One Week Before
Moisturize your skin
For about 5~7 days before your appointment, moisturize the area being tattooed once or twice daily with a simple, fragrance-free lotion. Healthy, hydrated skin generally makes for a happier tattoo session. This is especially helpful for large-scale work and areas that will receive a lot of saturation. Please avoid heavy oils or very greasy products. Regular body lotion is perfect.
Protect the area from the sun
Avoid tanning and excessive sun exposure before your appointment.I cannot tattoo over skin that is sunburned, peeling, blistered, significantly irritated, or otherwise damaged. If you get a sunburn on the tattoo area before your appointment, please let me know as soon as possible as we may need to reschedule.
Be gentle with the skin
During the few days before your appointment, please avoid:
• Harsh exfoliation
• Scrubs
• Chemical peels on the area
• Waxing
• Anything else that leaves the skin irritated
THE DAY OF YOUR APPOINTMENT
Hydrate & Bring water
Drink plenty of water throughout the day. You don't need to do anything extreme, just try not to arrive dehydrated. Please do bring water, or a drink with electrolytes
Eat a substantial meal & Bring snacks
Please eat before you arrive, ideally within a few hours of your appointment. For a long session, a balanced meal with protein, carbohydrates, and some fat will usually keep you feeling much better than arriving on coffee and optimism alone.
For a longer session, please bring snacks or a meal. Easy snacks such as fruit, nuts, protein bars, sandwiches, crackers, or something sweet can be useful during breaks. We'll take breaks when necessary.
Wear comfortable, tattoo-accessible clothing
Wear something loose and comfortable that gives me easy access to the tattoo area.
- Ink can stain clothing.
- Tight clothing can be uncomfortable over a fresh tattoo afterward.
- Dark clothing is usually your friend.
- Layers are helpful! People often get cold during longer tattoo sessions.
Depending on placement, shorts, loose pants, a button-down shirt, tank top, robe, or clothing that can easily move out of the way may be helpful.
Please let me know before your appointment if:
- You're feeling sick or having a fever.
- You have a rash, infection, wound, sunburn, significant irritation, or active skin condition near the tattoo area.
- You have a medical condition or medication that may affect bleeding, healing, immunity, or skin integrity.
- You have recently had a big reaction to tattoo ink or medical adhesives.
It is always better to ask than to push through a tattoo on unhappy skin.
