The bottom line. 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.
Before getting your tattoo, it is an excellent idea to consume Vitamin C-rich foods such as broccoli, kale, and citrus fruits such as oranges and lemons, or you may opt to take vitamin C pills. Proteins are a type of body-building nutrients that helps your body develop and repair muscle and skin tissues.
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.
If you're sick or under the weather, please wait until you're feeling better before getting tattooed. 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.
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.
“Some people prefer to get tattooed early because then they can get it out of the way and go about the rest of their day, while other people prefer to get it done at night so after completion, they can just go home and sleep it off.” Whatever time of day you choose to get tattooed though, she recommends it be within ...
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.
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.
It's not uncommon for people to shiver during a tattoo because your body may be in shock so consider bringing a sweater, hoodie, or blanket to keep you warm.
A few tips that can help prepare yourself to get tattooed:
-Don't take any aspirin or pain-killers that contain aspirin or ibuprofen, these thin the blood and promote excess bleeding which means a longer healing period and may take longer for the process of your tattoo.
Drink plenty of water the day before and make sure that you eat a healthy meal no longer than an hour before your appointment. Bringing a snack that is high in protein with you to your appointment helps your body to rejuvenate when you and your artist take a break.
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.
Don't fidget. It can be challenging to stay still for hours, but it's a small price to pay for something that will be on your body for the rest of your life. "During the tattoo process, just stay still," said Cuda Vendetta, tattoo artist at Big Joe and Sons Tattoo.
Also be wary of taking any kind of pain medication that thins your blood or affects its ability to clot, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, lest you want to bleed more while getting tattooed.
If you can, you should try to avoid sleeping directly on the tattoo. For instance, if you have a tattoo on your back, try to sleep on your front and let the tattoo breathe. A lot of tattoo artists recommend sleeping with the wrap that was put on.
1. Hydrate. Drink plenty of water beginning from one to two weeks leading up to your tattoo session. Staying well hydrated makes your skin more resilient, which will allow the tattooing process to achieve optimum results, and will help you heal faster after your tattoo session.
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.
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!