Make sure to eat something a few hours before you come in. Getting tattooed on an empty stomach may cause you to feel faint, nauseated, or dizzy. Allow plenty of time for your visit. Your tattoo session will be most enjoyable if you have time to appreciate it.
It is important to eat a good meal the night before your session and a slow energy releasing breakfast - this way, once your body works through all it's reserves it can feast on the additional calories from your previous meal(s). Without these additional calories you could become dizzy and worse case, pass out.
Tattoo artists recommend you eat one to two hours before your appointment and a meal full of protein and vegetables is a good choice. Beyond the nutritional benefits, it's unlikely that a healthy meal will overstuff you to the point of nausea — a bonus if you're especially squeamish around needles.
Don't arrive to your tattoo appointment dehydrated or on an empty stomach. Doing either of these things will make the process significantly more painful to sit through. Your body requires blood sugar (i.e. energy) to produce the endorphins and adrenaline that work to naturally relieve pain.
Eat about one hour before your appointment
After more than a couple of hours since eating, it hurts more, and you can get dizzy and sick during the tattoo. Save sugary stuff until after your tattoo – you'll do better if you're not on a “sugar high” during your appointment.
Eat and Bring Snacks
Showing up to your appointment starving is not a good move. You are going to need your energy especially if you are about to sit through a longer session. A balanced and healthy meal will help your body as it deals with the needle and it will help you mentally.
Caffeine, Energy Drinks, and Alcohol
Alcohol, coffee, and energy drinks can thin your blood. We recommend you skip the morning coffee or energy drinks on the day of your tattoo session or avoid drinking alcohol the night before your appointment.
Drink a lot of water during the week; avoid alcohol for at least 24 hours before getting tattooed. Please do not shave the area; we will do it for you at your appointment. Avoid aspirin or blood thinning medication at least 24 hours before your tattoo; ibuprofen, acetaminophen, & other NSAID pain relievers are OK.
Showing up to your appointment completely exhausted and sleepy isn't ideal as it will make the process more difficult for both you and your artist. In fact, when you are tired your body becomes more sensitive to pain. Therefore, you need to be fully awake and alert during the appointment and not fall asleep.
Expect about half an hour to an hour for a simple, small tattoo. Keep in mind, however, a small tattoo with lots of color, line work, details, or a tricky placement could take several hours. Small tattoos are great for people who don't want to go through a lengthy tattoo process, but still want some cool ink.
With that said, don't take painkillers before getting a tattoo either. Painkillers like Advil and Ibuprofen also thin the blood, which will lead to similar issues that alcohol has.
In fact, you'll actually burn calories during a tattoo because your metabolism speeds up in response to tension. Carb loading is a great way to make sure you'll have enough energy to get through your next tattoo appointment.
Be sure to get a good night's sleep, don't drink the night before, stay hydrated, and eat something before arriving at the tattoo studio. (You can also bring snacks to have while getting tattooed.) "I definitely try to make sure my clients have a meal at least 30 minutes before the tattoo," Garner says.
A: It's important to stay hydrated while getting a tattoo, drink plenty of water the day before you get tattooed. Dehydration can not only make your skin less tattooable but it can cause headaches and ill feelings. Avoid alcohol and any blood-thinning medication, including aspirin.
"If it's just a few pounds either way, you probably won't see much change with your tattoos. However, if you are looking to lose 100 pounds or gain enough muscle to look like The Rock, you will absolutely notice a difference in the original tattoo.
Anti-inflammatory foods are those rich in good fats, such as nuts, avocado, salmon, tuna, sardines, olive oil, peanuts, flaxseed, chia seeds, and sesame seeds. In addition, drinking 1 to 2 cups of anti-inflammatory teas can also help with the healing process, and you may use herbs like chamomile, ginger and rosemary.
Drinking water not only helps your artist out by making your skin more moisturized and easier to tattoo but also keeps away any dizzy or light-headed feelings that you may encounter during your tattoo session.
Stay out of pools, hot tubs, rivers, lakes and other bodies of water while your tattoo is healing. Choose clothing carefully. Don't wear anything that might stick to the tattoo. Allow up to 2 weeks for healing.