Before Your Session

How to Prepare for Your Tattoo

A bit of preparation makes the session easier on you and cleaner for your artist. Read this the day before — and again on the morning of.

The day before

•Sleep well. Tired body = worse pain tolerance and rougher healing.
•Hydrate seriously. Start drinking water the day before, not just the morning of. Hydrated skin takes ink better.
•No alcohol for 24 hours. Alcohol thins the blood — more bleeding makes the work harder and the result less crisp.
•No aspirin or ibuprofen for 24 hours. Same reason — they thin the blood. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is fine if you really need pain relief.
•No fresh sunburn or tan. We will not tattoo through sunburned or peeling skin. If the area is freshly tanned, expect the colour to read differently than the design preview.
•Do not shave the area yourself. We do that in studio with single-use razors right before the session. DIY razors leave nicks and razor burn that the artist has to work around.

•Eat a real meal 1–2 hours before. Not heavy, not empty. A proper meal keeps your blood sugar stable through the session.
•Shower. Clean skin in the area. We will sterilise on top of that, but you start clean.
•Wear loose, comfortable clothes. Easy access to the area being tattooed — tank top for shoulder, shorts for calf, etc. Wear something you do not mind getting a bit of ink on, just in case.
•Charge your phone. For sessions over an hour, you will want it.
•Bring snacks and water. Especially for sessions over 2 hours. Sugary snacks help if you start feeling lightheaded.
•Skip energy drinks and heavy caffeine. They can spike your heart rate, make you twitchy, and worsen pain tolerance.

•Government-issued photo ID — we check at every appointment. No ID, no tattoo.
•Your deposit confirmation if you have one (email or text from us).
•Yourself — fed, rested, hydrated.
•One support person max. They wait in the lounge area, not in the tattoo room. The work needs your artist to focus.

A few things matter enough that we want to know up front, not mid-session:

•You have diabetes — affects healing.
•You have a heart condition or blood pressure issues.
•You have skin conditions on or near the area — psoriasis, eczema, recent moles you have not had checked.
•You have allergies — especially to latex, gloves, ointments, or specific inks.
•You are on blood thinners, immunosuppressants, or recently finished isotretinoin (Accutane) — typically we ask you to wait at least 6 months after your last Accutane dose.
•You had a recent chemical peel, laser treatment, or sunburn on the area.

Some things mean we have to reschedule. We would rather move the date than do bad work or hurt you:

•You are pregnant or breastfeeding.
•You arrive visibly impaired by alcohol or drugs.
•You drank in the last 24 hours.
•The area is sunburned, has open wounds, fresh moles, or active skin conditions.
•You are unwell — fever, flu, severe cold. Wait until you feel better; your immune system needs to be free for healing, not fighting an illness.
•You arrive with anyone under 18 in the tattoo room.

Tattooing is collaborative, not endurance. A few small things make it easier:

•You can ask to take breaks. Stretch, eat, breathe — your artist will pause whenever you need.
•Tell us if you are lightheaded, nauseated, or anxious. We pause and get you sugar.
•It is OK to listen to music or a podcast through one earbud during the session.
•It is OK to talk, or to be quiet. Whatever helps you sit comfortably.

After your session

Once the tattoo is done, follow our aftercare instructions.