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.
Also, do not forget to moisturize your skin prior to your tattoo session. This is especially if you have very dry skin, you may need to moisturize 2-3 times a day. Doing this will help ensure that your skin is in good shape prior to being tattooed.
Shower. This one might be obvious but we wanted to mention it just in case. You should be showering every day (hopefully), but please remember to do so before your appointment. You want to keep your skin as clean as possible since tattooing creates small cuts and opens the skin up.
Nerves and excitement might give you a loss of appetite before hitting the tattoo studio, but it's important to eat a balanced meal before you go. Remember you are about to undergo a cosmetic procedure that could take a while, so it's important your body is properly fuelled with a full stomach.
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.
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.
Get a good night's sleep
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.
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.
Most professional tattoo artists will recommend moisturizing the fresh ink once or twice each day to give it the best chance of healing. The best way to ensure you adequately hydrate your tattoo is by applying an after care moisturizer every morning and night, particularly after showering to ensure it doesn't try out.
Your first night sleeping, your artist might recommend you re-wrap the tattoo with plastic wrap (like Saran Wrap) to sleep without the tattoo sticking to your sheets. This is generally for larger or solid-color tattoos. If your artist did not recommend re-wrapping, just let the tattoo stay exposed to air overnight.
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.
The main thing is to try to keep pressure off of the new tattoo, so if you are a side sleeper with a new arm tattoo, sleep on the opposite arm. If it's a back tattoo, try to sleep on your front. Taking the pressure off will relieve the pain you can feel with a new piece, and it will also help you to avoid damaging it.
One of the biggest questions is when can we go back to sleeping like normal. The average person who has followed their aftercare instructions can start sleeping on their tattoo between 4 to 7 days after getting it.
It is crucial that you get a good night's sleep before your tattoo appointment. 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.
You need a lot of energy to sit through a tattoo. The more rest you get the night before, the longer you can hold through the pain while getting a tattoo. If you come in exhausted, chances are you won't be able to handle a full multi-hour session.
BE ON TIME FOR YOUR APPOINTMENT AND EAT BEFORE YOU GO
Just don't take aspirin or paracetamol or drink alcohol before your tattoo as they thin the blood slightly and can cause more bleeding during tattooing, effecting how the ink takes to the skin.
Getting a tattoo is often compared to a cat repeatedly scratching you. Though it's not the most intense pain ever, it might make you wanna hiss – especially if your artist uses multiple needles, like when shading. This also tends to happen away from bony or ultra-sensitive areas.
* THE USE OF PAINKILLERS DURING A TATTOO:
But ibuprofen and paracetamol can help, don't use aspirin as the blood doesn't clot so you get a lot more bleeding during the tattoo.
The most painful tattoo placements are frequently located at the extremities (head, face, hands, fingers, feet, toes), regions where there is naturally less body fat (ribcage, shoulder blade, collarbones, hips, ankles) or more nerve endings (armpit, groin or buttocks).