Sit Like a Champ: How to Prepare for a Long Tattoo Session

Long tattoo sessions tend to be a rite of passage in the tattoo world.  Whether you’re sitting for the first session of a half-sleeve, a four hour banger or just getting a million tattoos in one day, those hours in the chair can start to feel very real, and very long once the adrenaline starts to drop.

The good news?  A long session doesn’t actually have to feel like literal torture (although if you ask me, I would have to argue otherwise).  With a bit of preparation and a fortified mindset, you can make the experience way smoother for both yourself and your tattoo artist.

Today, I’m here to give you some practical tips from a client perspective on how to help you get through your next long tattoo session like a pro.

It All Starts The Night Before

A significant number of sleep studies have shown that sleep deprivation lowers pain tolerance by dampening the striatum and insula, the reward and decision making parts of your brain, and overactivation that somatosensory cortex that processes not only pain but other sensory information like pressure, temperature, vibration, and more.

If you show up exhausted, your body will have a much harder time coping with the stress it undergoes during a tattoo.  Always try to plan ahead and aim for a full night sleep with an effective wind-down routine to turn off your brain and allow the nervous system to re-regulate.

Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate

There’s a ton of reasons why you should stay hydrated.  In fact, the more hydrated your skin is, the more it will readily accept your tattoo with more consistent saturation and crisp, clean lines.  Not only that, but your body struggles more with fatigue and healing when you’re dehydrated.

Drinking water not only throughout the day, but throughout the week leading up to your appointment will help regulate your blood sugar and keep your skin supple.  Remember to drink water during your appointment as well, and if you forget your water bottle at home we have water stations throughout the shop!

Food Is Fuel

One of the biggest mistakes artists see clients make is showing up to their tattoo on an empty stomach.  Tattooing takes a lot out of your body. Your adrenaline spikes, your blood sugar drops, and not only will your three hour session feel like ten, you could pass out.

Eat a balanced meal with protein and carbs prior to your appointment.  And no, your lonesome cigarette and morning coffee doesn’t suffice.  While you’re at it, be sure to pack some snacks to bring with you in case you feel lightheaded or shaky.

Comfort Over Style, Always

For longer appointments, you’re going to find yourself sitting or laying in the same position for quite some time.  Sometimes, those positions can be…uncomfortable, to say the least.  Unfortunately, though your artist should do what they can to make you as comfortable as possible, sometimes the only way to get to certain spots is to keep you mildly awkward.  The last thing you’re gong to want is your “standing” jeans digging into your stomach or an awkward sleeve that keeps flopping down your arm.

Dress is something that will give your artist easy access to the area you’re tattooing so neither one of you have to fight it, and clothes you feel like you can relax in.  Layering helps to keep your body temperature regulated in case it fluctuates throughout the session.  PRO TIP: Tattoo ink does not come out of clothing, so wear something you don’t care about!

Keep The Mind Busy

Having something to distract yourself can be such a huge help!  Bring your phone or your iPad, watch a movie (with headphones, likely, if the shop is busy); Bring that book that you’ve been obsessing over lately, file your taxes, fiddle with a Rubix Cube or chat with your friend!  Whatever helps you get through.

Sometimes you might notice your artist make conversation with you, especially if they pick up on pain signals.  Keep in mind that some artists are chatty, and some are not.  It’s never personal, it’s whatever makes it a better experience all around!  Me personally, I love chatting, but I do my best to keep chatting regulated as I tend to get very distracted and lose focus on my piece, which eats into your appointment time.  However, I do love having a good conversation so feel free to chat if you need to!

A recent multi-session blast over project started. During this appointment we took three breaks (one for every hour spent tattooing); He stayed hydrated and rested well, and sat through this bad boy like a champ!

Find Your Happy Place

Long tattoo sessions are just as much mental as they are physical.  Scientifically speaking, the brain processes physical sensations in the same region of the brain as emotional pain such as grief, located in the anterior cingulate cortex.  In fact, that’s why grief and negative emotions can literally make you feel like you’re hurting.  Pain comes in waves — the first hour might feel like slight work, but the second could feel like your worst nightmare.  Yet, once you hit the third, you could be numb to it.

While the sensation of pain is very real, it is also a complete construction by the brain.  Remember that discomfort is temporary, and be patient with yourself and your pain tolerance. Your artist will always do their best to work with each individual, but do your best to find yourself laying on that beach in Mexico you “found yourself” on during Spring Break in 2006, and just listen to the waves.

Your Artist Knows When It’s Time to Break

Tattoo artists all operate differently in how they break.  There are some artists out there who don’t break at all unless requested, and there are some artists who might break a little too often.  A lot of artists will build small breaks into long ones, or make sure there’s also an allotted longer break for lunch.

Breaks allow your body to reset, your blood sugar to stabilize, and for you to empty your bladder after chugging water for three hours.  Even more importantly, your artist has the ability to do the same so they can continue to stay focused on giving you the best possible piece.  Don’t ever feel like you have to “tough it out”.  Which leads into my last point…

Don’t Be Afraid to Speak Up

Good communication goes a long way when it comes to tattooing.  Your artist isn’t just there to do a good tattoo, they’re there because they want to make the experience for you the best one they can — because tattooing is also about the experience.  If you feel dizzy, lightheaded, overheated, uncomfortable, or anything else, always let your artist know.

Tattoo artists deal with this stuff on the daily.  We’d rather take a break, bring you some water or give you a robe to warm yourself up than have you silently suffer and leave miserable.  And remember that your body is working incredibly hard!  It’s normal to feel those things, and your artist has been in your position.

We Are Here to Help

Long tattoo sessions can feel intense for both artists and the clients.  They can also be incredibly rewarding, and help timelines move along faster for larger pieces.  There’s something special about committing to a larger piece and watching it all come to life!

With good preparation, solid communication and a sprinkle of patience, most people will surprise themselves on how well they can actually handle longer tattoo sessions.  And ultimately, you walk out with something permanent, meaningful, and uniquely yours, which makes the hours in the chair totally worth it.

Not me though.  I’m a wimp.