Short answer: before the session, make sure you have eaten, slept and had your coffee, and come with a big smile. The studio starts preparing an hour before you arrive.
How you prepare
- Eat: come after a meal, not on an empty stomach.
- Sleep: be rested.
- Your coffee: have your usual coffee.
- A big smile: a good mood makes the session easier for both of us.
- Clothes: wear something that gives easy access to the area being tattooed.
How the studio prepares
Preparation in the studio starts an hour before the client arrives.
- Cleaning and disinfection of everything that is needed for the session.
- The stencil: the template for your tattoo is prepared in advance.
- The tattoo machine: it is prepared before you arrive.
- The vibe: the atmosphere in the studio is prepared too, because a relaxed client and a calm studio are part of a good result.
What you should see in any studio
Health authorities give a simple checklist for what happens once you are in the chair. Needles and other sharps should be sterile and single-use, and the sterile packaging should be opened in front of you, right before the tattoo. The artist washes their hands and wears fresh single-use gloves, cleans your skin with an antiseptic, uses single-use ink caps, and puts used needles in a puncture-resistant sharps container.
Reused needles, visibly dirty equipment and needles dipped straight into an ink bottle are never acceptable. You should also receive aftercare instructions, both written and spoken.
Before you book
Send your idea through the inquiry form. If you are not sure what to include, read what to include in your first inquiry. You can also read does a tattoo hurt, how much a tattoo costs and how to look after it afterwards.
Source for the checklist: Alberta Health Services, Think before you ink.