How to Prepare for Your Tattoo Appointment
Getting ready for a tattoo is mostly common sense, but a few things in the days before make the session easier, the result cleaner and the healing smoother. Here is exactly how to prepare for your tattoo appointment, what to bring on the day, and what to ask your artist.
The week before: design, questions and your health
Finalise your idea early rather than the night before. If you are having a custom design drawn, give the artist time and send your references in advance. This is also the week to ask anything you are unsure about, from placement to price. One rule matters more than the rest: if you fall ill, especially with a fever, reschedule, because healing a tattoo competes with fighting an infection (more in getting a tattoo when sick). The same goes for sunburn on the area.
The night before
Sleep well and skip the alcohol. A hangover thins your blood, which makes the work harder and the healing messier, and it makes the session feel worse. Drink water through the day so your skin is hydrated when you arrive.
The morning of your appointment
Eat a proper meal a couple of hours before you sit down. A steady blood-sugar level is the difference between a calm session and feeling faint an hour in. Shower beforehand, and moisturise the area in the days before, but do not slather it in cream on the day itself. Arrive a few minutes early so you are not rushing.
What to bring
- ID. You must be 18 or over, so bring proof of age.
- A way to pay, including the deposit, which comes off the final price.
- Your reference images, even if you sent them already.
- A snack and a drink for longer sittings to keep your energy up.
- Something to keep you occupied: headphones, a playlist, a downloaded show.
What to wear
Wear loose, comfortable clothes that give easy access to the area being tattooed, and that you do not mind getting a little ink or ointment on. For a thigh piece, bring shorts; for a back or shoulder, a loose top you can move aside. Dressing for the placement saves an awkward moment later.
What to ask your artist
A consultation goes both ways. Good things to confirm: the exact placement and size on your skin, how the price works and whether it can change, how long the session will run, and the aftercare you should follow. If it is your first time, our first tattoo guide covers the rest, and our prices page explains how quotes work.
During and after
Once the stencil is placed and you approve it, the tattoo begins. Speak up if you need a break; there is no prize for sitting through discomfort. For how it actually feels, see does getting a tattoo hurt. When it is done, your artist wraps it and gives you written aftercare, which we walk through in our aftercare guide.
Ready to book?
We work in English at our studios in Barcelona and Berlin, so you can plan everything before you arrive. Send your idea on the contact page or WhatsApp and we will talk you through it.
Written by the artists at Studio Tattoo, an English-speaking tattoo studio network in Barcelona and Berlin.
Your manager:
Studio TattooPhone:
+995 551 527 984E-mail:
info@studio-tattoo.com