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.
It is about the use of general anesthesia in the same way that happens before surgery. This is something very new, about which little is known, but since it is injectable anesthesia and total numbing, under no circumstances can it be done by a tattoo artist.
Your body will be the one to bear the brunt of the tattoo pain. You must ensure that it is well-rested. The day before your tattoo, get at least 8 hours of sleep.
Some even doubt themselves whether they can handle the pain or not. Fortunately, tattoo product manufacturers have come up with a solution to cater to those who are dying to get a tattoo but have low pain tolerance. There are tattoo anaesthetic sprays, numbing creams, and anaesthetic gels available on the market.
The condition, called anesthesia awareness (waking up) during surgery, means the patient can recall their surroundings, or an event related to the surgery, while under general anesthesia. Although it can be upsetting, patients usually do not feel pain when experiencing anesthesia awareness.
Otherwise you may face an awkward conversation when you show up with numbing cream that your artist didn't know about. And if you're wondering if they can tell whether you used it or not, they can. Many creams have odors and they'll be able to feel the texture difference on your skin.
The artists provide pasties or stickers to put on top of your nipples. You would not want to wear a bra unless you have a loose-fitting piece or a bralette.
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.
Shaving before a tattoo is essential – it's important to make sure there are no hairs in the way to guarantee a smooth finish and to help prevent the tattoo from becoming infected. Tattoo artists will usually shave your chest, back, or wherever else you're getting tattooed, before inking you.
Don't panic. While this might be your first tattoo and you're understandably nervous, it's important to remember your tattoo artist has done this countless times. "Trust in your tattooer because they're doing this every day," Lori says.
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.
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.
The body's natural response to pain is to release endorphins, which can provide temporary pain relief. However, endorphins can also cause feelings of tiredness and drowsiness, which can make you feel even more fatigued after the tattoo process.
You want to keep your skin as clean as possible since tattooing creates small cuts and opens the skin up.
No. We don't recommend taking a shower within one hour of getting a tattoo. Even with a Saniderm bandage on, it's wise to let the ink settle for several hours before getting your tattoo wet. In many cases, the plastic wrap, bandage or covering on your tattoo will be required to stay on for much longer than an hour.
Generally speaking, it's alright if you want to bring your significant other or your BFF for an important tattoo. Just remember that you're not Vincent Chase and you don't need your entourage with you at all times.
Limit your party to yourself + 1 max
consider visiting the shop alone for your appointment. Most shops are limited in their space and cannot accommodate your friends. Not only that, your friends might think it sounds fun to be at the shop while you get tattooed, but it's not. Your friends will be bored.
If you're late for your appointment it'll likely mean that we'll have less time to finish your tattoo and you might have to return for another visit if we run out of time. My personal policy is to give a customer fifteen minutes of grace but by the tenth minute I'm starting to get a bit surly.
A lot of tattoo artists refuse to use their own numbing creams or sprays during their sessions. Two of the main reasons why they might not use creams are: They consider the pain of a tattoo part of the tradition. They've used certain numbing creams before and they don't feel like they worked.