How To Mentally Get Ready for Your Tattoo: 10 Crucial Steps

 

 When you decide to get a tattoo, you're making a permanent change to your body, which might be scary if you've never had one.

 You should be emotionally and physically prepared to endure hours of pain as the tattoo artist presses needles into your skin. You should also be sure that the design is something you want on your body forever. Interesting, huh?

 You can wear a well-healed tattoo with pride for the rest of your life, so it's important to know what to expect when you walk in for your consultation.

 Read on for a few things to remember and some pointers to remember before getting that next tattoo.

 How to Get Ready for Your Tattoo

To make the most of your tattoo visit, follow these guidelines.

 Make an Appointment to Talk to Your Artist

"Most artists will provide a consultation," says Melissa Wylde, a tattoo artist at Garth's Tattoos in Kent, U.K. It's best to meet in person, so both parties are comfortable with one other and the environment.

 Take advantage of face-to-face consultation opportunities with your artists. In-person consultations are preferable since they allow the artist to get to know you and the tattoo location better before the session.

 Any misunderstandings about the tattoo's design may be ironed out during a consultation, which will also assist the artist in providing precisely what you envisioned.

 Amanda Graves, a tattoo artist at Spill the Ink Tattoo in Edgewood, Maryland, says, "Consultations for me are a means to get to know the customer and eventually match minds on the design." Our mental images of a situation often differ significantly from what the other person is imagining. To get a feel for the project's aesthetic and scope, I find it helpful to look at examples of past work when providing advice.

 Preparatory moisturizing is a must.

Keeping your skin moisturized with body lotion in the weeks following your tattoo session is a brilliant idea and may aid in the ink's application.

 According to Lainey Bee, owner of Flowinkstudio in Nijmegen, the Netherlands, "if your skin is healthy, it's a lot simpler for any artist to tattoo you." This implies that your treatment duration and discomfort will be reduced.

 Avoid using lotions and moisturizers on the day of your tattoo session, even if you have been prepping your skin for the tattoo in the days preceding it. Moisturizers can affect how well a tattoo stencil applies to your skin, which your artist will want to avoid doing.

 Make Sure You Drink Enough Water

 It's important to be hydrated before getting a tattoo, and it's also essential to drink a lot of water on the day of your appointment. The quality of your skin will increase as you drink more water.

Get going around four weeks before your appointment. Bee recommends that you "attempt to drink two liters of water per day" but notes that beverages like coffee, tea with sugar, and soda do not qualify.

 Get Your Vitamin C Fix

As a pre-tattoo preparation, Bee suggests taking more vitamin C. She explains that vitamin C helps the body produce connective tissue, absorb iron, and keep resistance levels high because of its antioxidant properties.

 Before beginning any supplement regimen, including Vitamin C, you must speak with your doctor about appropriate dosing.

 Get a Good Night's Rest

It's not a good idea to stay up all night the night before getting a tattoo.

The best way to get your body (and mind) ready for what lies ahead is to get a decent night's sleep. Wylde adds, "A good night's sleep is the most crucial factor."

 Have a Meal Before Getting a Tattoo

 You should never forget this advice, and always have a healthy breakfast or lunch on the day of your tattoo session. I've had many clients overlook this, but it's crucial, says Graves. You're going to go through some suffering, and you'll need your body to be able to recover itself effectively.

 Try to eat something, even if you're apprehensive and not hungry. Maintaining steady blood sugar levels can help you feel more alert and focused during your scheduled visit.

 Food and drink are welcome for your tattoo appointment.

If you have a long tattoo session, bring nutritious food, lots of water, and anything else you might need to stay hydrated and focused. To keep yourself energized, Wylde recommends bringing a sweet beverage and snack. It's a great way to keep your body and brain active.

While tattooing you, your artist may need to take brief breaks to stretch, eat, or drink. Take advantage of this opportunity to do the same.

Tell your tattoo artist immediately if you feel lightheaded or faint during your visit. You may increase your blood sugar by eating snacks like almonds or candies or drinking Gatorade.

 Be Sure to Dress Appropriately

Think about where you want the tattoo and wear something that will provide the artist easy access to that region. Shorts might be the most comfortable garment when getting your legs tattooed. A tattoo on your upper arm could look better with a tank top.

If you have a backpiece tattoo and want to feel more comfortable in public, try carrying a button-up shirt or sweatshirt that zips up the front.

Put on anything you wouldn't mind having ink spilled on or a little soiled. However cautious the artist is, there is always the chance that the ink or stencil will go on your clothing during the tattooing procedure, especially if you are getting a large piece done. Wear something simple to wash after your appointment, as blood or plasma may leak into your clothing.

 Seek Information about Available Payment Methods

 Make sure you know how to pay for your tattoo in advance by contacting the store or the artist. According to Wylde, most tattoo parlors only deal with cash.

Make sure you have enough cash to pay for your tattoo if you know that only cash will be accepted as payment. As much as possible, do this the day before or the day before your appointment.

 If a tattoo parlor accepts credit cards, they may add a fee to your total. If you know, this is going in; the final cost of your tattoo won't catch you off guard.

 You Should Think About Your Entertainment Choices

While most tattoo artists want to keep the conversation going with their customers throughout sessions, other clients may prefer to be left in peace and quiet for their tattoo. However, tattoos may remain for years, so if you have a short attention span or aren't comfortable striking up lengthy talks, you should bring something to pass the time.

 Getting a tattoo in a somewhat painless area may allow you to keep your eyes busy by reading a book. Bring your headphones and something to listen to or watch on your phone or tablet to pass the time.

 Remember that the artist at the shop may be busy with other customers simultaneously. While listening to music, Wylde adds, "I don't mind if people prefer to listen with headphones on and try to zone out." But it might not be easy to focus if someone is on social media and making a lot of noise with various videos and wandering about.

 

Final Thought

The key to getting mentally ready for a tattoo appointment is to take the time to prepare your body and mind in advance. Make sure you eat a good meal, stay hydrated, get plenty of sleep, and wear the proper clothing to ensure a successful tattoo experience. Schedule a consultation with your artist and discuss potential design or location changes. Taking the time to prepare for a tattoo appointment properly can help make the experience a success and ensure that you come out the other side with a well-healed piece of body art that you'll proudly wear for the rest of your life.