Preparing for your Tattoo Appointment

Getting tattoos can be stressful, so let’s take the guesswork out of it so you can focus on what’s important, your tattoo.

Do:

  • Eat! Tattooing is hard on your body, you want to make sure your body has the energy required to handle it. We keep a stock of snacks as well to keep you going.

  • Hydrate! Day of and days leading up to the tattoo. Hydration is important when tattooing, as hydrated skin will take ink better, making the process smoother for your artist.
    We have water, juice, and an assortment of other drinks that we offer at the shop.

  • Moisturize! For a couple days leading up to the appointment take extra care to moisturize the area being tattooed. This will make the skin easier to tattoo and make the process a lot easier.

  • Rest! Get a good nights rest for a couple of days before.

  • Dress comfortably! Wear something that allows access to the area being tattooed. Don’t wear anything you’d hate to get dirty. Bring a sweater/jacket just in case, as getting cold while being tattooed is common.

  • Bring headphones, a book, or a friend! Especially if it is a long tattoo. We want you to be comfortable.

  • Ask questions! At any point of the process ask questions if you want clarity. Ask for a break if you need one while we are tattooing. We love to share our knowledge, and just want you to feel as best as possible.

Don’t:

  • Try not to drink alcohol the night before your tattoo and definitely do not drink right before. Being intoxicated or under the influence can cause complications while being tattooed. Alcohol thins the blood, which makes it harder for ink to stay in the skin. This makes it harder on the artist and can worsen the healing process.

  • Avoid Aspirin and other NSAID’s, as they are blood thinners and the ink will not stay on the skin as well.

  • Do not show up with damaged skin. We cannot tattoo skin that is sunburned, burned, scar tissue (less than a year old), or otherwise damaged. For proper healing, the area we are tattooing needs to be healthy.

  • Do not come in if you are sick. Let your artist know as soon as possible that you are not feeling well. Your body does not need to be fighting sickness and trying to heal a tattoo. Be courteous to the artists and other clients in the shop and don’t expose them unnecessarily to illness.

  • Do not cancel last minute. If an emergency happens or you are sick, let your artist know as soon possible. The artist will ultimately judge if a new deposit is needed to make a new appointment. If you cancel last minute or no call/no show this causes the artist to not be able to fill your spot. They then lose a day of work. Please be considerate of the artists time and livelihood.

  • Bring an entire group with you. One or two friends is fine, but it can be disruptive having more people and will crowd the space.