Self-Preparation

Self-Preparation

♦    The importance of eating

♦    Being physically ready

♦    Things not to do before getting tattooed

♦    What to bring with you

Life seems to go much easier when you are prepared. It is just easier to get things done that way. It’s the same with getting a tattoo. You could just walk into a random tattoo shop and pick something off of the wall without any prepa­ration. What if the tattooist doesn’t know what he is doing? What if you can’t sit there during the tattoo because you are hungry and too tired? You will want to be ready when the needle is coming at you.

There are a few basic things to know that can help you have a comfortable tattoo experience. Getting a tattoo is really very simple as long as you follow these basic steps. In this chapter we will take a look at what you can do to prepare yourself to make your tattoo go smoothly, and a few things that you may want to avoid so you won’t be asked to come back to the shop another time.

Eat!

We all need to eat. Hunger can make any situation more difficult than it needs to be. A tattoo can be a big step for you. A good meal is a great way to celebrate this new change in your life. It can help put you in a good mood, so treat yourself so that you are more positive for your tattoo. Having food in your stomach is a good idea when you get tattooed. Let’s take a closer look at the benefits of eating as well as why you need to eat.

Why You Should Eat

It is important to eat at least three hours before getting a tattoo. It is not uncommon for the tattooist or floor person to ask you if you have eaten in the last three hours and tell you to come back after you have had something to eat. Eating a decent-sized meal before getting a tattoo will help you relax during the tattoo process. You will want to be as relaxed as possible, and it’s a good excuse to eat some good food.

If you try to get tattooed on an empty stomach, you may find that it is hard to concentrate. You will find it hard to sit still so the tat- tooist can do his job. It is uncomfortable enough getting a tattoo, let alone sitting there with a growling stomach. If your blood- sugar level is down, you also run a higher risk of passing out during the tattoo. Nobody likes passing out during a tattoo.

It is better to eat before you go to the shop. If you are getting a tattoo that will take a few hours, you will definitely want to plan ahead. You won’t want to stop mid-tattoo to get something to eat. Also, some tattoo shops are located far away from any fast food. Ordering delivery will take too much time, as you may be finished by the time the food gets there.

When planning what to eat before you get your tattoo, you will want to keep in mind the various reactions you have to different foods. The point of eating before getting a tat­too is so that you will be more comfortable and will be able to relax. You will want to think before you eat. For example, stay away from any food that will give you gas or heartburn. Beans may be your comfort food but those around you won’t be com­fortable. Trying new foods may be risky, too, as you don’t know how your system will react. An emergency run to the bathroom during a tattoo can be a little embarrassing. Also, stay away from foods loaded with sugar. You will need to sit still, and too much sugar may make you antsy.

No Caffeine!

Coffee is a very popular beverage among tattooists. It can help them to wake up and to keep tattooing. It is not, however, a good beverage to have before getting a tattoo. Caffeine will most likely make you jumpy. As the tattoo process goes on for longer periods of time, it can become more difficult to sit still. Caffeine will only make that worse.

Try drinking something that is caffeine-free. Chamomile tea is good for getting tattooed, as it can make you feel more relaxed. Natural juices that aren’t overloaded with sugar are good. Water is the best thing to drink, as there isn’t anything in there to make you jumpy.

Be Hydrated

Being dehydrated during a tattoo can be very uncomfortable. It can keep you from ignoring the pain just like being hungry. It’s good to drink a good amount of water while you are getting tat­tooed. Water is easy to clean if you spill it, so many shops will allow you to have it at the tattoo station. But try to not drink too much, or you might need frequent bathroom breaks.

Be Well Rested

Being tired when you get a tattoo can make you more susceptible to the pain. You will find it very hard to sit still. As you know, being tired or exhausted can make you grumpy and irritable. That is not how you want to be while sitting under the needle. Getting tattooed can make it worse, and it may make you want to stop or be miserable toward your friends or your tattooist.

You may want to plan to have an early night on the eve of getting a large tattoo. Going on a bender the night before your appoint­ment can really make for a bad experience. Getting tattooed with a hangover is not fun at all. You may end up getting sick, which is never a good time. Also, sitting there with a buzzing machine in your ear while your head aches can make the tattoo process seem to last forever. Try to plan ahead so that you are ready to be in the shop for your appointment instead of at home, sick in bed.

Be Clean

Tattooing is an intimate and sterile process. You will want to be clean for the tattoo so you won’t run the risk of infection. Tattoo shops put a lot of effort into being a safe and sterile environment for your safety. It doesn’t make much sense to jeopardize that by

bringing some unnecessary filth into the situation. As you saw in Chapter 8, you expect that the tattooist comes to work nice and fresh everyday so you won’t have to deal with some­thing funky while getting tattooed. Likewise, coming straight to the tat­too shop from the construction site or aerobics class may not be such a great idea.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, overdosing on perfume or deodorant can have a negative consequence, too. You will want the tattooist to take the correct amount of time with your tattoo no matter what the size. You don’t want him to rush because he can’t breathe. Replacing a shower with an extra dose of cologne is a popular thing to do, but it really just makes the situation worse. Try to relax and plan ahead to get it all done right the first time.

No Drugs, No Alcohol :((((

In the United States, it is illegal to get tattooed while you are under the influence. Some shops will turn you away if they think you have been drinking. The reason for this is to protect you.

They are protecting you from ‘ making a bad choice that you might live to regret. Many people get “liquid cour­age” after a few drinks and think they can do anything. Permanent decisions are better made while sober.

Another reason why drunks are turned away is that they can be

very loud and obnoxious. They can make it uncomfortable for other people who are getting tattooed in the shop. This also guards against those who have quick personality changes and get

violent or just rude and angry. Drunks don’t have the sturdiest of legs and may fall down and hurt themselves or someone else in the

shop. If you have been drinking, getting a tattoo may make you upchuck, which can make for a nasty situation.

You must also stay away from drugs when getting a tattoo. Marijuana will make the feeling of the tattoo hurt much more than if you are sober. Although painkillers are legally given for cosmetic surgery, it is still uncertain if you can legally get them for getting large tattoos. One reason for this might be that doc­tors don’t make any money from tattoos, unless they are removing them. However, receiving painkillers to ease the pain of tattooing seems fair, considering that most cosmetic surgery is along the same line of vanity as tattooing. Access to prescription painkillers for getting tattooed is something to keep an eye on, as getting a large tattoo on the ribs can be very difficult to deal with.

Spray Tan

If you know you are going to get a tattoo in the near future, stay away from self-tanning products. There are many physical reasons to stay away from fake tans when you want a tattoo. Your skin will have a different texture, which makes it difficult to tattoo. The stencil will wipe away much faster than normal, leaving the tattoo- ist guessing on what to tattoo, and this may mess up your design.

The chemicals in self-tanners may keep your tattoo from healing properly. You will want your skin to be as clean and natural as it can be when you get your tattoo. It will help the outcome of the tattoo.

No Sunburns

Stay out of the sun before and after you get a tattoo. Sunburned skin is already irritated and trying to heal itself. If you try to get a tattoo on a sunburn, your tattoo may not heal well and you may need to return for touch-ups.

Your skin will already be very sensitive. Getting a tattoo on sensi­tive skin will hurt much more than normal. Also, a tattooist needs to wipe the area with a paper towel to absorb the excess ink and what little blood comes out. This will be hard to deal with if the entire area is burning in the first place. You can’t get a tattoo over blisters, either.

After a sunburn heals, the dead skin will peel off like a shedding lizard’s. This dead skin can cause a huge headache for your tattooist during a tattoo. If the skin isn’t noticeably peeling, the dead skin will still wipe away. It will take with it the stencil or marker the tattooist needs to outline your tattoo. It will make a huge mess of your tattoo. The dead skin will also absorb the ink and make it more difficult for your tattooist to see what he or she is doing. Try to stay out of the sun when you have the itch to get a tattoo.

Leave Your Problems at Home

You can’t avoid having problems. That’s the way things go. Some­times these problems can make you want to vent by getting a tattoo. The slight pain can be therapeutic as it forces you to think about the tattoo pain and not your other difficulties. It can really clear your head for a short period of time, which may help you get some balance.

When getting your tattoo, if you let these outside difficulties into the tattoo shop, it may impair your ability to choose a design that you will be happy with for the rest of your life. You don’t want to end up with a severed-head tattoo after a breakup with your significant other. If your head is too clouded, come back another time when you can make the right decision.

Physically bringing your problems to the shop, as in bringing the person you are at odds with into the tattoo shop, isn’t the best thing to do, either. Tattoo shops are not large places, so any argu­ing is very noticeable. You may be asked to come back later if you disturb the other clients or distract the tattooist. It will be easier for you to concentrate and sit still during the tattoo if your prob­lems aren’t staring you in the face. It’s better for everyone if you come to the tattoo shop without any baggage.

Children

A tattoo shop is not a very good place to bring your children. Tattoo shops will often harbor adult-oriented conversations that most parents would not want their kids to hear. Tattooists are also known for having potty mouths. If the shop does piercing, there may be photos of genitals with piercings out in the open for all to see. You may be exposing your children to new things that you may not think they are ready for. Many tattooists have kids, so they can understand the troubles of having them in the shop.

Younger children have a tendency to cry and scream, which can disrupt the entire shop and make it difficult for other clients to get their tattoos in peace. You may be asked to leave and come back without the kids. Many young children don’t understand what’s happening, and they will start to cry if they think their mommy or daddy is being hurt. Also, small children may try to climb on you or accidentally bump into you while you are get­ting tattooed. You may end up with a few mistakes in your tattoo, which may not make for a good day in the end.

Most shops are rather strict about not allowing anyone under the age of 18 in the shop. You are better off leaving the kids at home, because most likely they will get bored after the first five minutes anyway.

Bring a Buddy

For your first tattoo, you may want to bring a friend along for moral support. She can give you her opinion and help you make your decisions about what to get tattooed and who to do the tat­too for you. It’s nice to have a little backup. Try to bring a friend and not a significant other. Oftentimes significant others will become overbearing and possessive of you. This can lead to your not getting exactly what you want, like his name or a tattoo that he would get instead of a design you were thinking of in the first place. Lovers have a way of doing that.

A good friend is nice to have with you during the tattoo, if it is possible. He can hold your hand if you are nervous or if the tattoo is more sensitive or more difficult to deal with than you thought. It’s nice to have him there to get you things, like water or a maga­zine, when you can’t get up during the tattoo. Talking with a good friend can help the time go by faster and make your experi­ence much more pleasant.

Personal Music Player

If you don’t want to bring a friend with you or talk to anyone dur­ing your tattoo, you can always bring a personal music player like an iPod. Most shops will already have music playing, but it may be something you don’t particularly care for. It’s easier to have your music to make you feel more comfortable.

Many shops nowadays are starting to have TVs in the tattoo area. TV is great to watch while you are getting tattooed as long as you are into the program. TV makes the time go by much faster. With the advent of small portable movie players like the PSP, video iPods, and iPhones, you can watch whatever you want as long as you have earphones.

Portable video games may work to help pass the time, as well. If you can play a portable video game without moving around too much, you are in business. Just don’t move while you are getting tattooed or you may mess up your tattoo.

Something to Read

Some people like to read while they get tattooed. They find it helps to focus their minds on something other than the feeling of getting tattooed and also helps pass the time. Magazines are good to have because during the tattoo it may be difficult to focus on reading but you can still look at the pictures. Most shops will have stacks of tattoo magazines so you can look for your next idea.

You may find reading a little difficult to do during a tattoo. This depends on the placement of the tattoo. If you are getting tat­tooed on your arm, you won’t be able to flip the page. If you are getting your chest tattooed, your book will get in the way of the

tattooist, as his head will be right next to yours. Newspapers can take up too much space and a heavy book may be too large to hold. It is up to you to figure out what you will need or want to keep you entertained during the tattoo. Many clients simply prefer to sit, relax, and meditate to help them through the tattoo process.

The Least You Need to Know

♦    A good meal before a tattoo will help you relax.

♦    Being well rested for your tattoo will make it easier for you to get tattooed.

♦    You cannot legally get a tattoo while you are under the influence.

♦    Your skin has to be healthy in order to get a tattoo.

.