Getting a tattoo, whether your first or fiftieth can be a nerve wracking experience. Sometimes it seems to go so smoothly, almost easy. Other times it is a struggle from the first poke of the needle to the last wipe down. Why is that? Is it the location on the body? Is it the artist?
Why is this so hard when it didn’t bother me last time?
The truth is, on some level, it can be any or all of these things. So, what can we do to give ourselves the best chance of having an “easy” or good experience in the tattoo chair?
I have been tattooed dozens of times and I still get those nerves every time. You, likely, will too. Those nerves start acting up even the night before. many of us have some trouble getting a really good night’s sleep leading up to the tattoo session. For this reason, I recommend focussing on getting good quality and length of sleep for a few nights leading up to that so that your energy stockpiles are not completely depleted from one bad night’s sleep.
Hydrate well during the days leading up to your tattoo. It is true that everybody’s skin is different. One of the main factors here is hydration. someone who is chronically dehydrated will have thinner more fragile skin than someone who is well hydrated. Skin moisturizers can be a good idea in the days leading to your tattoo as well. However, do not pile these things on the day of your tattoo. We will have to thoroughly remove them anyway. Always avoid bronzers and artificial tanners on the day of your tattoo session.
Lastly, eating well the day before and day of your tattoo will go a long way in giving you energy and strength throughout the process. When our reserves are tapped, it is more likely that we may feel weak, light headed or even pass out during the tattoo. Eating well for a couple days before and having a snack or two with you will help emensly.
There you have it! My advice for making the tattoo session as bearable as possible is to sleep well, hydrate well and eat well in the days before your tattoo. It is that simple!
Always avoid numbing creams or anesthetics that weren’t provided by your doctor.