How to Prepare for Your First Tattoo

Why the Heck Should You Read This?

The simplest answer is you want your first tattoo experience to be a great one and you also want an awesome tattoo that heals up beautifully. NOT following the advice in this blog could result in the opposite scenario. Plus, there are things you should and shouldn’t do before your appointment to make sure your skin is ready for ink. Well cared for skin is easier to tattoo so your artist will thank you and may be able to complete your tattoo quicker. Quicker means less pain for you so that’s a double win! You’ll likely have a way better and faster healing experience by following our advice which ultimately means your healed tattoo will look fantastic. So, take a minute and educate yourself. When you’re admiring your killer healed tattoo, you’ll thank yourself for putting in the extra steps.

Before Your Tattoo Appointment

Do:

• Drink water 💦  

  • Drinking water before your tattoo appointment helps keep your skin hydrated, making it more resilient and easier to work with. Well-hydrated skin takes ink better, reduces discomfort during the session, and can even promote faster healing. Aim to drink plenty of water the day before and the day of your appointment for the best results.

    
    

• Exfoliate & Moisturize 🧴

  • In the week before your appointment, gently exfoliate the area to remove dead skin and moisturize daily (skip these steps the day of your tattoo, though). We’re not talking rub your skin raw kind of exfoliation! Gentle exfoliation only please - just enough to remove dead, flaky skin. Healthy, hydrated and exfoliated skin accepts ink better and heals more beautifully. 

    
    

• Use Sunscreen 😎

  • If you're planning to spend time outside in the days leading up to your appointment, be sure to wear sunscreen - even if you're just driving. We cannot tattoo sunburned skin. It's painful, unsafe, and will require us to reschedule your appointment, which neither of us wants. 

    
    

• Shower 🚿

  • Seriously. Please shower before your appointment. Showering before your tattoo appointment is a simple but crucial step to help prevent infection. Clean skin reduces the risk of introducing bacteria into the tattooed area, protecting both you and your artist. Always arrive freshly showered to ensure a safe, hygienic experience. Again, no exfoliation, moisturizer, or perfumes/colognes the day of your appointment. And 😉, you always get bonus points for not being a stinky client! 

    
    

• Rest up the night before 😴

  • Get a good night's sleep before your appointment. A rested body handles pain better and helps the tattooing process go smoothly. We know you’re super excited about your first tattoo but do your best to catch those 💤s!

    
    

• Eat at least an hour before your appointment 🥑🥩🌾

  • Eat healthy and well the day before and have a good meal about an hour before your appointment, ideally something with complex carbohydrates and protein. This helps stabilize your blood sugar and prevents dizziness or fainting. A well fueled body is better able to handle stress and heal.

    
    

• Wear appropriate clothing 👕

  • Wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothing that allows access to the tattoo area. For back tattoos, wear a button-down shirt that can be turned around. For chest pieces, a tube top or sports bra works well. Maybe we don’t need to say it but please wear super loose pants or shorts if you’re getting a leg tattoo. Not saying your underwear isn’t super cute but let’s try for a little modesty if we can! 

    
    

• Let us know if you are on any medications that may need a doctor’s approval. Ask your doctor when in doubt! 💊 Possibilities:

  • Blood Thinners (e.g., aspirin, warfarin, Plavix)

    • Risk: Increased bleeding during the tattoo, which can dilute ink and affect healing.

  • NSAIDs (e.g., ibuprofen, naproxen)

    • Risk: Mild blood-thinning effect and potential for bruising or prolonged bleeding.

  • Steroids (oral or topical)

    • Risk: Can thin the skin, making it more fragile and prone to damage or slower healing.

  • Antibiotics

    • Risk: Some antibiotics can increase skin sensitivity or cause reactions. If you’re on them for an infection, you should delay your tattoo until you're fully healed.

  • Accutane (isotretinoin)

    • Risk: Severely affects skin healing. You must wait at least 6 months after stopping before getting tattooed.

  • Immunosuppressants (e.g., for autoimmune conditions or organ transplants)

    • Risk: Increased chance of infection and slower healing.

  • Antidepressants or anti-anxiety meds

    • Risk: These usually don’t cause physical complications, but may affect your tolerance to pain or anxiety during the session.

      
      

• Skip the numbing creams 👎

  •  Do NOT apply any numbing creams before your session. These products can affect the skin in unpredictable ways, and we will have to reschedule you if they've been used. If pain is a worry, we’re happy to take breaks as needed. 

    
    

• Get childcare for your kids 👶

  • We love kids but...having them in a tattoo shop is just not a good idea. It’s a safety issue and can be disruptive - obviously your child is a perfect angel so we’re only talking about those other kids  😉 Please find a babysitter!

    
    

• Bring your state issued photo idea 🪪

  • You must bring a valid, state-issued photo ID. No ID, no tattoo. At Blue Bird we do not tattoo anyone under 18 - no exceptions. That’s a shop rule we stand by strongly.

• Bring comfort items 🎧

  • For sessions longer than an hour, bring comfort items like a small blanket, pillow, headphones, book, snacks, or drinks. 

    
    

• Plan extra time to find the shop and a place to park 📍

  • You want to be as calm as possible walking in for your appointment so don’t let directional challenges or parking issues stand in your way!

  • For Blue Bird Tattoo, parking is available in the lot by Redding Medical Equipment at 28 East Walnut Street. From there the shop is just a short walk away. Turn the corner around Redding Medical and follow the sidewalk until you reach our blue door at 10 Baltimore Street.

    
    

• Download the parking app used in the area 🅿️

  • This will alleviate stress! Most apps allow you to add time from your phone so you don’t have to worry about feeding the meter during your session. Also, who carries enough coins these days?

  • In Hanover, PA we use Passport Parking Mobile App. The silver meters allow for up to 12 hours but the yellow meters are only up to 2.5 hours.

    
    

• Let us know if you will need assistance or special accommodations 🦽

  • If you have a physical disability, please let us know before your appointment. This is particularly important if you will be unable to move into our chair. We’re happy to make other arrangements but may need a little time to think of the best option for you.

  • For Blue Bird customers → We do like to make our customers aware that our shop is on the second floor, but we do not have an elevator. If you are unable to walk up stairs, please talk to your artist about other options.

    
    

• Be prepared for payment💲

  • Make sure you have talked with your artist and are clear on the cost of your tattoo. Each artist is different so a thorough discussion about fees is a must.

  • If you plan to use Afterpay, make sure you set it up and are approved for the amount of your tattoo session plus any card fees.

  • Tipping is of course optional but always appreciated

Don’t: (in case we missed anything above)

• Get a sunburn, or spend excessive time in the sun, or in a tanning bed

• Use self tanner or spray tan 

• Drink alcohol the day/night before 

• Take drugs, or over-the-counter medications unless approved by a doctor and your artist 

• Shave

  • unless you’re experienced in shaving your legs or arms, just let us do it. We don’t want you showing up with razor burn and cuts everywhere. We’ll handle that for you, I promise it's not weird or gross to us. 

• Use numbing creams 

• Apply any moisturizers or creams to the area 

• Wear excessive colognes or perfumes

• Overdo it on the caffeine

• Bring your children

• Don’t bring more than one person unless approved by your artist 

Hopefully this information helps! We would be so honored to do your first tattoo and are here to help every step of the way. We’re big on making our customers as comfortable as possible so please don’t be afraid to ask ALL the questions. 

Are you ready? BOOK HERE

*Want to know what to expect during and after your tattoo session? We have you covered → What to Expect During Your 1st Tattoo Session and Tattoo Aftercare Instructions