A little preparation goes a long way toward making your appointment comfortable and your tattoo heal well. Here's what I'd want every client to know before they come in.

Eat a proper meal beforehand

This is the most important one and the most commonly skipped. Getting tattooed on an empty stomach is a bad idea — your blood sugar drops during a session and that's what causes people to feel faint, nauseous, or dizzy. Eat a full meal within a couple hours of your appointment. Bring snacks for longer sessions. Seriously.

Stay hydrated

Drink water the day before and the morning of. Hydrated skin takes ink better, holds up better during the session, and heals faster. Simple as that.

Avoid alcohol the night before

A big night out before a tattoo appointment is not the move. Alcohol thins your blood which means more bleeding during the session, which means ink doesn't sit as cleanly in the skin. Come in rested and sober.

Wear the right clothing

Think about where your tattoo is going and dress so I can actually reach it comfortably. Thigh tattoo — wear shorts or a loose skirt. Shoulder piece — wear a tank top or something with easy sleeve access. Ribcage — wear something you can pull up or remove easily. Don't wear your favourite outfit either, ink can transfer.

Moisturise the area in the days leading up

Dry flaky skin is harder to tattoo than soft hydrated skin. Start moisturising the area a few days before your appointment. Just don't apply anything the morning of — come in with clean dry skin.

Know your idea but stay open

Come with a clear sense of what you want — references, placement, size, vibe. The more direction you can give me upfront the better. But also trust the process. I might have suggestions that make the design work better on your body and I'll always walk you through my thinking before we start.

Relax

I know first tattoos especially can feel like a big deal. But I promise the vibe in my studio is calm and I'm not going to rush you. If you need a break during the session just say so. We'll get there.