It can be really nerve racking getting ready for your first tattoo appointment. Your friends may tell you things that scare you- or you just don’t know if it’ll hurt too bad. Well, it is normal to feel a bit anxious before your appointment. Here are a few things you can do to be sure you are prepared for your visit to make your appointment go as smoothly as possible.
Assuming you have already done your research to find a shop or artist that you like style wise and can design what you are looking for. If this hasn’t already been your first step- do that first.
It is important that you eat a good meal and are fairly hydrated prior to your tattoo. It is best to avoid drinking too much alcohol the night before. This can cause a few different things- it can be different from person to person. It can cause thinning of the blood- this can make a nice thin lined tattoo to thicken more then it should. It can cause dizziness and fainting. Some people will feel sick or get sick. The last I can think of is that it will hurt more. Yes, you could make it hurt more! Consuming cannabis before an appointment will typically intensify any and all affects, therefor is strongly discouraged.
The next thing you need to do is dress appropriately. If you are getting a tattoo on your upper thigh- where something that has easy access to the area. If you are getting a tattoo on your chest- if you are a girl don’t wear a bra. Where a shirt that you can unbutton or some ladies even like to wear pasties. Please know that professionals will make sure you are comfortable and covered as much as possible, but be prepared for people to be around you in these circumstances. I have a privacy screen to help with this too.
You don’t want to wear your nice outfit to get tattooed either, in some areas there may be a chance of getting ink on your clothes, so better to be safe then sorry!!
If you are going to a long tattoo session you can bring a drink and a snack. It’s not unusual to feel hungry when getting tattooed for awhile. Taking a snack break helps you through the process easier.
Bring your earbuds and your favorite playlist, or an audio book. Some people will even watch Netflix. Just be sure that you aren’t doing things that create movement when being tattooed. A lot of times you will talk to your artist but if you need to go into a zone, just let your artist know. They will understand.
Be sure to double check payment methods. The shop I am at takes many forms of payments. We have a Venmo, a PayPal, and will take credit, debit, or cash. Some places only do certain methods so be sure to double check with your artist before heading to your appointment.
Tipping- is a great way to show your artist you appreciate their craft and that you appreciate everything they have done to get you the tattoo you want. The best rule of thumb is to tip 20% at least. If your artist has custom drawn your design, your design is intricate, or anything above and beyond- tip accordingly.
Be prepared for your session to take more or less time than you thought. As tattooers, we can usually give you an educated guess on the amount of time needed to do your tattoo. There are times where we are off. Just be prepared for this. Do not make plans that require you to leave by a certain time. You don’t want your artist to feel pressured to finish before they are ready. They are working to give you a beautiful tattoo!
Hope this helps! Sheryl
