prepare

moisturizing your skin

Before we go any further, please do not moisturize your skin on the day of your tattoo. You don’t want any issues occurring with the needle, tattoo machine or ink, and your skin.

Now that we have gotten that out of the way, moisturizing your skin days and even weeks in advance is something you should be doing. Leading up to your session we recommend that you moisturize your skin 1-2 times a day for 5-7 days before your tattoo. During the winter months, your skin can get more dry than usual. Which means if your tattoo appointment is anywhere from December-February you should be extra attentive to how your skin looks and feels.

get a good night’s sleep

It is incredibly important to be well-rested so that you can be alert and in-tune with your body. As you are getting tattooed you want to be able to read the signals your body is sending you and react appropriately.

If you show up tired for your session, your body could become more sensitive to pain.

eat and hydrate

Please make sure to get proper nutrition before your appointment. It will keep your energy levels up and your body will be able to endure it’s reaction to pain better. Risks of not eating and hydrating are weakness, dizziness, and possibly fainting. I recommend bringing snacks to your appointments. It can be especially helpful if you are someone who deals with low blood sugar.

Bring water to your session. Staying hydrated before, throughout, and after your appointment is necessary for a healthy tattoo. After your tattoo is complete, you will want to continue your hydration habit as it will help tremendously in the recovery and healing process.

dressing for your session

Wear a comfortable outfit. You don’t want to be wearing restrictive jeans or a dress shirt while you’re getting tattooed. Loose clothing will help make sure that you aren’t randomly getting itchy, overheated and it will allow you to easily re-adjust your positioning in case you become uncomfortable. Lastly, it will allow your artist easy access to the area you are getting tattooed. Beware that ink permanently stains clothes so don’t wear your favorite light sweats to your leg session.