Preparing for a Tattoo

A Guide to Readiness of Body, Mind, and Skin

A ready body. A calm mind. A clean, cared-for skin — because tattooing is an art that begins with intention.

Before getting a tattoo, choosing the right artist and studio is the essential first step. Look for a clean, professional space and an artist you trust — someone who understands your style, honors your intentions, and pays deep attention to detail. A tattoo is more than an image; it is a quiet collaboration between art, body, and meaning.

Please note: You must be at least 18 years old to legally receive a tattoo in most countries, including the United States. Minors are not permitted, even with parental consent.

Once you’ve made your choice, the next step is just as important: preparation.Tattooing is not merely ink on the skin, but a shared journey. Proper preparation reduces risks, enhances healing, and creates space for a calm, meaningful experience — where both care and art can come fully alive.

To ensure a peaceful, beautiful, and safe tattoo experience, mindful preparation is essential. We’ve divided the guidance into two key parts:

✅ Things to Do – to prepare your body, mind, and skin

❌ Things to Avoid – to eliminate risks and support healing

Take a moment to read with care — then let your tattoo unfold with presence and intention.

✅ Things to Do

No.	What to Do	Details
1	Understand the Risks and Potential Complications	Before getting a tattoo, take time to research possible risks — such as infection, allergic reactions to ink, slow or uneven healing, or individual skin sensitivities. Being informed allows you to make confident decisions, plan appropriately, and approach the process with peace of mind. Understanding the risks isn’t about fear — it’s about respect. Respect for your body, for the artist’s work, and for the lasting mark of meaning you’re about to carry.
2	Get enough rest	Sleep at least 7–8 hours the night before. A well-rested body can better tolerate pain, reduces dizziness or fatigue during tattooing, and supports optimal natural healing.
3	Stay hydrated	Moisturized skin allows smoother needlework and better ink absorption. Drink clean water (filtered, bottled, or boiled), low-sodium mineral water, or mild herbal teas like chamomile or unsweetened chrysanthemum. Avoid carbonated drinks, strong tea, coffee, and sweet beverages. Don’t overdrink on the day of your session to avoid frequent restroom breaks and interruptions.
4	Eat nutritious food	Eat light, easy-to-digest meals like rice, whole grain bread, boiled potatoes, eggs, fish, skinless chicken breast, steamed carrots, pumpkin, bananas, apples, melons, or dry-roasted grains. Avoid fried, raw, spicy, or gas-producing foods. Eat at least 1–2 hours before your appointment.
5	Prepare your skin	Avoid shaving, scrubbing, or peeling your skin before the session. Moisturize your skin 1–2 days beforehand (but not on the tattoo day). Healthy, hydrated skin without irritation supports smoother tattooing, better ink retention, faster healing, and less inflammation.
6	Shower and maintain hygiene	Clean your skin of dirt, sweat, and bacteria to reduce infection risk and ensure a clean canvas for your tattoo.
7	Wear comfortable clothing that allows access to the tattoo area	This makes it easier for the artist to work and helps avoid friction on the tattooed area. For example, wear shorts if tattooing your thigh, or a loose top if tattooing your back.
8	Consult a doctor if you have medical conditions or drug allergies	For example, diabetes, epilepsy, allergies, or past drug reactions. This helps assess risks and whether tattooing is safe in your case. Some may need to postpone or avoid tattooing altogether.
9	Calm your mind and come alone	Breathe deeply, listen to soft music, and welcome the experience. Attending alone encourages focus, reduces distractions, and minimizes contamination risks. Bring essentials like ID, earphones, water, snacks, or personal items.
10	Reschedule if you're unwell	If you feel sick—have a fever, sore throat, or flu-like symptoms—your body’s immune response is weaker, and healing may be slower. It's safer to postpone for your own health and the artist's safety.

Summary: Preparing for a tattoo is more than just a physical checklist — it’s a mindful act of care for your body, mind, and skin. Getting enough rest, staying hydrated, eating well, and maintaining hygiene all help reduce risks, support healing, and allow the ink to settle beautifully. When your body is ready, your mind is calm, and your skin is healthy — the art can fully emerge in every stroke of ink.

❌ Things to Avoid

No.	What to Avoid	Details
1	Alcohol	Avoid alcohol for at least 24 hours before and after your tattoo session. Alcohol increases blood flow and slows clotting, which can lead to excessive bleeding, swelling, and poor ink retention during tattooing. It also interferes with the skin’s natural healing process, potentially delaying recovery and increasing the risk of inflammation. Steering clear of alcohol both before and after the session supports safer healing, better ink results, and a more comfortable experience overall.
2	Medications that affect tattooing	such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or NSAIDs Anti-inflammatory medications like these can reduce blood clotting, leading to increased bleeding during tattooing and possibly interfering with the body’s natural healing process. This can result in slower recovery, higher risk of inflammation, or compromised ink quality. If you’re currently taking any of these medications, do not stop them on your own. Always consult your doctor beforehand to assess safety and prevent complications. Informing your tattoo artist and preparing mindfully is a way of honoring both your body and the art to come.
3	Caffeinated drinks	Such as coffee, strong tea, or energy drinks. Avoid 6–12 hours before your session—they stimulate the heart and increase pain sensitivity.
4	Smoking	It is recommended to avoid smoking for at least 12–24 hours before and after your tattoo session. Nicotine and other harmful chemicals in cigarettes can impair blood circulation, reducing oxygen supply to skin cells. This slows the healing process, increases the risk of infection, and may compromise the long-term appearance of your tattoo. Smoking can also lead to drier skin and cause the ink to fade more quickly or heal unevenly.
5	Certain Vitamins and Supplements	Avoid certain vitamins and supplements for at least 1–3 days before your tattoo session. These include vitamin E, fish oil, turmeric, ginseng, garlic extract, and other substances known to have blood-thinning effects. They can increase bleeding during the tattoo process, slow down healing, or cause excessive bruising. These effects may interfere with the body’s natural recovery and affect the quality of the healed tattoo.If you take any of these regularly for medical reasons, consult your doctor before making changes.
6	Blood-Circulating Foods	Examples: Greasy foods, deep-fried dishes, raw garlic, fresh chili, ginseng, gingerThese foods can stimulate blood circulation, which may increase bleeding during tattooing. Excessive bleeding can dilute the ink, make the process more painful, and increase the risk of inflammation or irritation. Recommendation: Avoid these foods for at least 24 hours before your tattoo appointment to help maintain stable circulation and ensure your skin is in the best condition for ink absorption and healing.
7	Foods or medicines you're allergic to	Avoid items that trigger allergies—dairy, nuts, seafood, or painkillers—to prevent reactions or infections during tattooing.
8	Intense exercise	Avoid for at least 12 hours before your session. Exercise increases blood circulation and body heat, which can cause excessive bleeding and heightened pain.
9	Sleep deprivation	Never arrive sleep-deprived. Fatigue lowers pain tolerance and increases risk of fainting or distress during tattooing.
10	Tattooing over problematic skin	If the area to be tattooed has rashes, open wounds, scrapes, active acne, surgical scars, or localized skin conditions, it’s best to wait until the skin has fully healed — typically 2–4 weeks for minor issues, and 6–12 months for deeper surgical scars or raised scar tissue, depending on individual healing. Tattooing over compromised skin can cause poor ink retention, color distortion, increased irritation, inflammation, or risk of infection. It may also lead to unintended scarring and affect the overall appearance of the artwork. Healthy skin is essential for beautiful, lasting results. Waiting for your skin to fully recover is a meaningful act of respect — for your body, for the artist’s work, and for the story the ink is about to tell.
11	Getting tattooed while pregnant or breastfeeding	For the safety of both mother and baby, it’s recommended to avoid tattooing during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Hormonal fluctuations, lowered immunity, and changes in blood circulation during this period may increase the risk of infection or allergic reactions. Furthermore, there is insufficient scientific evidence to confirm that tattoo ink poses no risk to the fetus or through breastmilk. If a tattoo is desired, it’s best to wait until after childbirth and the breastfeeding period has ended.
12	Recent vaccinations	Wait at least 48 hours after vaccination to prevent overlapping body reactions like fever or body aches.
13	Menstruation	Avoid tattooing during your period. Hormonal shifts make the skin more sensitive and pain perception higher.
14	Additional Persons	Please refrain from bringing others to your tattoo session. Coming alone helps maintain a calm atmosphere, protects the cleanliness and privacy of the space, and allows the artist to work with full focus and care. Minimizing distractions ensures that both the process and the result can be as intentional and meaningful as possible.
15	Skin Stress from Sun, Chemicals, or Tanning	Avoid activities that weaken or irritate the skin — including laser treatments, exfoliation, fruit acids, artificial tanning, or strong sun exposure that can cause sunburn. Pause these for at least 1–2 weeks before your tattoo. Strong, healthy skin allows for smoother ink application, faster healing, and reduces the risk of irritation, inflammation, or uneven results.
16	Chemical or sunscreen use on tattoo area	Avoid on the tattoo day—sprays, whitening lotions, and exfoliants may block ink penetration or cause irritation.
17	Covering an unhealed tattoo	Wait at least 6–8 weeks after the previous tattoo to prevent inflammation and ink rejection.
18	Keloid-Prone Skin	If you have a history of keloids — raised scars that grow beyond the original wound — or tend to develop thick, abnormal scarring from piercings, surgeries, or cuts, it’s important to consult a medical professional before getting tattooed. Tattooing over keloid-prone skin may lead to distortion, prolonged irritation, or unwanted texture. Careful consideration is a form of self-respect.
19	Emotional stress or instability	Inform your artist if you're highly anxious. Mental state affects pain tolerance and the overall tattoo experience.
20	All recreational drugs	Including cannabis, benzodiazepines, or stimulants—they alter perception, reduce body control, and increase health risks during tattooing.

Summary: Avoiding certain substances, behaviors, and conditions before your tattoo is a powerful act of respect — for your body, for the artist, and for the art itself. These simple acts of restraint reduce risk, support healing, and help the ink settle cleanly and beautifully. When you remove distractions and stressors from the process, you create space for the tattoo to emerge with clarity, care, and intention.

Preparing for a tattoo is more than a checklist — it is a form of respect. Respect for your body, for the artist, and for the sacredness of what will stay with you.

Good art is never created alone. When you arrive rested, nourished, and open — you are co-creating something timeless.

A smooth session, vibrant ink, and peaceful healing begin long before the needle touches your skin.

In your awareness, the art becomes whole.

In your care, the ink comes alive.

Prepare with Stillness

Download our mindful pre-tattoo checklist to help you arrive with calm, clarity, and care.

Tattoo Preparation Checklist - Jindhamma Ink.pdf

Download PDF • 107KB

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References

1. American Family Physician – Health Effects of Garlic

2. BabyCenter UK – Is it safe to get a tattoo while pregnant?

3. Byrdie – The Truth About Tattooing Over Scars, According to Experts

4. Cleveland Clinic – Preparing for Surgery

5. Dieckmann R, et al. (2016) – Bacterial Contamination in Tattoo Inks. Journal of Clinical Microbiology

6. Healthline – Tattoo Aftercare Tips

7. Healthline – What You Need to Know Before Getting a Tattoo

8. La Leche League – Tattoos and Breastfeeding

9. Mayo Clinic – Cuts and Scrapes: First Aid

10. Mayo Clinic – Hydration: Why It’s So Important

11. Mayo Clinic – Tattoos: Understand risks and precautions

12. Medical News Today – Tattoo risks: Precaution, preparation, and aftercare

13. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. (2022). – Turmeric

14. NHS Ayrshire & Arran – Tattoos and body art – Know the risks

15. Parents.com – Is it safe to get a tattoo while breastfeeding?

16. Sleep Foundation – How Sleep Affects Pain and Healing

17. U.S. FDA – Tattoos and Permanent Makeup: Microbial Contamination Alert

18. U.S. FDA – Think Before You Ink: Tattoo Safety

19. Verywell Health – Diabetes and Tattoo Safety

20. WebMD – Is It Safe to Get a Tattoo While Pregnant or Breastfeeding?

21. World Health Organization – Smoking greatly increases risk of complications after surgery