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• To step
• Method 1 of 2: Make sure you are physically prepared
• Method 2 of 2: Planning the perfect tattoo

Getting a tattoo can be an exciting, but also painful experience. To ensure that your tattooing experience is successful and as painless as possible, there are a number of things you can do to prepare ahead of time. Make sure you understand the process, your body is well prepared, and that you are happy with your design when you go to your tattoo appointment.

To step

Method 1 of 2: Make sure you are physically prepared

1. Hydrate yourself. Make sure you are well hydrated before getting a tattoo. Drink plenty of water for the last 24 hours and avoid dehydration.
   • The amount of water you should drink to be properly hydrated depends on your specific body. Some experts recommend 8 drinks a day, but your body may need more than that.
   • Skin that is well hydrated will be better able to get tattooed. This means that the skin surface will absorb the ink more easily, making application easier than on dried out skin.
2. Avoid diluting your blood. To limit bleeding during the tattoo, avoid products that thin the blood for 24 hours before a tattoo. This means that you should avoid alcohol before getting a tattoo.
   • Also, avoid taking aspirin 24 hours beforehand. Aspirin is a blood thinner, so having aspirin in your system while getting a tattoo will make you bleed more.
3. Wear comfortable clothes. Depending on the size of your tattoo, you may need to spend a few hours at the tattoo shop. It's nice to have comfortable clothes on while dealing with the inconvenience of getting a tattoo.
   • Comfortable, loose clothing may also be necessary so that your tattoo artist can get to the area where the tattoo will be located. If you are getting a tattoo on an area of ​​your body that is usually covered by clothing, make sure you are wearing something that will allow your artist to reach it easily.
   • For example, if you are getting a tattoo on your leg, wear shorts or a skirt so that the tattoo artist can easily reach the area. If you are getting a tattoo on your upper arm, wear a shirt without sleeves.
4. Eat something before your appointment. It's important to eat enough food before your appointment so that you don't get light-headed while getting your tattoo. The pain from a tattoo can be bad enough; you don't want to add to it by getting light-headed or passing out.
   • Having low blood sugar can increase the physical response to getting a tattoo, making the pain more likely to pass out.
   • Eating a hearty meal before getting a tattoo will give you enough energy and stamina to withstand the pain of getting a tattoo.
   • If your tattoo appointment is very long, bring a small snack, such as a granola bar. Your artist will be happy to take a short break so you can stay well-fed.
5. Prep your skin. You don't have to do much with your skin for a tattoo. If you have dry skin, use your regular moisturizing lotion a week in advance to make sure your skin is in good condition. Also avoid getting sunburn on the area you are going to get tattooed; this means wearing sunscreen when you leave the house.
   • While the area to be tattooed will need to be shaved, most tattoo artists don't want you to do this yourself beforehand. They prefer to do it themselves before tattooing you to ensure that there will be no irritation on the skin that could interfere with the tattoo.

Method 2 of 2: Planning the perfect tattoo

1. Think about a design. The design of a tattoo shows a part of you; this part will be presented to the world every day. Keep this in mind and let your creativity run wild to come up with a design that will be unique and show the world what you want. For example, this design can use a symbol that has special meaning to you, or an animal that you have always loved, or it can use colors that mark an important time in your life.
   • Have a design in mind before scheduling an appointment with a tattoo artist.
   • Also consider the size of the design as you plan it. If this will be your first tattoo, you may want to get it a bit smaller. This will help you understand its pain and how you respond to it without committing to several hours of tattooing.
   • Come up with a design that you will also be happy with in the future. While you can have a tattoo removed, this is a very long and very painful process that can be both expensive and time consuming. For this reason, it is good to see your tattoo as permanent from the outset so that you can come up with a tattoo that you will be happy with in the future too.
   • You can either come up with a specific design in advance, or you can let your artist design it for you (based on a concept); this is up to you.
2. Consult a tattoo artist. With your design in mind, find a tattoo artist you'd like to work with. You can find one through a friend or acquaintance, such as if your friend worked with a tattoo artist they loved, or you can search online for tattoo artists in your area. Once you find an artist, look at online reviews and their tattoo portfolio (online or in their store). If you like their style and reputation, and you think their style would suit your design idea, schedule a consultation with them.
   • Most artists will draw your tattoo design first so that you can approve it at the start of your real appointment. If there is something about the design that you are not satisfied with, feel free to discuss it with your artist so they can make it exactly the way you want it.
   • Some artists are in high demand and not available for a consultation at short notice. You will then have to book an appointment with them several months in advance. If you like an artist's work enough it may be worth waiting for them.
3. Think about placement. Although you can get a tattoo anywhere on the skin, some areas are more painful than others. Think about finding a spot for your first tattoo that is more fleshy and less sensitive. This means an area that is not directly on a bone and is not particularly sensitive.
   • For example, a tattoo on your foot can be more painful than a tattoo on your calf because a foot tattoo comes in direct contact with more bone.
   • Areas that are particularly sensitive include the feet, inner arms and thighs, and ribs. As a rule of thumb, avoid areas where the bones are close to the skin and areas that get little sunlight. Areas that get little sunlight are usually more sensitive, so a tattoo will hurt more.
4. Keep the pain in mind. It is good to understand what to expect from the pain before you start. This will help prepare you mentally for the experience. Many people describe the pain as fingernails scratching sunburnt skin. The pain is usually dull but can become sharp when the needle touches a nerve, gets close to a bone, or passes over the same area several times.
   • There are topical anesthetics that some tattoo artists will apply to the skin to numb the pain if it's too bad for you. However, these anesthetics can dull the color of the tattoo and increase the healing time of the tattoo. Ask your tattoo artist about this, but be aware that not all artists will be open to using anesthetics.
5. Prepare for aftercare. Plan to stay out of the water for several weeks after getting your tattoo and to keep your tattoo out of the sun. This means that you should choose a good time to get your tattoo so that you don't have to change the rest of your schedule to accommodate the healing of your tattoo. For example, if you're going on vacation and plan to do a lot of swimming, it probably isn't a good idea to get a tattoo right before that.
   • Your artist will provide you with further follow-up instructions. This may include when to remove possible dressings, when to clean your tattoo, what to do, and what to look out for to make sure it is healing properly. If you have further questions, you can always ask your artist while you are still in the store, or you can call the store later to ask further questions.