe give it a light tap with my palm, if it is unbearable. But if I do feel an itchy sensation, it just means that the spot is dry and I apply a little of the Stories & Ink Aftercare Cream and that usually does the trick. 

Any new tattoo plans?
I have a bunch, but first I’d love to finish my massive back piece. Later I’d like to get my fingers tattooed and the insides of my ears. 

What’s your coping tactics to deal with long sessions?
Honestly, numbing cream. I know people debate about it, but I don’t understand why. Some say “you should earn the tattoo” but I say that is just toxic masculinity at it’s finest. A bit of a hot take, I know. But it’s true. If it will be a long session and in a spot that’s very sensitive and painful, make it easier for you and for the artist. If the area is numb or has less sensations than normal then you are having a breeze and the artist can focus on doing their work without you whining and twitching and moving around from the pain. Other coping tactics would be music or watching videos on my phone. Really distracts my brain well. 

What do you love most about working at Stories & Ink?

I’ve been a freelancer for a long time and everything always felt so hectic, working at S&I has brought so much structure in to my work life and I love it as I am a big planner myself. Also being a huge tattoo enthusiast, I feel like I have found my place – finally. I used to think I would be a tattoo artist as I thought that was the only job I could have in the tattoo industry, but I am glad I was wrong. I love how welcoming, passionate and understanding the team is. I feel so lucky to be a part of such an amazing, growing and future-thinking company that aims to share the right messages about tattoos, tattooed people and tattoo care – and so much more.

Check out the full range of Stories & Ink products in their shop: storiesandink.com, and give them a follow on their Instagram, @storiesandinkskincare

Tattoo Aftercare: Salix Moon Apothecary

At Things & Ink we’re always looking for new products to help heal our new tattoos, especially if the ingredients are natural and created by an independent maker. Louise founder of Salix Moon Apothecary kindly sent us some of her Achilles Charm botanical healing salve to try. Read on to find out a bit more about Louise and her tattoo balm…

Louise is a graphic design graduate and aspiring herbalist living by the sea with her partner and two chinchillas. She explains how “Salix Moon Apothecary was born out of my love and respect of the natural world and a need to connect and experiment with it. It was a way of getting creative with nature, combining my love of herbs with my love of design and my urge to create. All of the packaging and illustrations are designed and hand drawn by myself. My partner Max is also a big part of the business, we come up with the recipes and make the products together.”

Louise

“I am fascinated by plant medicine and love to go foraging for herbs for my herbal first aid kit and little home-apothecary. I’m very interested by our ancient ways, folklore and the history of our use of medicinal plants and I’m working on some new products inspired by traditional western herbalism/remedies, with herbs used by our ancestors. I recently started studying Herbal Medicine, which has reinforced my path. I hope one day to become a medical herbalist.”

Louise continues to tell us how she is “passionate about leading a sustainable and ethical lifestyle and I try to reflect that in my products and business ethics. I try and source my essential oils and carrier oils from farms in the UK wherever possible to try and reduce our carbon footprint. Our labels are paper based and compostable and biodegradable and so is our packing material. All my products are in glass bottles and you can choose either an aluminium cap, pipette or spray closure (depending on the product). I encourage customers to re-use their pipette/spray top and go for the aluminium cap for future purchases as they are more easily recycled.”

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What is Achilles Charm tattoo salve? 

Made with a combination of cold pressed and unrefined plantain infused organic Jojoba Oil, Calendula infused organic Sunflower Oil*, organic Yarrow infused organic Sunflower Oil, organic Virgin Rosehip Seed Oil, Organic Beeswax and naturally derived Vitamin E, the balm is:

  • Paraben free
  • Sulfate free
  • Cruelty free
  • Preservative free
  • 100% natural
  • Unscented
  • Suitable for sensitive skin

Achilles Charm contains a magical blend of potent herbs that Louise and Max have macerated in organic botanical oils for many weeks to slowly extract their soothing and nourishing properties. Each herb and oil has been carefully chosen for their nourishing compounds and medicinal properties that help to soothe and protect, promote skin repair and tissue regeneration.

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A highly moisturising and soothing ointment for the skin, this salve is the perfect addition to your herbal first aid kit, it can be applied to bites, stings, scrapes, minor cuts, dry itchy skin conditions and it is our absolute go-to for tattoo aftercare.

As directed our editor Rosie massaged a thin layer of salve directly onto the skin to help soothe, soften and protect her new tattoo. This is what she had to say:

I absolutely loved this tattoo healing balm, not only is it made from natural ingredients and cruelty free, it also has a beautiful natural scent. The texture is ideal for new tattoos as it just melts into the skin like a dream. I’ve been using it on my husband’s new tattoos as well and he loves it too! It’s so nice to have tattoo care that is ethical with recyclable packaging that also supports an independent maker. I also like to use Achilles Charm on my face as a night oil, and I always wake up with beautifully soft nourished skin.

 

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Rosie using Achilles Charm on her new tattoo

Be sure to follow Salix Moon Apothecary on Instagram or Facebook for more plant magic and you can shop the full range of plant based products on Etsy here

Powder Beauty Boutique in Brighton

We had a fun Things&Ink outing to Brighton back in February for Brighton Tattoo Convention. While we were there, we couldn’t resist getting our nails done at the gorgeous Power Beauty Boutique.

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Editors Rosalie Hurr and Alice Snape got their nails did at Powder Beauty Boutique

image2 (1)Behind a discreet door on Duke Street, you will climb some stairs and enter a little haven with warm and welcoming therapists who can do anything from nail art and bikini waxes to make-up and micro-blading.

Excitingly, they now have a room to rent that would suit a professional body piercer or tattoo artist. They already have a licence from the council in place, so are looking for someone who is self-employed to rent the space. We can’t wait to pay them a visit again once they find someone… especially as the room looks like a perfect – and private – sanctuary to get pierced or tattooed in… Just look!

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If you’re interested in renting the room either on a part-time or full-time basis, contact Rachel at rachel@powderbeauty.co.uk or give her a call 07899884170. Visit powderbeauty.co.uk, for more information. Powder Beauty Boutique is an established salon with a large client base situated in the heart of Brighton’s city centre. 

 

Alice Nicholls: An79 Tattoo Balm

Alice Nicholls is a tattoo artist, permanent cosmetic specialist and creator of An79, a vegan friendly tattoo aftercare balm. Specially formulated to complement her work and cosmetic artistry, An79 balm has highly moisturising properties to keep new tattoos hydrated and protected. Resulting in a fully healed tattoo and the added bonus of super soft skin. The cruelty free and homemade balm consists of all natural ingredients, and it features a relaxing mild lavender scent and is gentle on sensitive skin.

Our editor, Rosie tried some on her latest handpoked cat tattoo created by artist Lydia Amor, this is what she had to say:

I loved how easily I could apply the balm to my skin, it seemed to melt into my hands. It soaked in really quickly and wasn’t at all sticky to touch. I couldn’t really smell the lavender which was a shame, but I’ll be using An79 again to heal some of my newer tattoos for sure.

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Rosie’s leaping cat freshly done at Black Market Tattoo, Leicester

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Rosie’s tattoo with balm added

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Rosie’s happy little healed kitty

You can buy your own pot of An79 balm here. Let us know what you think! 

Forever More The New Tattoo

Modern-day passion, tangible tradition, and striking creativity: trace how tattooing continues to evolve in the follow up to Forever.  

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Art on the body is painful to acquire, arduous to own, and intimate to produce, and as such may be the best refection we have of the soul of modern life.

Matt Lodder, Preface

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Forever More covers the best of the ever-changing contemporary tattoo underground. Bold tribal motifs and gritty stick and pokes bask in a resurgence alongside the fluidity of watercolours and the deviance of Art Brut. From traditional sessions in parlors to traveling artists, Forever More celebrates tattooing’s unsung heroes and contemporary celebrities.

Forever More tracks the scene’s inventiveness and originality as tattoos continue to emerge from subculture obscurity. Just as the needle infuses the skin with ink, the artists profiled infuse life into current tattoo culture. In a scene where artists travel the world, often organizing appointments exclusively via social media, tattooing can be a lifestyle and a way of life. Featuring Miriam Frank, Duncan X, David Schiesser, Grace Neutral, Fidjit, Isaiah Toothtaker, and many others, Forever More explores their unique stories and iconic work whilst creating a comprehensive narrative of this dynamic and enduring scene.

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