How to prepare for your tattoo session
Getting a tattoo is an exciting and personal experience. To make sure your session goes smoothly, it’s important to prepare your body and mind beforehand. Here are some helpful tips to get ready for your tattoo appointment in Amsterdam and ensure the best possible results.
Rest well before the session
Eat a balanced meal
Stay hydrated
Refrain from drinking alcohol or smoking cannabis
Wear comfortable clothing
Relax during the session
A calm, well-rested body handles the tattoo process much better. Get a full night’s sleep before your appointment so you feel refreshed, relaxed, and ready to sit comfortably through your session. Your energy levels can greatly affect how you experience pain and healing.
Before heading to our tattoo appointment, have a nutritious meal. Do that on the evening before the appointment as well as in the morning. Tattooing takes energy, and eating well cand help prevent dizziness or low blood sugar. If our session will last longer, consider bringing a few snacks or a small lunch to keep your energy steady. I also need energy, so we'll take necessary breaks, including for lunch.
Drink plenty of water in the days leading up to your appointment. Hydrated skin is healthier, more elastic, and easier to work with, which helps me work better and create the clean lines and smoother shading which I'm sure you like in my pieces. Avoid arriving dehydrated, especially if our session is a long one. Never replace water with soda, beer, cider, coffee, or any other liquid, hoping that it will keep you hydrated. It won't.
Avoid drinking alcohol at least 48 hours before and 72 hours after your tattoo session. Alcohol thins the blood, which can cause extra bleeding during tattooing and make it harder for me to work. It can also affect how well the ink settles in your skin. Not to mention it dehydrates you, reduces your pain tolerance, and lowers your overall patience, which makes my work harder and the session longer. We both want to avoid that.
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The same applies to cannabis consumption. While it is part of Amsterdam’s culture, it’s best to avoid smoking or consuming weed before our tattoo session. Although it might seem like a way to relax, cannabis can actually increase your pain sensitivity, make it harder to sit still, and sometimes trigger mild anxiety during the tattooing process.
If you’d like to relax beforehand, try natural methods: deep breathing, good rest, or a calming playlist. You’re welcome to enjoy Amsterdam’s coffee shops after your tattoo is complete and wrapped up safely.
Since a tattoo session can sometimes get a little messy with ink or aftercare products, come dressed in loose, dark clothes that you don’t mind getting a few marks on. I speak from experience, trust me. Make sure the outfit allows me to easily reach the spot being tattooed.
Our session could span several hours or even the whole day. Please feel free to bring along a book, headphones, a tablet for movies, or anything that helps you unwind while respecting others in the studio.
Check the tattoo aftercare process to ensure proper care for your piece