by clicking through on each “plus” sign, you will be able to read a more in-depth description of what is generally encouraged to do before a tattoo appointment.

*all tips are general recommendations by britt. the recommendations are not set in stone, as each canvas is different, and each artist works differently. if you have any questions, consult directly with britt!

  • Although, getting a tattoo can be very exciting, make sure that you are getting enough sleep and rest before the day of your appointment.

  • If you are the type of person to partake in personal fitness, make sure the day before your appointment to try and not break any personal records at the gym. Your body will need to be well rested and ready for a new tattoo and that’s going be a lot easier to do when you are not recovering from a rigorous work out.

  • It is very important to keep the amount of melanin (natural pigment) in your skin as low as possible. Tattoo ink is injected into a deeper layer of the skin, so the melanin will hypothetically put a darker tone over your skin and cause the tattoo to appear more muddy and fuzzy looking.

    Regarding that, it is advised to avoid direct sunlight, and to try not to get a sunburn. You can do this by protecting the area to be tattooed with clothing and/or by wearing a high SPF sunscreen, SPF30 or SPF50 will do the trick.

  • Proper hydration is essential for optimal skin health and tattoo healing.

    But, drinking too much water right before getting a tattoo will not be doing you any favors. It’s best to ensure you have adequately hydrated in the days leading up to your appointment instead. This will keep your skin healthy and primed for the tattooing process.

    Secondly, getting a tattoo on an empty stomach can lead to lightheadedness or dizziness. It is best to eat a balanced meal before your appointment to maintain stable blood sugar levels and keep your energy up throughout the session.

    It is also encouraged to bring extra snacks if you know your appointment is longer than three hours.

  • While caffeine may feel great to have in the moment... It is better to reduce how much you have before your session. Excessive caffeine can make you feel more anxious or restless. This in turn can potentially affect your ability to sit still and relax during the tattooing process. Opt for a relaxed state of mind by keeping caffeine consumption moderate.

  • One of the most important steps to take before getting a tattoo is avoiding alcohol at starting a few days before getting tattooed. This is because alcohol thins the blood and increases the risk of excessive bleeding during the tattooing process.

  • Similar to alcohol, over-the-counter blood thinners like aspirin or ibuprofen can increase bleeding during the tattoo process. These medications may affect britt’s ability to work efficiently while saturating the skin with ink. It’s strongly advised to avoid using these blood thinners, and if you’re uncertain about the effects of any prescription medications, consult your doctor and inform your tattoo artist beforehand.

  • When showering, please don’t over exfoliate your skin. Exfoliating makes skin renew itself and the new skin is fragile, making it harder to tattoo. This of course does not mean you shouldn’t shower or wash yourself, just don’t scrub your skin too much. I’m result, your body will focus on healing your tattoo specifically rather than all the other places you’ve exfoliated.

  • The skin is a unique and tricky canvas, and tattooing a dry, non-elastic skin can make the process more difficult. But by taking care of the elasticity of your skin, this will help the britt a ton. It is recommended to apply lightly scented moisturizer on the to be tattooed area for one week before the appointment.

  • As a tattoo giver and receiver, I am all for numbing cream! Tattoos can be a painful process and everyone has a different threshold that requires different methods.

    If you are someone who would like to use numbing cream, please choose one of the four from the list below to order from.

    https://a.co/d/0JbRyWj

    https://a.co/d/eEUUAxr

    https://a.co/d/hBV7zEj

    https://a.co/d/1ZeutB8

    BEFORE your appointment, please make sure to apply numbing cream to the desired tattoo area thirty minutes to an hour before your appointment. Be sure to also wrap the area in plastic wrap to keep the numbing cream hydrated!

So you're contemplating using numbing cream before a tattoo but do not know if your artist allows it. To quickly answer your question before explaining more, the answer is YES !

Every artist is different when it comes to the topic of numbing cream, but I am all for using it. Certain areas of the body can be sensitive to tattoo. If there is any process to make the tattoo appointment less painful, I am all for it. That being said, I have an opinion on what BRAND of numbing cream should be applied to the skin prior to an appointment.

#1 Dr. Numb Cream

#2 Ink Scribd Tattoo Numbing Cream

#3 Ebanel Numb520 Lidocaine

#4 Samnyte Tattoo Numb Cream

INSTRUCTIONS- Numbing agent should be applied 30 minutes to 1 hour before arriving. While applying the numbing cream, wrap the area in plastic wrap to ensure it does not dry out and maintains moisture.

All the products linked below will go in order of which ones I like the most. Most of these products can only be found online.

On this portion of the page you will be able to see what is recommended to use for aftercare when it comes to cleansing and moisturizing.

This list will also include links and short descriptions of where these products are available.

#1 gold dial antibacterial soap

this soap can be found at virtually any drugstore, target, walmart and/or online.

#2 hibiclens

this soap is antibacterial and anti microbial, which makes it great for tattoos and piercings. hibiclens can be found at target, walmart and amazon.

#3 recovery aftercare soap

this soap is a tattooer branded soap that comes highly recommended! it can be found on amazon and/or recovery’s website.

Moisture! Moisture! Moisture!

The most important part of healing a tattoo. This section will include products and brands that I personally use and recommend. At the end of this page, there will be proper aftercare instructions rather than products only.

Each product will have the amazon link below. That way, you can order all the products that are essential to healing tattoos.

#1 Aquaphor Healing Ointment

#2 CeraVe Healing Ointment

#1 Lubiderm Daily Moisture

#2 Vanicream Moisturizing Lotion

#3 Aveeno Body Lotion

#4 People of Substance Tattoo Aftercare

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