If you’re interested in preparing for the process of receiving your first tattoo, it’s important that you remain well prepared so that you can enjoy a procedure that will be as painless as possible. Here are some of the top ways that you can prepare for a tattoo appointment so that you can make sure you can be happy with the design and safe through the process. 

Consider the design:

Schedule a consultation appointment and before you visit a tattoo artist, think about the overall design you may want, the placement for that design and consider bringing together some photos that can be used as inspiration. You may have a complete design prepared or you might have to consult with a tattoo artist to get something drawn up. 

Get physically ready for the appointment:

Make sure to take care of yourself before you go into your first session. Stay well hydrated and never drink alcohol before going in to get a tattoo. Avoid blood thinners like aspirin and consider rescheduling if you are sick. 

Get comfortable:

Bring along snacks or headphones if you’d like to stay comfortable during your tattoo session. Depending on how elaborate your tattoo is, you could be in the chair for an hour or even several hours depending on the agreement you have with your tattoo artist. Wearing loose clothing so that your tattoo artist can access the area you are being tattooed can be important too. Make sure that the clothing you decided to wear is comfortable for you to be sitting in for a long period of time. Eating a good meal before you go in can also help to settle your stomach.

Prepare your skin:

Make sure that your skin is clean and moisturized before you go into your appointment. You will also want to protect your skin leading up to the appointment as a sunburn could make the process of your tattoo painful. 

Get what you need for aftercare:

Your tattoo artist will provide you with aftercare instructions this will likely include the need for new bandages, moisturizer and skin cleaner. 

This post was written by J Michael Taylor. J Michael Taylor is an artist and owner of Black Amethyst Tattoo Gallery. Black Amethyst is the best amongst tattoo shops in Clearwater FL. They provide an art-first approach to custom tattooing in a gallery setting.