How To Prepare For Your Tattoo Appointment
Tattoo Pre-Care
Preparing for your upcoming tattoo appointment is essential to ensure that your tattoo has the best possible healing process. Caring for a fresh tattoo after an appointment is a common practice. Unfortunately, preparing with pre-appointment skin care isn’t as recognized despite its vital importance, which takes a major toll on the final result. Hydrating, moisturizing, and avoiding irritation will ensure that your skin is in the best possible condition to be tattooed. Tattoo application is key, but a proper combination of both pre and post care is just as important.
Hydrate And Moisturize Regularly Before Your Tattoo Appointment
Be sure to drink plenty of water. Drink at least 1-2 liters a day leading up to your tattoo appointment. Ensuring that you are properly hydrated before your tattoo appointment will help ensure that your skin is properly hydrated as well. Having properly hydrated skin is a huge factor in helping to guarantee that your tattoo will heal successfully. Staying hydrated will also help you to withstand longer tattoo sessions. Taking time to moisturize the area 1-2 times a day will help with moisture and skin health as well. However, do not apply any creams or lotions to the area on the day of your tattoo appointment.
Avoid Partying or Drinking Alcohol the Night Before Your Tattoo Appointment
Alcohol can thin your blood and being hungover for your tattoo appointment is no fun for you, or your artist. Getting a good nights sleep before your tattoo appointment will also help with pain management during the procedure.
Avoid Damage to The Skin Before Your Tattoo Appointment
Use caution for at least 1 month prior to your tattoo appointment. Be sure to also avoid direct sun, tanning, chemical peels, or any other procedures that can damage your skin. Your artist will do all necessary skin preparation, such as shaving, before beginning your tattoo. Shaving the area that will be tattooed yourself before arriving to your tattoo appointment is not at all necessary, nor is it recommended. You could potentially irritate your skin, inevitably making it impossible to tattoo over the irritation.
Eat Before Your Tattoo Appointment
Taking time to eat a healthy meal before your tattoo appointment will benefit both your session, and final tattoo greatly. Eating before your tattoo appointment, like being hydrated, helps your body function properly throughout the duration of the procedure. It also helps you physically and mentally withstand the stress of being tattooed. If you are hungry during your tattoo session, it makes pain management more difficult.
Bring Entertainment for Your Tattoo Appointment
Bringing some form of entertainment or a distraction tool is a great idea to prepare for your tattoo session. You could bring your smartphone, a pair of headphones, a tablet, a book, etc. These are all great ways to keep yourself busy without being distracting or getting in the way of your artist.
Choose Proper Attire for Your Tattoo Appointment
Please keep clothing choices in mind to accommodate for the location of your tattoo while preparing. Your attire will also help with your comfort levels through the duration of the tattoo procedure. If you are getting tattooed on your leg, wearing shorts or loose sweatpants would be an appropriate choice. If you have concerns about how to accommodate for your placement, please reach out to your artist directly for advice.
Do not come to your tattoo appointment under the influence of any drugs or alcohol.
Advil and Tylenol are acceptable for pain management during the tattoo session.
If you have any further questions or concerns while preparing for your tattoo appointment, it’s recommended that you reach out to your artist directly. They will be able to give you specific recommendations for your upcoming tattoo appointment.
