How to prepare

• Eat a full meal before you come in
• Stay hydrated the day before and day of
• Get a real night of sleep beforehand
• Shower before arriving
• Moisturize dry skin in the days leading up if you need to
• Wear comfortable clothes with easy access to the tattoo area
• Bring a valid government-issued photo ID
• Charge your phone and headphones for longer sessions
• Bring snacks or drinks if it's going to be a long session

Eating and sleeping well before a session helps with dizziness, sensitivity, excess bleeding, and being able to actually sit through a long appointment without falling apart.

Healthy skin tattoos and heals better. Don’t come in with:

• Fresh sunburns
• Peeling skin
• Open wounds
• Active rashes
• Severe irritation
• Recently damaged skin in the tattoo area

If the skin in the area isn’t safe to tattoo, we’ll have to reschedule.

I’ll shave and prep the area when you get here. You don’t need to do it.

Dry shaving right before is rough on the skin — skip it. If I’ve specifically asked you to shave first:

• Use a clean razor
• Don't irritate the skin
• Skip the harsh exfoliants right before the appointment

Numbing cream is fine for most appointments unless we’ve talked about something different.

Heads up — it can change skin texture, swelling, how the stencil sticks, how consistently the skin takes ink, and how it heals. Results vary depending on the product, placement, timing, your skin type, and how long the session goes.

How to apply

1. 1Apply about 1 hour before unless I’ve told you otherwise.
2. 2Apply a thick, even layer over the tattoo area.
3. 3Cover it with plastic wrap to help it absorb.
4. 4A warm shower or warm compress beforehand can help open pores.
5. 5Keep it covered until you arrive unless I’ve told you otherwise.

Don’t fully rub the cream into the skin before wrapping.

Common lidocaine-based products

• TKTX
• Zensa
• Dr. Numb
• Numb520
• Hush
• Ebanel
• Mad Rabbit Numbing Cream

Not all of them work the same on everyone. Some wear off fast. Some cause redness or irritation. Some increase swelling. Some change how the skin takes ink.

For longer sessions especially:

• Water or electrolyte drinks
• Small snacks
• Headphones
• Phone charger
• Comfortable layers or a hoodie
• Something to watch or listen to for longer sessions

Clothes that make the tattoo area easy to get to. A few straightforward examples:

• Tank tops for arm or shoulder tattoos
• Shorts for leg tattoos
• Loose clothing for larger pieces
• Dark colors when you can (ink can stain fabric)

Avoid tight clothes that’ll rub against the fresh tattoo afterward.

• Tell me if you need a break
• Tell me right away if you start feeling lightheaded, nauseous, or off
• Try to stay still while I'm tattooing
• Respect the cleanliness and safety procedures in the studio

You’ll leave with detailed aftercare instructions, healing guidance, and product recommendations. Aftercare matters as much as the tattoo itself for how it lands long-term.