Getting Started5 min read
Most of the nerves people bring to a first tattoo come from not knowing what the day actually looks like. The session itself is usually the easy part; the preparation is where you can make a real difference to how comfortable you are in the chair.
Eat a proper meal a couple of hours before you arrive and drink water through the day. Being tattooed on an empty stomach is the single most common reason people start to feel light-headed. Skip alcohol the night before — it thins your blood, which makes the skin harder to work on and can affect how cleanly the ink settles.
Wear something that gives easy access to the area being tattooed and that you do not mind getting ink on. If the piece is on your ribs, thigh or back, loose clothing you can move out of the way beats anything fitted. Bring headphones, a charger and something to occupy your mind — long sessions pass much faster when you are not counting minutes.
Bring your reference material too, even if you have already sent it over. Photos of placement you like, handwriting you want copied, or objects with personal meaning all help at the final check before the stencil goes on. Once the stencil is placed, take your time looking at it in the mirror — that is the moment to adjust the angle or size, not halfway through the line work.
At The Art Scribe every appointment is private, so there is no pressure to rush any of this. Ask questions, take breaks when you need them, and leave with your aftercare properly explained.
