Preparing for your first tattoo session: full checklist
Sleep, food, clothing, hydration, what to bring: everything that makes a long session comfortable.
A six-hour session should be prepared like a small athletic event. Pain, fatigue, ink tolerance depend as much on the day before as on the day itself. Here's the checklist I give every client.
The day before
Sleep seven to eight hours. Skip alcohol entirely: it thins the blood, increases bleeding during the session and weeping afterwards. Eat normally, no diet, no unusually heavy meal.
The morning
Solid breakfast: slow carbs, protein, a piece of fruit. Full shower, no cream on the area to be tattooed. Loose, dark clothes, easy to roll up or remove without rubbing the fresh area.
What to bring
A water bottle, a sweet snack (bar, fruit, chocolate) for mid-session, a phone charger, headphones. A book or a downloaded series: over five to six hours a single playlist won't be enough.
During the session
We take a real break halfway through (thirty minutes minimum). Eat, drink, walk a little, breathe. Pain always comes back softer after a break: it's mechanical.
What to avoid
Taking paracetamol or ibuprofen beforehand: they thin the blood. Downing a huge coffee on an empty stomach: caffeine amplifies sensitivity. Arriving stressed and unfed: nervous fatigue stacks on top of physical fatigue.
After the session
Follow my aftercare instructions: temporary cling film until bedtime at the latest, rinsing and thin layers of cream. No bathing for 1 week, then wait until scabs and peeling skin have gone before prolonged immersion.