What you need to know before your appointment
Thank you for trusting me with your tattoo! Here’s what you need to know to make sure this experience is as comfortable as possible.
Tattoos do hurt. Prepare for some level of pain. We do not even go as deep are hair follicles. Overall it’s not as bad as you think it is, but it’s still best to be over prepared.
Please eat something before coming in. This is very important. Tattooing lowers your blood sugar and that’s typically what causes people to pass out. Make sure you eat a snack or a full meal before coming in. If you’re on a diet, forget about it for one day and eat whatever you want. The more carbs and sugar the better. This will make sure your body is fully prepared for the experience.
Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water the day before and the day of. The healthier you feel the better it’ll go.
Do not drink alcohol the night before and do not come in hungover. Alcohol thins your blood and therefore you will bleed more during the tattoo process. The more you bleed the harder it is for the ink to enter your skin and the harder it will be for me to see what I am doing. Coming in hungover will cause a lot of discomfort, it’ll make it more painful, it’ll take longer and it will be more expensive/time consuming. You may even require another session if this happens and I cannot guarantee I will be able to fit you until I start booking for the next quarter.
Wear the appropriate clothing. I will need to reach whatever location the tattoo is in. Please make sure you wear something that will be comfortable for you during this process. Wearing dark clothing or something you don’t care too much about is preferred. I may accidentally get ink on your clothing and I would hate to ruin something loved.
Here’s some more tips for various locations:
Ribs: When tattooing a ribcage you will be unable to wear a bra during the process, and you likely will not want to wear one afterwards. I would recommend wearing a tank top, I also have pasties available for those getting tattoos in more sensitive situations such as under bust pieces.
Legs: Bring a pair of shorts. If it’s cold outside also bring a pair of stretchy leggings or sweat pants to change into afterwards. Anything tight will be extremely uncomfortable.
Arms: Make sure to wear something short sleeved. If I’m working on your shoulder cap please bring/wear a tank top so there’s no fabric in my way.
Back: If I’m working on your full back the best thing to wear is a button down shirt turned backwards. This will keep you fully covered from the front and will allow me to work freely. If I’m just working on your upper back/shoulders a tank top is preferred.
Feet: Make sure you bring a pair of shoes that don’t touch the effected area. Feet tend to swell quite a bit and therefore you may be unable to fit you feet back into closed shoes. Bringing sandals or flats is a good option.
If you like to workout get in a good one before coming in for your appointment. You will be unable to workout for 3-4 days after getting your new tattoo. If you get a leg tattoo you cannot run for at least 7 days. This could potentially damage your tattoo if you choose to workout without giving it adequate time to settle in.
Consider bringing some entertainment. It may be a long session. When sitting for long periods of time I would recommend bringing headphones, and downloading music or movies/tv shows beforehand. This will keep you distracted and more comfortable throughout the process. This is by no means necessary. If you’re comfortable reading or sitting quietly or talking, it’s totally okay with me. Whatever gets you through the process.
You are allowed up to two guests. They’re allowed to stay and hang out as long they’re being respectful. Anyone who is too rowdy/wild will be asked to leave.