Pre-Care Instructions

It’s important that your artist is aware of any allergies, medical conditions, and/or factors that may contribute to adverse outcomes during the application or healing processes ahead of time.

Aside from being a new piece of art that’s applied to your skin, getting a tattoo is similar to having a minor medical procedure done. Your skin is penetrated by rapidly moving needles that deposit ink beneath the top layer. Once completed, your tattoo is-in fact-an open wound requiring proper care.

Just as any doctor would expect you to arrive before any medical procedure having followed specific pre-care instructions (and rely on you to follow all further aftercare instructions in the hopes that your wound will heal well and NOT require any further medical intervention), your tattoo appointment is the same. This is why it’s so important that you prepare yourself physically, mentally, and environmentally by following these recommendations;

Pre-Care

Do not drink alcohol in the 48 hours before your appointment, and do not take aspirin or ibuprofen (unless prescribed by a physician) for pain relief. Both are commonly known blood thinners which could result in additional bleeding and potential damage to your tattoo.

Hydrate! This is crucial for a number of reasons:

It’s extremely important that you maintain your fluid levels while being tattooed as dehydration can intensify your discomfort, give you headaches, and/or make you feel ill.
Hydrated skin is good skin and one of those things that tattoo artists truly love. Hydrated skin takes ink better, is easier to tattoo because less stretch is required, and heals more efficiently and effectively.

It is important that you drink plenty of fluids at least one week prior to your appointment and moisturize your skin at least twice a day. However, do NOT moisturize your skin on the same day as your appointment. Your tattoo artist will disinfect your skin before applying the stencil and it is possible that some residue from lotion or similar products applied that day can stick to the skin which can affect the integrity of the stencil and how long it adheres to your skin. Residue may also contain ingredients from the lotion that will not be great for your dermis during the tattoo process when your skin is the most open.

Do NOT shave hair from the area that is to be tattooed. Sometimes this can result in cuts or raised bumps that will then make tattooing the skin impossible.

Eat before your appointment. It’s important to provide your body with enough fuel to last the duration of your appointment and avoid unnecessary drops in blood sugar. You may also bring a snack with you to your appointment. Having a meal and snacks can also help manage pain for longer sessions.

Get a full nights sleep. Avoid partying or working a late evening or night shift before your appointment. Getting a tattoo can be equivalent to running a short marathon as your body is put under increased amounts of stress. Being prepared both physically and mentally is important to help you sit as well as possible

Wash your sheets and plan out your aftercare routine before you have your new tattoo (this may include arranging for someone to assist you in cleaning and moisturizing tattoos in hard-to-reach places). Doing this in advance will help you avoid the possibility of leaving out important elements due to lack of time. Remember, you only get one chance to heal your tattoo properly!

If you haven’t already, please read our aftercare instructions. Knowing how to care for your new tattoo ahead of time can help you plan your routine. Additionally, please read our health and safety requirements in order to get tattooed

What to Wear and Bring to Your Appointment

Wear comfortable clothing with easy access to the body part to be tattooed. There’s always a chance that your clothing may see some ink, therefore it’s best to wear something that you won’t mind throwing out.

Take an extra pair of clean socks to change into as needed and bring an extra jacket or sweater for when you start to feel the cold. In some instances (especially when you’re in for a long session), your body will begin to shiver. This is an indication that your body is experiencing a natural stress response. Keeping warm will help minimize your discomfort.

Bring a valid, government-issued piece of photo identification (required), as well as your method of payment (cash or gift certificates).

Some other items to consider adding to your bag (without cluttering up the limited space in the studio) include;

Headphones
Gum or breath mints
Deodorant
Water bottle (We can provide)
1-2 small snacks for diabetic clients. The body’s stress response that occurs as a result of getting a tattoo can cause massive fluctuations in blood sugar. It’s also important to remember any rapid-acting anti-hyperglycemics and a glucometer as necessary. Make sure that your artist knows the location of your glucometer (including test strips), your insulin, and/or Epipen in the event that you are unable to retrieve them for yourself.
Phone and/or camera

Please make every effort to be a considerate and hygienic client

During your session, you and your artist are going to be spending a lot of time (often quite a few hours) in each others’ personal space. This involves breathing each others’ air, and may or may not include exposing areas of the body that are usually kept covered.

Before you leave home for your tattoo appointment, please make sure that you;

Brush your teeth.
Shower using soap (this is also important as you want your skin to be as clean and free from dirt/bacteria as possible to limit the possibility of introducing bacteria into the fresh open tissue)
Wear fresh, clean clothes.
Don’t overdo deodorants, perfumes or colognes.
Tie long hair up in a bun or ponytail to keep it out of the way and prevent loose hairs from drifting onto clean work surfaces.