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. Not only is it good for your health, but it will make sure that your skin is hydrated and prepared for your tattoo session.
Firstly, when the body is hydrated, it will take to the ink more effectively, so overall it could be best for the final look. Moreover, staying hydrated can make the process less painful overall. From the day before to the day of, drink plenty of water, and remember to bring some for during the 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.
When going for a tattoo session, do not forget to eat healthy the day prior. Skipping a meal before getting a new tattoo is not a great idea. You want your skin to be hydrated and your body to have healthy nutrients before seeing your tattoo artist!
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.
We've all seen those movies or TV programs where people find the courage to get a tattoo when drunk. But they almost always regret them afterwards. If you're serious about getting an amazing tattoo, then we'd advise not to drink any alcohol for at least 24 hours beforehand.
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.
Carbs are good, but not too many
But, Whitney Marie Donohue, artist at Rise Again Tattoo in Billings, MT, suggests “bringing little candies to keep your blood sugar up” during the session so that you don't feel faint from the sight of needles, blood, or you know, from not eating at all.
Pee first.
This one is my favorite only because one time, while getting tattooed, I fainted and peed. No joke, that happened. So take my advice and pee first. Also, once your artist gets going you don't want to have to interrupt them to tinkle.
Cleaning and excess water exposure
So never submerge a fresh tattoo underwater. Also, avoid excessive water exposure while showering. Our skin is like a sponge and it will absorb the water, which can damage the tattoo. When it comes to cleaning your new tattoo, make sure you do this several times a day.
Drunken behaviour could ruin your new tattoo
You need to be aware of keeping your tattoo clean and dry while it is fresh, so a night out might not be the best option. It's generally recommended that you wait at least 48 hours after your new tattoo before you start drinking alcohol again.
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.
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. So!
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.
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.
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.
It is customary to tip tattoo artists for their time and skill. A general guideline is to tip between 15-20% of the total cost of your tattoo, but you can adjust this amount based on your personal budget and satisfaction with the service.
The second part of staying hydrated is to not drink alcohol the night before you get tattooed. Even a few drinks can significantly increase how much you bleed, and greatly compromises the density of the pigment going into your skin. Also, having a hangover never made for a good tattoo experience.
A glass of wine won't necessarily ruin your fresh ink with excessive bleeding, but we advise waiting a couple of days to have a drink to celebrate your freshly tattooed skin. Lengthening your healing time can make your tattoo more prone to infection since the scabs can't protect it as quickly.
Don't drink a bunch of caffeine or energy drinks before coming in. It will thin your blood and make you less likely to sit still. You may need a doctor's note if you have medical conditions like a bleeding disorder, a heart condition, or are on antibiotics.