How to prepare for a tattoo session

The best preparation for a tattoo is simple: get some sleep, eat, and come with healthy skin that isn't sunburnt. Here's everything in order, starting a week before the session.

A week before

Don't tan the area and skip the tanning bed. Sunburnt or peeling skin can't be tattooed, and the session will have to be moved.

If there's a rash, irritation or a fresh scratch where the tattoo will go, tell the studio in good time. The artist won't start on skin like that.

If you take blood-thinning medication or have a skin condition on the area, talk to your doctor first. Don't stop prescribed medication on your own, but tell the artist about it before the session, the same as diabetes, epilepsy or if you've ever fainted.

Stop taking aspirin for pain a few days before the session. Its effect on the blood lasts several days, so one day isn't enough.

Also check your calendar for the two weeks after the session, ideally before you book. For the first two weeks you won't be able to go to the sauna, soak in the bath or swim, and the tattoo mustn't be in the sun. If you're off to the seaside a week later, better book the session for after the trip.

The day and evening before

Don't drink alcohol the day before or on the day. It makes the skin bleed more, and the artist has a harder time working.

Don't take ibuprofen for pain the day before or on the day; it affects blood clotting. Which painkillers are fine before a session and which aren't is covered in more detail in our article on tattoo pain.

Get some sleep. A tired body finds a long session much harder.

Lay out clothes that give the artist easy access to the spot:

• arm: a short-sleeved or sleeveless top;
• lower leg or ankle: shorts or a skirt;
• thigh: loose shorts or a skirt;
• back or ribs: a top that's easy to lift or take off.

Dark clothes you don't mind ruining are best, since ink and plasma can stain fabric. And keep them loose: tight clothes will rub the fresh tattoo on the way home.

You can shave the area yourself or leave it to the artist; it's part of their everyday work. If you shave yourself, do it the evening before, not in a rush on the morning of the session. Nicks and razor burn can't be tattooed.

On the day

Eat a proper meal about an hour before the session, because on an empty stomach you get dizzy quickly. Take a shower, but don't put cream or lotion on the area; a stencil doesn't stick well to moisturised skin.

On the day, better skip strong coffee or energy drinks, or have less than usual. Caffeine makes many people jittery, and sitting still gets harder.

If you're ill

If you have a cold, a fever or are on antibiotics, don't come. When you're ill a tattoo heals more slowly, and the session is harder to get through. Call the studio as early as you can on +371 67 22 50 55, weekdays from 10:00 to 18:00.

What to bring

• water and something sweet, especially for a longer session;
• a book or headphones;
• a phone charger;
• a jacket or jumper, because sitting or lying still for a long time can leave you chilly.

When you arrive

The studio is at Krišjāņa Barona iela 45/47, in the courtyard; the entrance is through the black metal gate.

First the artist shows you the finished design and applies the stencil. That's the moment to ask for changes or have the stencil moved. If you start to feel dizzy or unwell during the session, tell the artist right away and take a break. How the session goes step by step is in our article on what to know before your first appointment.

The evening after the session

Move your workout to another day, don't drink alcohol and don't soak in the bath. Take the film off after as many hours as the artist told you. Wash your hands before you wash the tattoo, and wash the tattoo itself with antibacterial soap and warm water. If you can, don't sleep on the tattoo for the first few nights. Everything about the first days is in our article on how to look after your new tattoo.