Prepare for your session.
Great tattoos begin before the needle ever touches the skin. The way you treat your body in the days leading up to your appointment shapes how the session feels, how the ink settles, and how the piece will age. Read through the full guide below — it is built from twenty years of seeing what works and what does not.
Prepare your body (3–7 days before)
A tattoo is a controlled injury to the skin. The condition of your body in the week leading up to your appointment directly affects how the skin takes ink, how much you bleed, and how cleanly the piece heals. Preparation starts long before you walk through the door.
- ✦Drink plenty of water every day leading up to your appointment. Well-hydrated skin tattoos better.
- ✦Moisturize the area daily with a fragrance-free lotion if your skin is naturally dry. Do not arrive with greasy skin on appointment day.
- ✦Get quality sleep throughout the week if possible.
- ✦Avoid getting sunburned or tanning.
- ✦Do not schedule your tattoo while recovering from illness.
- ✦Eat balanced meals leading up to your appointment.
- ✦If you are taking prescription medication, continue taking it unless your physician has instructed otherwise.
48 hours before
- ✦Avoid alcohol — it can increase bleeding and dilute the ink during the session.
- ✦Avoid recreational drugs.
- ✦Unless prescribed by your physician, avoid medications that may increase bleeding such as aspirin.
- ✦Continue drinking plenty of water.
- ✦Avoid excessive sun exposure.
- ✦Avoid heavy workouts immediately before your appointment if they leave you dehydrated or excessively sore.
The night before
- ✦Get a full night's sleep.
- ✦Shower before bed or the morning of your appointment.
- ✦Continue moisturizing if needed, but do not apply heavy oils.
- ✦Charge your phone or tablet.
- ✦Download movies, music, or podcasts.
- ✦Lay out comfortable clothing that gives easy access to the tattoo area.
The morning of your appointment
- ✦Eat a substantial meal with protein and carbohydrates.
- ✦Continue drinking water.
- ✦Shower and arrive clean.
- ✦Do not apply lotion, oils, or numbing creams unless previously discussed and approved.
- ✦Wear loose, comfortable clothing.
- ✦Bring a valid government-issued photo ID.
- ✦Arrive 10–15 minutes early.
What to bring
- ✦Water bottle.
- ✦Sugary snacks in case your blood sugar drops (fruit snacks, gummy candy, juice, sports drink, etc.).
- ✦Protein snacks for longer appointments.
- ✦Lunch if your session is expected to last most of the day.
- ✦Headphones.
- ✦Tablet, Kindle, or book.
- ✦Phone charger.
- ✦Sweater or hoodie — the studio may feel cool.
- ✦Payment method for any remaining balance and gratuity if desired.
Avoid these before your appointment
- ✦Alcohol.
- ✦Recreational drugs.
- ✦Sunburns.
- ✦Tanning beds.
- ✦Excessive caffeine if it makes you shaky.
- ✦Arriving hungry.
- ✦Coming in dehydrated.
- ✦Pulling an all-nighter.
- ✦Tight clothing over the tattoo area.
- ✦Bringing children or unnecessary guests unless previously arranged.
A note for diabetic and low blood sugar clients
If you are diabetic, prone to low blood sugar, or know you sometimes get lightheaded, please bring juice, glucose tablets, or a sugary snack — and let me know before we begin. A short heads-up means we can pace the session, take breaks at the right moments, and keep you comfortable from start to finish.
Rescheduling
If you wake up sick, have a fever, flu symptoms, COVID symptoms, a contagious illness, severe skin irritation, or a fresh sunburn on the tattoo area, contact the studio as soon as possible so your appointment can be rescheduled safely. There is no penalty for protecting your health or mine — it is always the right call.
Why preparation matters
Proper preparation reduces discomfort, minimizes excessive bleeding, improves stencil application, allows for better ink saturation, and contributes to faster healing and stronger long-term tattoo quality. Arriving prepared lets us focus on what actually matters: creating the best tattoo possible — one built to look exceptional for decades.