Drink water and bring a drink as well, some people find a sugar drink like juice or soda will help them deal with the discomfort of the tattoo. Staying well hydrated makes your skin more resilient, which will allow it to endure longer tattoo sessions, helping ink go into the skin better and help you heal faster and healthier.

Just as you should hydrate your skin from the inside by drinking water, you should you hydrate your skin from the outside with moisturizer.

Lotion or natural oils such as coconut oil, apply to your skin once or twice a day for the week leading up to your tattoo session. This will keep it hydrated and soft, keeping your skin hydrated is one of the most critical measures to take because it will make it easier on you and the tattoo artist. 

 

If you’re into any type of UV light :sun or tanning beds, you will want to apply SPF to the area where you are planning to get tattooed. This will protect the skin making it easier to tattoo and the ink will show bright and clear on the un-sun-kissed skin. Sunburned skin can’t be tattooed, so be careful.

If you choose to shave, please be careful. You can't tattoo over a fresh cut, and you will want to be fresh shaved as of that day or night before. If you have long hair in the area you may want to take electric buzzer to shorten it, then the artist can razor it to bare skin. This is done for several reasons, one is so that you don't get an ingrown hair.

If you opt for waxing, make sure you do it well in advance of the date of your tattoo, but not so far away that your hair will have time to grow back. Your skin needs time to heal from waxing, before you can get a tattoo.

Removing impurities from the pores in your skin is another way of making the procedure more comfortable for you and easier for your tattoo artist. Exfoliate gently without irritating the skin by using a loofah or an over-the-counter exfoliant. Exfoliating will help the moisturizer do its work. But not too close to the date of your tattoo, at least 2-3 days before would be a good time to stop.

Get a good nights sleep, the better rested you are the better you will take the tattoo.

Weight lifting and strenuous exercise should also be avoided at least 2 days before the tattoo session. Putting strain on your muscles can cause swelling and soreness which may exacerbate the sensation of the tattoo and impact healing time. It can also cause your skin to stretch slightly which can end up with your tattoo being distorted when your skin returns to normal.

Dress comfortably and appropriately.  Avoid tight and constricting clothing. Pay some mind to where you will be getting tattooed and make sure the clothing you wear leaves the area easily accessible. Bring a sweater or blanket, the shop is kept cold for safety  and comfort reasons.

Getting a tattoo is exciting, but getting tattooed can get boring. Bringing some non-intrusive entertainment which won’t disrupt your tattoo artist is a great way to pass the time and distract yourself from the pain. You’re more than welcome to bring portable entertainment like an mp3 player, tablet, or laptop for some passive entertainment. Movies, music, and TV are fine, but anything which requires motion – like playing video games – is not permitted, so leave the portable games at home.

Don’t schedule commitments immediately after your tattoo session. If you are in a rush you will create an air of urgency, and your tattoo artist’s work may be affected.

Do not use any numbing balms or topical creams on the area being tattooed. While it is acceptable to take over-the-counter pain relievers during your tattoo session, never use drugs or alcohol to numb the pain as they can lead to various complications and jeopardize your safety and the quality of your tattoo.

Tattoos are art and depending on the type of design and the way the day is going, your artist may not always be on time or have given you an accurate time frame. Some artists are just not great in this area when it comes to managing time, others may just be bad at estimating time. Either way you want to be understanding if your appointment is at 12:00 pm and you don't get started until 1:00pm. Don't hesitate to ask your artist for an up to date time frame once you have been there for a while. If they are running way behind you may have time to leave for food or to run an errand.