Quick Answer
Eat a proper meal beforehand, drink some water, and arrive clean, sober and on time. If there's any chance you look young enough to be asked, bring some ID too. For a short, straightforward tattoo, that's genuinely most of what you need to do. For a longer session, a larger piece, or a placement that's known to be uncomfortable, a good night's sleep, sensible hydration, comfortable clothing and avoiding alcohol the night before become genuinely worthwhile. If you're nervous, that's completely normal — being prepared helps you sit more comfortably and makes the day go more smoothly.
Preparation Is a Sliding Scale
Not every tattoo needs the same prep. The longer and bigger the piece, the more it tends to matter. A quick name on the forearm and a five-hour rib piece are just different days. Read this with your own appointment in mind. Nothing here is a rulebook.
How Much Does This Matter?
A quick sense of how much this preparation advice actually applies to you, depending on what you're getting.
Small or quick tattoo
Often minorAround twenty to sixty minutes, a straightforward placement and a relatively small design. Basic preparation is usually enough — eat something, stay reasonably hydrated, arrive clean and on time, and don't overthink it.
Medium session
Worth consideringAround two to four hours, a larger design or a moderately uncomfortable placement. Good sleep, a proper meal, hydration, suitable clothing and avoiding alcohol become more worthwhile.
Long or demanding session
Genuinely mattersAround five hours or more, a large tattoo, a sensitive placement, or a session you're particularly nervous about. Preparation genuinely matters here — sleep, food, hydration, clothing, breaks and a little planning can noticeably affect your comfort, stamina and how the whole day feels.
Why Preparation Actually Matters
I've tattooed a lot of people over the years. After a while you can tell when someone's underprepared — not from a checklist, but from how they're sitting, how their skin's responding, how the session's going. Hungry, dehydrated, hungover, exhausted. A difficult appointment gets harder. They feel faint or restless. Their skin gets reactive. The whole day becomes more uncomfortable for both of us. Your body copes better when it's been looked after. That's why artists keep giving the same simple advice.
Preparing the Day Before
A few simple things the day before make a big difference on the day. None of it is complicated — it's just about turning up in good shape.
- Sleep — Get a good night's sleep if you can. A well-rested body handles longer sittings better and you'll have more patience in the chair. But if life gets in the way, don't panic. I've tattooed nurses, doctors and factory workers who've come straight from night shifts. Some have even slept through large parts of the tattoo. Sleep matters. It isn't the be-all and end-all. If you can't sleep because of nerves — which happens to a lot of first-timers — just do your best. Don't wind yourself up about it.
- Hydration — Normal, sensible hydration is the aim — don't feel you need to force excessive amounts of water. Well-hydrated skin is in better condition, which can help with how the tattoo goes and how it heals, though this becomes more relevant for longer sessions. A couple of litres through the day is plenty for most people; sipping steadily is better than drinking a lot all at once.
- Alcohol — Please don't drink heavily the night before. Don't arrive under the influence. I say this because I've personally turned up for a long session after a heavy night out. It made the whole experience far worse. Alcohol thins your blood, dehydrates you, dulls your pain tolerance. Hungover customers struggle much more than they need to. Most artists will turn you away if you smell of drink. Save it for afterwards.
- Skin care — Moisturise normally in the days before. Don't go overboard — just keep your skin from getting dry and flaky. Avoid anything harsh like retinols or strong exfoliants on the area you're getting tattooed in the few days before.
- Sunburn — Do not arrive sunburnt. Sunburnt skin is damaged skin — tattooing over it is painful, heals badly, and can leave a patchy result. If you're going on holiday before an appointment, protect the area. If you do get burned, call your artist — most would rather reschedule.
- General preparation — Confirm your appointment time the day before. Double-check the address. Sort out your travel so you're not rushing. A little admin the day before saves a lot of stress on the day.
The Morning of Your Appointment
The morning of your tattoo is about arriving in good shape and not rushing. Eat properly, dress sensibly, and build in a bit of buffer time.
- Breakfast — Eating beforehand is sensible for nearly every appointment. It becomes especially important for longer sessions. Tattooing takes energy. On an empty stomach you're more likely to feel light-headed, shaky or faint — particularly in the first part of a long sit. Toast, eggs, porridge, a full breakfast. Whatever sits well with you. Not just a coffee.
- Clothing — Wear something loose and comfortable that you don't mind getting a little ink on. Think about access to the placement. If it's your thigh, loose shorts or trousers you can roll up. If it's your ribs or back, a button-up shirt is excellent — it exposes the area while keeping you covered. Avoid tight trousers for a calf tattoo. They won't roll up and make the whole thing awkward. And please, don't wear expensive white clothing. I once saw someone turn up in a white designer top for a rib tattoo. It's the kind of thing that makes an artist wince. Ink wipes off skin. It doesn't always come out of fabric.
- Travel — Plan to arrive five to ten minutes early so you can settle. Rushing raises your heart rate, makes you tense, and makes the whole thing feel worse. If you're going to be late, let your artist know as soon as you can.
- Phone charging — Useful for longer appointments rather than a necessity for short ones. For a multi-hour session your phone is your entertainment, your music, your way to message someone and possibly your way home, so a full charge and a portable charger if you have one are well worth it.
- Entertainment — For longer sessions things can drag, so headphones and a playlist, a podcast, an audiobook or something downloaded to watch are genuinely worth bringing. Some artists will happily put a film or TV on during a long session; others prefer not to. Don't count on it — bringing your own entertainment is always a good idea. For a short tattoo you'll rarely need them. Some people like to chat for the first hour and then zone out — do whatever works for you, as long as you're comfortable and still.
What to Bring
What Not to Do (and Why)
I'd rather explain the why than just give you a list of rules. Understanding the reason makes it easier to remember.
- Don't drink alcohol beforehand — It thins your blood, dehydrates you and lowers your pain tolerance — and the longer the session, the more this tends to show. Just save it for afterwards.
- Don't turn up on an empty stomach — Not because it's rude — because you're more likely to feel faint, and that's unpleasant for everyone, especially you.
- Don't shave the area yourself — Your artist will shave the exact spot with a fresh, sterile razor on the day. If you shave at home and get a tiny cut or rash, it can make tattooing that spot harder and more uncomfortable.
- Don't cover yourself in moisturiser on the morning of — A bit of normal skin care is fine. Thick cream just before you come in makes it harder for the stencil to stick and for us to work. Clean, dry skin is ideal.
- Don't take painkillers that thin your blood — Paracetamol is generally fine. Ibuprofen, aspirin and similar anti-inflammatories can thin your blood and may increase bleeding. If you're unsure about anything you take regularly, ask your artist or a healthcare professional beforehand rather than guessing.
- Don't bring a big group of friends — One friend or partner is usually fine (check with the studio first). A whole group is not — studios are small, busy, working spaces.
Tattoo Artist's Tips
If you're nervous, tell your artist at the start. We'd far rather know so we can check in with you and pace the session, than find out halfway through when you're already struggling. There's no shame in it — most people are nervous, especially first time.
Bring a sugary drink (something like Lucozade works well) and a quick glucose source — a Mars Bar or similar snack. If you start feeling shaky or light-headed, a few sips of something sweet and a bite of chocolate can turn it around in minutes. It's practical, not nutritional — it's about keeping your blood sugar stable through a long sit.
Don't schedule anything important straight after a long session. You might feel fine, or you might feel a bit wiped out. Give yourself a gentle evening.
Wear layers. A lot of studios run cool for hygiene and comfort while working, but you'll be sitting still and can get cold. Something you can easily take off or put on is ideal.
What We See in the Studio
People turning up hungover after a 'quiet one' the night before. It does happen — the session is harder for them, the skin is more reactive, and they regret it by hour two. Save the celebration for afterwards.
Forgetting to eat. Easily the most common one, especially with morning appointments. Someone goes pale, gets shaky, maybe needs to lie down. A banana and a sit-down fixes it, but it's better to just eat before you arrive.
Wearing something that's impossible to get out of the way — a tight jumpsuit for a back tattoo, or skinny jeans that won't roll up for a calf piece. We can usually work around it, but it makes everything slower and more awkward for you.
Shaving the area the night before and nicking the skin. A tiny cut can mean we have to move the design slightly or wait for it to settle. Honestly, just let us do it on the day — we're set up for it.
Arriving late with no message. We get it, life happens. But a quick text means we can adjust. No message means we're watching the clock and the appointment starts to eat away.
Frequently Asked Questions
You're prepped, you know what to bring, and you know what to avoid. The next thing that tends to come up is what to eat and drink in more detail, and what the actual session will feel like. And remember — every artist works a little differently. If your own artist gives you specific instructions that differ from anything here, follow theirs. They know their process and they know their studio. Honestly, you'll be fine.