Drink Water

Staying well hydrated makes your skin more resilient, which will allow it to endure longer tattoo sessions, and help you heal faster following your tattoo session.

Moisturize

Lotion your skin twice a day for the 2 weeks leading up to your tattoo session. We recommend unscented Lubriderm daily moisturizing lotion. You’ll also use this lotion after your tattoo is done so its worth having it on hand for the healing process. Please DO NOT moisturize the day of your session!

Rest

Get a good night’s sleep before your tattoo session. Head to bed early and don’t consume any alcohol or drugs the night before.

Eat

Make sure to eat a healthy meal before heading to your session. It’s not uncommon for people to lose their appetite from nerves then pass out from fatigue in the tattoo chair.

Bring Snacks

You will get breaks throughout the day, not just to rest but so your artist can hydrate and eat as well. Bring some light snacks to replenish the energy your body expends during your session.

Don’t Come if You’re sick or Injured

If you sustain any injury leading up to your scheduled tattoo session, call or message us immediately to alert your artist. Your artist may recommend that you reschedule to give your body time to heal the existing injury before getting inked.

DO NOT use any numbing creams. We do not allow numbing creams due to the possible side affects below

Skin Reactions:

• Redness or rash

• Itching or irritation

• Swelling at the application site

• Burning or stinging sensation

• Allergic reactions (mild to severe, depending on ingredients)

Healing & Tattoo Quality:

• Delayed or impaired healing of the tattoo

• Ink rejection or uneven ink saturation

• Blurred or distorted tattoo lines

• Scarring in rare cases

Systemic (Whole-Body) Effects (rare, usually from overuse or misuse):

• Dizziness or lightheadedness

• Headache

• Nausea or vomiting

• Rapid heartbeat or irregular heart rhythm

• Numbness spreading beyond the tattooed area

• In severe cases: seizures or breathing difficulties (linked to lidocaine/prilocaine overdose)

Infection Risk:

• If numbing cream is not applied hygienically, it can increase the chance of infection once the skin is broken.

Tattoos won’t heal well on freshly damaged skin, so anything which causes damage to the skin must be avoided. That includes getting a tan, a fake tan, a sunburn, a chemical peel, or any cuts or scrapes.

Weight lifting and strenuous exercise should also be avoided at least 2 days before the tattoo session. Putting strain on your muscles can cause swelling and soreness which may exacerbate the sensation of the tattoo and impact healing time. It can also cause your skin to stretch slightly which can end up with your tattoo being distorted when your skin returns to normal.

Arrive on time
Unless otherwise communicated by your artist, sessions start at 11am.

Shave
Unless you are unable to reach the area being tattooed, please shave the area the morning of your session before arriving to the shop. We do have disposable razors on site; however, using warm water and shaving gel at home will reduce the possibility of ingrown hairs and skin irritation if your artist has to shave you.

Come Alone
While most tattoo shops will let you bring a friend or significant other to share the big moment, it generally isn’t advised to bring people who aren’t there to get tattooed themselves. Onlookers get bored and may even get in the artist’s way. If you must bring someone, warn them that they will need to stay in the designated waiting area unless invited chair-side by the tattoo artist.

Children and infants are generally not permitted in tattoo shops as they can cause distractions, damage to equipment, or interrupt the tattoo artists hard at work.

Dress Appropriately
Dress comfortably and appropriately. Prepare for a long session and dress accordingly. Avoid tight and constricting clothing. Pay some mind to where you will be getting tattooed and make sure the clothing you wear leaves the area easily accessible.

Bring Entertainment
Getting a tattoo is exciting, but it can can get boring. Bringing some non-intrusive entertainment that won’t disrupt your tattoo artist is a great way to pass the time and distract yourself from the pain. You’re more than welcome to bring portable entertainment like an mp3 player, tablet, or laptop for some passive entertainment. Movies, music, and TV are fine, but anything which requires motion – like playing video games – is not permitted, so leave the portable games at home.

Don’t Rush
When you come in to get a tattoo done, relax and let the artist take their time. Don’t schedule commitments immediately after your tattoo session. Many factors can cause a session to run longer than expected and you dont want your artist to feel rushed.

Be Sober
Do not use any numbing balms or topical creams on the area, and NEVER use drugs or alcohol before or after your session to numb the pain as they can lead to various complications and jeopardize your safety and the quality of your tattoo; however, it is acceptable to take over-the-counter pain relievers during your tattoo session to help manage the pain

Don’t Touch Your Tattoo

Never touch the affected area or let anyone else other than the tattoo artist touch it. Your tattoo artist will be using sterile supplies/equipment so any other contact can lead to contamination and infection.

Don’t Touch Any Tattoo Equipment

Leave the equipment to the professionals. Not only will you contaminate anything you touch but your tattoo artist will be unimpressed, to say the least.

Don’t Move Around

It’s acceptable to talk during your session so long as you don’t begin gesturing with your hands or body. Doing so will disrupt the tattoo artist and could lead to some unpleasant repercussions. Stay still and be patient.