PREPARING FOR YOUR TATTOO APPOINTMENT
Consider following these suggestions to ensure the ideal tattoo experience.
1. SLEEP. Get a sufficient amount of sleep. Not only the night before, but each night the whole week leading up to the tattoo. Your body needs it.
2. EAT. Avoid being in a calorie deficit going into the tattoo session. Eat plenty of food the week leading up to the tattoo and especially the day of.
3. HYDRATE. Drink plenty of water prior to getting tattooed. Ideally, water with electrolytes like spring water or mineral water.
4. NO ALCOHOL. The entire week leading up to the tattoo.
5. TAKE THE DAY OFF. Try not to have too much going on that day. Give your body the opportunity to rest and heal afterward.
6. PREP YOUR SKIN. In the week leading up to the tattoo, wash, exfoliate, and lotion the skin in that area daily. Especially if it's your hands, elbows, or knees. Dry, calloused skin makes for a difficult tattoo and a rough heal, so do yourself this favor.
7. CLOTHING. Wear clothing that is comfortable, loose fitting, and that you wouldn't mind getting ink stains on, because that's very likely. The clothing you wear should make the area to be tattooed accessible.
8. BRING A TOWEL. You may want to bring a clean, freshly washed towel to maximize your comfort. I use medical drape sheets over my massage table and although they provide a clean barrier, they aren't super plush. Bringing your own towel to lay over the sheet might help.
9. COMMUNICATE. Please let me know if you have any unique conditions or needs that I should be aware of while tattooing you. This includes injuries, skin conditions, allergies or anything you think would be important to address before the tattoo starts. (Check with your doctor if you feel your unique condition might need a professional opinion before getting tattooed.)
10. TAKE A SHOWER. Arriving freshly showered will help minimize the chance of developing an infection. There are all kinds of bacteria that can live on your skin, so make sure to wash those away thoroughly. Plus a warm shower can help you relax before the tattoo session.
11. TO SHAVE OR NOT TO SHAVE? I've had clients in the past who have taken the liberty of shaving the area before coming in for their tattoo. PLEASE DO NOT SHAVE YOURSELF. It can irritate the skin. I prefer to do the shaving immediately before starting the tattoo. However, if you have thick, long hair in that area, it would be very appreciated if you took some trimmers to it and knocked it down to a short length. This makes shaving much easier on my end.
AFTERCARE
Change your sheets. Put on a fresh set of sheets/bedding. Wear loose, clean pjs or garments to bed to avoid ink getting on your sheets the first couple nights.
Remove bandage the next day.
With clean hands, thoroughly wash the tattoo with mild soap and water. Pat dry with a clean paper towel and then let the tattoo air-dry. (Repeat this washing of the tattoo daily until fully healed).
During the weeping stage (the first two days) there Is no need to moisturize the tattoo. Once the tattoo starts to feel dry and tight (typically on the 3rd or 4th day), start applying a small amount of fragrance-free lotion as needed. I recommend Aveeno, non-scented.
Lightly lotion the tattoo (using clean hands) when needed until it is fully healed.
Do not soak the new tattoo In water. Soaking can dry out the tattoo and encourage scabbing. This means no bathtubs, swimming pools, etc. Keep showers short. Do continue to wash the tattoo once daily.
If you have pets, be mindful of their hair and dander. Avoid their direct contact with the tattoo. I can't believe I have to say it, but don't let your animal lick the tattoo. They will try.
Avoid direct sunlight on the tattoo until it is fully healed. Ideally, if you can keep it out of the sun for a few months, do it.
It's going to itch while it's healing. Do not pick or scratch your new tattoo. The top layer should flake off like a sunburn. If scabbing occurs, let the scabs fall off naturally.
After your tattoo Is fully healed, it is recommended to use a high SPF sunblock, when exposed to sunlight, to help keep the colors bright and prevent premature aging of the tattoo.