Before your tattoo appointment:

Do not drink alcohol or take non-prescribed medications or blood thinners for at least 24hrs before your appointment, drinking causes blood to thin and the skin to bleed more during the tattoo.

Eat a good meal and drink plenty of water before your appointment. Also, bring snacks and water or electrolyte drinks for during the appointment, this will keep your blood sugar up and decrease the likelihood of feeling faint or having a bad reaction to the tattoo process.

If you don’t already moisturize, in the weeks leading up to your appointment, start moisturizing the site of the tattoo with a hydrating lotion. Hydrated skin is better at receiving and holding ink and your artist will thank you.

Wear dark colored clothing/clothing you would not mind being stained by ink. Wear garments that provide your artist with access to the area being tattooed (i.e. tank tops for arm tattoos, shorts/bikini bottoms for leg and hip).

Get a good night’s sleep! Going into your appointment with plenty of rest will increase your pain tolerance and stamina and make you less likely to experience “tattoo flu” afterwards.

What is tattoo flu?

Tattoo flu is the body’s response to tattooing stress. Symptoms can vary from person to person but as the name suggests, flu-like symptoms can appear such as nausea, body aches, dizziness, fatigue, or slight fever. It is common to feel these symptoms for a couple days following your tattoo but they should dissipate quickly. Make sure to take care of your body during this time. Stay hydrated and fed and allow yourself as much rest as possible.

After your appointment:

Do’s:
Wear bandages for a couple of hours or until you get home. Gently wash (do not scrub) your tattoo with clean hands, HOT water and diluted unscented soap. Pat it dry with a paper towel, but DO NOT RUB it. Then apply a thin layer of unscented lotion. Repeat these steps twice daily for two weeks. Remember to wear loose clothing around tattoo and only use sunscreen AFTER you tattoo is 100% healed.

Do NOT:
Do not pick at scabs as this will damage your tattoo and cause ink fallout. Scabbing is normal but can be minimized by running HOT water over the tattoo for 4 minutes twice a day. Do Not apply sunscreen or any scented body products on healing tattoos. Make sure to stay away from pools saunas, hot tubs, rivers, lakes, and oceans for two weeks and avoid direct sun exposure. Do not exercise heavily/perform yardwork for a week afterwards as sweat and debris can cause infection or ink fallout.