Treatment Restrictions Before Your Appointment
To ensure the best results and minimize risks, please follow these guidelines before and after your procedure:
- Skincare Products:
- Discontinue the use of Retinol/Retin-A or similar products at least 7 days prior to your procedure.
- Injectables (Botox, Fillers, etc.):
- Schedule injectables at least 2–3 weeks before or 2–3 weeks after your procedure.
- Chemical Peels and Laser Treatments:
- Avoid chemical peels and laser treatments for 4–6 weeks before and after your procedure.
- Sun Exposure:
- Sunburned or suntanned skin is damaged and can result in excessive bleeding and poor color retention. We cannot work on skin affected by sunburn or tanning.
- Avoid sun exposure for 2–3 weeks before and 3–4 weeks after your procedure. Protect the area with clothing and use SPF 50+ sunscreen once healed.
- Travel Considerations:
- Do not schedule procedures within 2 weeks of a holiday abroad, especially in high-sun-exposure regions, to avoid risks from sun and water exposure.
- Alcohol and Caffeine:
- Avoid alcohol and caffeine for 1–2 days before and 5 days after the procedure to minimize bleeding, oozing, and swelling.
- Medications:
- Avoid over-the-counter painkillers like aspirin, ibuprofen, Nurofen, or ketonal for 1–2 days before and after your procedure to reduce bleeding. Consult your physician before stopping any prescribed medications.
Tips Before Your Tattoo Experience
Here are some tips that you should follow to get the most out of your tattoo experience and to ensure that the quality of the tattoo that you will have for the rest of your life will not be negatively affected by any external or internal factors:
- Please put a reminder on your phone that a month before your tattoo session you need to start moisturizing the skin area where you will get the tattoo as tattoos turn out a lot worse on dry skin. Moisturizing should be done 1-2x every day with a good quality body lotion of your choice, Oilatum/Bepanthen if your skin is very dry, or similar emollients.
- Prepare your skin for the session – no sunburnt skin, if you go on a holiday be mindful of this and take adequate precautions i.e., do not expose the tattoo area to direct sun, use factor 50 sun protective cream, etc.
- Please do not use body scrub or shave the area right before the session!
- A week before the session, be more attentive to your body: we recommend eating healthy and getting a good night’s sleep so you can do your best to avoid catching a cold, getting sick, or having any inflammatory problems.
- Make sure you have a good night’s sleep before the tattoo session. In the morning, have a nice and nutritious breakfast, try to avoid caffeinated drinks, energy drinks and stay hydrated.
- Be considerate of the outfit you will wear on the day of the session. For example, if you are getting a tattoo on the leg – wear shorts; if you are getting your arm tattooed – wear tank tops. You should feel comfortable in the clothes you wear and please be ready they might get ‘dirty’ during the process. Ideally, the clothing should not be light/bright, please wear DARK clothes.
- Take lunch/snacks with you – the pain feels stronger when you are hungry.
- During breaks, try to drink more sugary drinks, but not energy drinks, or have some sweet snacks, etc. to increase the blood sugar level which will prevent you from fainting or feeling dizzy.
- Please note that only cash is accepted on the day of the session.
- Please do not plan anything for the evening/after the session and plan your route back home considering we might finish late and you would need alternative means of transport – so that the artist does not have to rush the work as after all, hurrying with the work can affect the quality of the tattoo.
- Don’t go on a pre-tattoo bender. It’s best not to party the night before because alcohol can increase bleeding for up to 24 hours. Blood also dilutes our pigments, affecting both the appearance of your tattoo as well as the healing process. Remember to stay calm and cool, you’re in good hands.
- Please read the aftercare instructions available via our website before attending the session.
- Please remember Numbing Creams are not allowed. It affects the quality of the tattoo, they don’t last long (even if it says), are 10 times more painful after the effect is gone, you could get an allergy reaction, the skin can get red and swollen (not taking the ink well), which means we have to stop the session.
- During and before your session, try not to drink energy drinks, coffee, or others that could make your heart beat faster. A faster heartbeat means you’ll bleed more than normal. Bleeding could affect the quality of your tattoo as the inks are mixed with blood and also more difficult to tattoo.
- Drink plenty of water. Your skin thins when you’re dehydrated, so chugging water, starting the day before your appointment, will make your body a better canvas for the tattoo. It will also keep your energy up, so bring a bottle or two to sip during your session. Hydrated skin takes the ink better than dry, thirsty skin does – and hydrated skin starts from the inside out.
- Consuming an excess amount of dairy and salt may cause you to bloat, ultimately changing the look and feel of your skin.
- Proteins are a type of body-building nutrient that helps your body develop and repair muscle and skin tissues. They are necessary for the formation and repair of all body parts, including the skin. Protein also helps raise energy levels, making it a bit more beneficial for the trauma that your body system shall be going through. It will also assist your skin in recovering quickly from the stress caused by the tattoo needle; thus, it is highly recommended to eat protein-rich foods, such as beef, chicken, and seafood, before and after getting a tattoo.
- Best snacks to bring on the day of your tattoo appointment:
- Sugar-free and low-fat fruit bars
- Protein bars, especially those with chocolates and nuts
- Bag of “green” chips, such as spinach and kale
- Roasted almonds and pecans
- Vitamin C fruit drops
- Lemon or lime water
- Natural fruit juice
- There’s nothing to stress over—it’s just a tattoo!
Please take our recommendations seriously and do not forget to read this text once again before your tattoo session as by doing so you are showing that you are respectful towards the artist.