Have a tattoo appointment coming up? Here’s are 10 ways to prepare:

1. Get a good night’s sleep

   Being well-rested will allow you to sit through long tattoo sessions.

2. Avoid drug and alcohol use

   This one should be pretty self-explanatory. It’s also best to avoid alcohol the night before if possible.

3. Eat a full meal beforehand and bring snacks

   This will help sustain you throughout your tattoo session. We recommend bringing quick and easy snacks such as granola bars, gatorade and candy.

4. Hydrate

   Before your tattoo, make sure you drink lots of water. This will help hydrate your skin and make the tattoo process smoother. We recommend bringing a water bottle to your tattoo appointment (if you forget, we have cups available).

5. Shower

   Showering prior to getting tattooed helps remove bacteria and dead skin. Your tattoo artist will also thank you during long tattoo sessions ;)

6. Moisturize

   It’s a smart idea to start moisturizing your skin a couple weeks before your tattoo. This will help ensure the skin is as healthy as possible, which will make the tattoo and healing process smoother.

7. Don’t shave

   Unless you regularly shave the area you are getting tattooed (i.e. legs), don’t shave beforehand. If you shave at home and don’t know what you’re doing, it can cause irritation which will make the tattoo that much more uncomfortable for you. Let your artist shave the area, that’s what they pay us the big bucks for!

8. Wear comfortable clothes

   Wear loose, comfortable clothing that allows your artist to access the area being tattooed. We’d also recommend wearing something you don’t care about getting dirty as tattoo ink does splatter from time to time. If you are getting tattooed in the winter, wear layers and feel free to bring a blanket and/or slippers.

9. Bring something to keep you entertained

   As personable as our tattoo artists are, if you have a long tattoo session, you may want to bring something to entertain yourself.

   Books, phones, ipads, headphones are all great options, as long as it doesn’t interfere with you getting tattooed.

10. Ask questions

    We want you to feel comfortable and informed before, during and after your tattoo. There is no such thing as a stupid question so ask away!