First time tattoo. How to prepare.

[NewTattoo2024]

My DH has bought me a tattoo for my birthday. It’s booked for Thursday. I just wondered if you had any tips on how to prepare. DH just said I had to drink lots of water!

to be clear I do want this tattoo. But I wasn’t involved in the booking so don’t know if there are any specific instructions and he’s now at work overnight!
thanks.

Have you chosen the design? How big is it? How many hours are you expecting to be there?
Nothing really you need to do, don't stress, take some paracetamol in advance if you're worried

Moisturise the area for a few days beforehand. You should get after care advice from the artist as it's the aftercare that really matters. Keep the cling film on for rest of day. Wash and pat dry. Moisturise the area regularly. Don't pick the scab (if there is one) and leave it to heal.

Have water and something to eat, some people go a bit light headed so maybe bring some sweets with you or similar.

Get cocoa butter to put on afterwards while it’s healing. Don’t scratch or pick it. And don’t be alarmed when you get home and wash it for the first time and loads of ink comes off!

Have a shower in the morning, wear a comfortable outfit. Make sure you have a good meal before you go and have a drink and sugary treat with you.

You'll need some coco butter for aftercare.

Most artists are understanding of nerves for the process

Also, if you are on your period you are likely to bleed more so be prepared for that.

Avoid coffee and alcohol the night before.

Wear socks, unless it’s on your feet, I go quite cold after a couple of hours. Take a chocolate bar or some jelly babies too if it’s a couple of hours.

I always swear by a couple of paracetamol, a fry up and a big bottle of full sugar coke and I have had several large tattoos over the last twenty years.

Mind you, this is also my go to combination for a migraine, a hangover or general stress so I may just be making an excuse 😁

Get some savlon cream to use for the first few days & then move to moisturiser, use moisturiser morning & night. If the tattoo is on your back, put a towel on your bed, they can weep for the first 24 hours. Don't scratch the scabs off, or you can end up with a patchy tattoo.

Good post OP. I'm getting my very first (small) tattoo tomorrow morning at the ripe old age of 51. Very nervous as I hate needles,but some good advice here!

Moisturise in the days leading up, hydrate the days before and the day of. Eat before hand and have snacks for during. Don’t be afraid to ask for a break, I took a film to watch. Ask for aftercare advice. Enjoy

Eat/drink beforehand and take a drink with you.
I was told to use cocoa butter too. It may itch really badly when healing. I used to slap my leg rather than scratch.

Oh thank you all. It’s not a huge tattoo. It’s some fine line flowers on my shoulders.

so drinking lots of water good. Avoid alcohol and coffee. Not a problem
cocco butter before hand and after.
dont scratch

I thought I had read that you shouldn’t take painkillers before??

I always daub myself in Emla cream 2 hours before a tattoo. My last tattoo was a full day sitting, started at 9am and I only started to feel pain at 3pm!

Don’t take painkillers, some usually thin blood I think. If you do use numbing cream, let the artist know beforehand. And check they’re happy for you to do so! Some won’t work with cream applied.

This is true if you take ibuprofen or something stronger, but paracetamol doesn't thin blood and should be fine. That said, I wouldn't bother for a fine line tattoo on the shoulder, the pain shouldn't be bad at all.