Tattoo Preparation: Getting Ready for Your Tattoo Session

As the title suggests, this blog will guide you through the process of preparing for a tattoo. First and foremost, do your research. I’ve mentioned this in many of my other blogs, so if you haven’t read those yet, take a look—it can save you from regrets later on. I won’t delve into research any further here, but it’s important to get that right first.

Preparation varies depending on the tattoo you’re planning to get. Larger, multi-session pieces demand more commitment than a quick, 10-minute mini-tattoo. If you’ve never been tattooed before, it’s still a good idea to follow these guidelines even for a small tattoo. Obviously, the larger the tattoo, the more important the following points will become. I’ll leave it to you to decide what’s relevant, but feel free to message me if you have any questions.

General Preparation Tips

1. Avoid Sunburn and Tanning

• Don’t come in sunburned or with peeling skin a week after getting sunburned. At best, it can affect the healing process; at worst, we won’t be able to tattoo you.

• Avoid fake tans. Beyond the fact that it’ll get wiped off during the session, you don’t want chemicals being pushed into your bloodstream.

2. Skip Alcohol

• Most studios won’t tattoo you if you’re under the influence of alcohol. Aside from clouding your judgment, alcohol thins the blood, which can cause excessive bleeding and lead to a poorly healed tattoo.

• Even if you drink the night before, excessive alcohol can affect your session. It may cause more bleeding than usual, pushing out ink and resulting in a patchy tattoo.

3. Maintain Good Hygiene

• Take a shower before your appointment. We’ll clean the area being tattooed, but general cleanliness helps the healing process. Plus, good hygiene ensures a more pleasant experience for both you and your artist.

4. Eat Beforehand

• Your body will burn energy during the tattoo process. Eating before your session helps manage discomfort, and while fainting is rare, it’s even less likely if you’ve had a good meal.

5. Rest Up

• Get a good night’s sleep. Being well-rested makes it easier to cope with the discomfort.

6. Exercise Lightly

• If you plan on working out before your session, keep it light. Don’t come in swollen or sore, and avoid working out on the day of your tattoo session.

7. Stay Hydrated

• Drink plenty of water. Staying hydrated is important for your overall well-being, and it’s no different when you’re getting a tattoo.

8. Skip Scrubs and Exfoliation

• Don’t exfoliate your skin in the days leading up to your session. We want your skin in good condition for both the tattoo and the healing process.

9. Don’t Moisturize the Day Of

• Avoid moisturizing on the day of your session. We don’t want chemicals on your skin. However, moisturizing in the days leading up to your appointment can be beneficial, especially if you have dry skin.

10. Inform Us of Medical Conditions

• If you have any medical conditions or are taking medications, let your tattooist know. While most conditions won’t affect the process, certain medications or health issues may require us to adjust our approach—or, in some cases, prevent us from tattooing you safely.

11. Clothing

• Wear comfortable clothing that allows the artist to work without either of you feeling awkward or uncomfortable. Keep in mind that a tattoo studio may have people coming and going, and even if you’re not uncomfortable, others may be. Some countries are more conservative than others, so consider this when choosing what to wear to your tattoo appointment, especially in Southeast Asia.

Longer Sessions: Preparing for the Marathon

When it comes to longer tattoo sessions, preparation is even more crucial. In my personal experience, getting tattooed can be painful. I’d say my pain tolerance is on the lower end of the scale, and I don’t enjoy the pain—just like most people. But I want the tattoo more than I want to avoid the discomfort.

Even with my low pain tolerance, I’ve sat through long sessions—12 to 14 hours, back-to-back, with two artists working on me at the same time for most of it. Towards the end, they struggled to find areas they could both work on simultaneously. The only reason I got through it was because I prepared properly. I rested well in the days leading up to the session, ate right, and approached the process like I was gearing up for a marathon. I have no doubt that if I hadn’t taken it seriously—both physically and mentally—I wouldn’t have made it through.

In Summary

Getting tattooed is a serious process. If you treat it as such, your entire experience will be much less stressful and more enjoyable.