The day of your tattoo
Bring with you some bottled water or juice, a fully charged mobile phone (with headphones if you want to listen to your own music or to play games), snacks (particularly ones high in carbohydrates and protein like granola bars, nuts, crisps, crackers, or fresh fruit).
You may bring a friend for mutual support but they will be required to wait in the reception area while you are getting your tattoo in the interests of health and safety.
It might seem to go without saying, but please make sure you shower or bathe beforehand. Unless you’re getting an underarm tattoo, please also wear deodorant. You should consider wearing clothes that it won’t matter if you get ink stains on. Even in the summer it’s a good idea to bring a sweatshirt or something warm to wear because getting tattooed can sometimes make you feel cold.
The area to be tattooed, and usually a large space surrounding it, will need to be shaved to prepare your skin for the tattoo. Please do not shave this area before your appointment. Tattoo artists are used to shaving people for tattoo preparation so you don’t worry about being shy or embarrassed, they’ve seen it all.
Please abstain from any fake tan before your tattoo and until the tattoo is healed.
We will not tattoo anyone under the influence of alcohol. It is actually illegal. Even the smell of one beer will get you turned away. If you have an appointment and are turned away for being intoxicated and/or under the influence, you will lose your deposit.
Most painkillers like Aspirin and Ibuprofen will thin your blood, making the tattoo much harder to perform. Taking these will not do anything at all to suppress the pain. If you are on any regular medications, you might consider asking your doctor ahead of time.
Don’t drink a bunch of caffeine or energy drinks before coming in. It will thin your blood and make you less likely to sit still.
You may need a doctor’s note if you have medical conditions like a bleeding disorder, a heart condition, or are on antibiotics. The consent form you’ll have to sign has a detailed list of these conditions. Don’t worry, saying you have one of these conditions doesn’t usually mean we can’t tattoo you; it may only mean you’ll be asked to come back with a doctor’s permission. We want you to be safe when getting tattooed so please understand that we do this for your well-being.
We will never tattoo someone who is or thinks they may be pregnant.
As aforestated: you are required to bring photographic ID in the form of a passport or driving license. The law dictates that we cannot tattoo anyone under the age of 18, even if you have parental consent.
