No alcohol 24 hours before a tattoo Therefore, you should not drink alcohol, take drugs and avoid blood-thinning medication for at least 24 hours before your tattoo. Of course, it's even better to take care of your diet and live a healthy lifestyle a few days before your tattoo.
Thinned Blood
Because alcohol decreases your normal blood clotting ability, you may experience increased bleeding during the tattoo session. The blood can cause problems for your tattoo artist and may make it more difficult for them to do their job.
If you're serious about getting an amazing tattoo, then we'd advise not to drink any alcohol for at least 24 hours beforehand. Then afterwards we'd ask that you avoid it for 48 hours more.
If you want your tattoo to heal, the best thing to do is not drink 24 hours before and 24 hours after getting tattooed. The recommended waiting time is 48 hours after, but sometimes you catch yourself needing a glass of wine to unwind, so 24 hours should be efficient.
It is advisable that you refrain from drinking for at least 48-72 hours after getting a tattoo. It is normal for plasma and blood to ooze 48 hours after getting a tattoo. However, alcohol consumption will increase the bleeding rate due to blood thinning. Excessive bleeding may lead to bigger problems.
Alcohol detection tests can measure alcohol in the blood for up to 12 hours, on the breath for 12 to 24 hours, urine for 12-24 hours (72 or more hours after heavier use), saliva for up to 12 hours, and hair for up to 90 days. The half-life of alcohol is between 4-5 hours.
Blood: Alcohol is eliminated from the bloodstream at about 0.015 per hour. Alcohol can show up in a blood test for up to 12 hours. Urine: Alcohol can be detected in urine for up 3 to 5 days via the ethyl glucuronide (EtG) test or 10 to 12 hours via the traditional method.
Alcohol dilutes your blood
Of course, half a glass of wine the night before or a beer the night before will not dilute your blood so much that a tattoo is impossible. But for the best result and experience, you should abstain from it 24 hours before the appointment – that's not so hard, is it?
Avoid going to the swimming pool, gym and don't engage yourself in any intense sporting activities. All of them can be harmful for your tattoo. Tattoo artist's advice their clients to avoid such activities for at least 2 - 4 weeks. This is the time an average tattoo mostly takes to heal and recover properly.
The Next 24 Hours
With clean hands, wash your tattoo with the same gentle tattoo cleanser or antibacterial soap and lukewarm water. Gently pat it dry with a fresh paper towel. After 24 hours, it's time to start moisturizing your tattoo. Always use a fragrance-free lotion.
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.
Stay Hydrated
It is even more important before you get tattooed! 24 hours before your appointment you should be drinking a lot of water. A good goal is to aim to drink eight 8-oz glasses of water to fully ensure that your body is in the best shape possible.
If you are booking a tattoo session, water is your best friend. Keep your body's fluid levels high to keep your skin hydrated.
You can thicken your blood after drinking alcohol by consuming foods that are high in vitamin K.
We advise that you don't drink coffee before getting a tattoo. Sure, drinking coffee, or any drink that contains caffeine, may calm your nerves, but this is a temporary effect and should be avoided. For one, caffeine is known to thin the blood, which can increase bleeding and reduce healing.
Alcohol, in low to moderate amounts, thins the blood, reducing the risk of clots. But moderation is key - and doctors don't recommend drinking alcohol to protect against DVT. The relationship between alcohol and deep vein thrombosis may depend on what, and how much, you pour in your glass.
You can shower 3-4 hours after getting a tattoo, if you have a Saniderm bandage on, however, if you have a plastic wrap wait 24 hours to unwrap your tattoo and shower. In either case, shower in cold or lukewarm water and avoid prolonged soaking or submerging your tattoo in water for 3-4 weeks.
The general rule of thumb is to wait at least 24 hours after getting a tattoo before showering or washing your tattoo. This is because the first 24 hours are critical to the healing process, and any exposure to water can increase the risk of infection.
Foods to avoid include those that promote inflammation – red meats, foods high in sugar, salt and additives, as well as overly processed foods. These can interfere with the body's natural healing processes. The same is said to be true for an excessive amount of dairy.
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. Acetaminophen may potentially be fine to take, but should be discussed with the artist beforehand.
But it's going to take you roughly six hours to get all the way back down to zero. Most people who get up past this limit are not going to be totally sober until the following day.
About 30 grams of alcohol — equating to two standard drinks — can lower fibrinogen levels, which can affect blood clotting. Alcohol can also affect the action of platelets, which are the components of the blood that form clots.
In some cases, the breathalyzer may detect alcohol for up to 12 hours. In other individuals, the breathalyzer test may work for twice that long. Although the average person metabolizes about 1 alcoholic drink per hour, this rate varies.
The liver is the primary organ responsible for the detoxification of alcohol. Liver cells produce the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase which breaks alcohol into ketones at a rate of about 0.015 g/100mL/hour (reduces BAC by 0.015 per hour).
That's why a fasting blood test usually requires fasting for 8-12 hours before your blood is taken. It's also recommended that you avoid alcohol for 24 hours before your test, as well as any strenuous exercise.