HOW TO prepare for YOUR TATTOO
1st time getting tattooed?
Getting your first tattoo can be nerve racking, we’ve all been there! You don’t know what to expect, is it going to be painful? Is the tattoo going to come out as I want? What should I wear?
Don’t worry! Chaos Art Collective has been thoroughly designed with customer comfort in mind so you can get the best experience possible.
Keep reading below to find out the answers for all the possible questions you might have, even if you have previous experience, you might find some helpfull tips
KEY POINTS
01. Rest well
Just as important as having a good rest, having a good breakfast/food before your session to have plenty of energy for the day is essential
04. What to Avoid
Avoid alcohol, parties etc the night before your appointment. Alcohol thins your blood and will make everything harder for you and your artists
It is super important that you have a good night of sleep before your session, it makes a huge difference.
Try to have at least 7-8 hours of sleep
02. Strong breakfast
03. Snacks and fluids
We offer coffee, drinks and sweets, but is always a good idea to come prepared with extra snacks, sugary drinks etc to get you through the day
1st tattoo guide
How painful is a tattoo?
It’s hard to explain the sensation of a tattoo to someone who has never experienced it, but if you ask anyone, I bet they’ll tell you it wasn’t as bad as they thought.
It feels like a light scratch, someone pressing on your skin a bit hard, some people describe it as a cat scratch, as certain areas can have a bit or a sharp/burning feeling, nothing crazy I promise
Having said that, there’s certain areas you probably should avoid for your first tattoo such as your neck for instance.
Check the pain chart for an estimated idea of which areas are more painful, however it depends entirely on the person, we all have different levels of tolerance
Numbing cream - yes or no?
Personally we do not recommend it, unless it is a very painful area and a medium/small tattoo. Even the best brands of cream only last 3-4 hours, after that, the pain multiplies beyond normal tattoo pain, is not worth it.
There’s a few things you could/should do to make your tattoo session a little easier
Have a good night of sleep. I can’t stress this enough, you don’t to want be tired before even starting your session. Getting a tattoo, specially if it’s a full day session, requires more energy than you’d imagine. Resting well will make your experience much better and your tattoo less painful
Shower before your session, stay fresh for your appointment and make the experience comfortable for your artist
Have some food before your session. Also super important, again, you want to have plenty of energy for the session
Wear loose/appropiate clothing for the area you are getting tattooed, it can be a long day, you want to be as comfy as possible
Painkillers right before the session, such as Nurofen+ (with a tiny bit of codeine) or even normal ibuprofen can help with the pain and swelling of the tattoo. Stay away from Aspirin
Before the session
What to avoid
Avoid sunbathing/taning beds/burning before your session, as the skin will damaged and we won’t be able to tattoo
Avoid drinking alcohol the day before your session. Alcohol and other substances can thin your blood and provoke you too bleed more than usual and irritate your skin
During the session
Stay hydrated during the session, keep some water or sugary drinks with you. Same thing with snacks, they help massively to get you the energy you need to get through the day. We always keep some at the studio in case you need them :)
Don’t hesitate to ask for breaks whenever you need it, don’t be shy, your artist will be more than happy to stop for a few minutes. Too painful? Want to stretch your legs? Go to the toilet? Cigarette? All absolutely valid reasons, don’t be afraid to ask anytime
If you follow these simple steps you’ll have a much better experience and the day will go easy.