Prepare your skin before a tattoo session.
To ensure that your skin is ready to receive the needles that will inject the ink into your dermis, we recommend that you moisturize it well the week before your session with an odorless moisturizer or one recommended by your artist. Your skin will recover faster and healing will be easier.
Hydrate too, by drinking plenty of water in the 24 hours before your session.
You should arrive with perfectly healthy skin, free of sunburn and lesions. So protect your skin from the sun in the days leading up to your session.
We advise you not to shave the area to be tattooed yourself. The tattooist will do it. This avoids any risk of cuts or skin lesions that could prevent the tattoo session from taking place.
Avoid before a tattoo session.
Don't cream your skin with lotions, oils or highly scented perfumes on the area to be tattooed.
You should avoid anything that might thin the blood. This would make the work more difficult, slow down healing and cause you to bleed more than usual. Avoid taking blood-thinning drugs such as aspirin. Don't drink alcohol either the day before or the day of the session.
On the day of your tattoo.
On the day of your appointment, take a shower and feel fit and energetic. Being well rested will help you to cope better with the pain. Try to go to bed early and sleep well the night before. Take the time to eat a good meal before your session. For longer sessions, take along snacks and water.
Wear loose, comfortable clothing. Make sure you can easily free the area to be tattooed. For example, if you're getting a tattoo on your calf, wear shorts. And think about when you'll need to get dressed. If you're getting an arm tattoo, forget about tight-fitting T-shirts, as they'll be harder to put on and bear after the session.
The session can be long. Although the tattooist will do his best to make the time go by quickly, you can bring a book or some music with you.
What about after the session?
Don't plan anything after the session. Just go home, rest and recuperate. The very next day, or even the very same day, you'll need to take care of your tattoo and your skin to help it heal as well as possible.
