What Makes a Client a Fan Favorite: How to Prepare For Your Tattoo Appointment

We see a number of people filtering in and out of the shop every day. Some are regulars who might as well be put on our payroll, and others are first-timers nervously twiddling their thumbs and asking, “Does it hurt?” Whether you’re a tattoo veteran or proudly telling your friends you finally are taking the leap, a lot of you still show up unprepared.

So today we’re breaking down Client Tips 101: How to Prepare for Your Tattoo Appointment — for your sake and your artist’s.

Tip #1: Know What You Want

This one should be obviously, but it’s surprisingly one of the most commonly skipped steps. Everything else in this post is easy to work around, but this one? Well this one determines if your appointment actually happens or not from the beginning.

Why does it matter so much? Because we schedule our time based on the information you give us!

Bigger piece = more time.

More detail = more time.

Color = more time.

Tricky placement = yep…more time.

Let’s look at a perfect example of a recent inquiry I had received from a real client:

And the outcome:

All of the reference photos and details my client provided gave me a clear, precise and direct vision of the piece while still allowing creative freedom and flexibility. If we don’t have this information in our back pocket, you might end up getting rescheduled — which means you don’t get your tattoo when you want it, and your artist doesn’t get paid when they need it.

It’s totally okay to bounce ideas around with your artist if you’re unsure, but it’s never a great idea to book an appointment with absolutely zero direction. And if you’re really lost? Book an in-person consultation to have some one-on-one time with your artist to figure it out together!

Tip #2: Dress to Impress

Your outfit actually does matter. We don’t care about your style, but we do care about accessibility. Wearing your nice blouse to get your ribs tattooed or skinny jeans for a calf piece is a no-no. Here’s a quick guide to be the best dressed:

• Lower Arm: T-shirts, tank tops; no bracelets of watches

• Upper Arm: Tank tops, strapless tops

• Legs: Shorts, skirts, shorter dresses

• Stomach/Ribs/Back: Button downs, bikini tops for large torso pieces; no bra for sternum, upper ribs, or spine

• Hands/Fingers: No jewelry

• Neck/Ears/Face: No jewelry; updo style hair (remember to pin back those baby strands!)

• Feet: Flip-flops or sandals; no socks or covered shoes

  
  

Wearing the right clothes makes the appointment smoother and much more comfortable for both of us!

Tip #3: Fuel Your Body The Right Way

Your blood sugar can drop fast during a tattoo. Some come with:

• A full stomach

• Water

• Snacks

  
  

And please don’t roll up to your appointment after an all-night rager. A good night’s sleep helps your body handle the process better! This also includes NOT:

• Taking any blood thinners or painkiller

  
  

That ibuprofen you just took three of? It’s about to turn against you the second we start pulling a line. Remember to do your research on your medication before your tattoo appointment!

Tip #4: Your Skin Is Our Canvas — So Leave It Alone

There’s enough to say here that will eventually warrant its’ own post, but the short version? We’re tattooing in your skin, not just on it. That means that whatever you put on your skin before walking through the door can interfere with the process, or even make it unsafe.

The “can’t dos to tattoo” list:

• No numbing cream without talking to your artist in advance. We can’t verify the ingredients, so we can’t predict how it’ll react once we start tattooing. We have shop and artist approved products to help take the edge off should you need them, but your artist reserves the right to turn you away if you come in with a glob of numbing cream slathered on you.

• No spray tans, makeup, scents, or self-tanner on the tattoo area. We end up having to scrub you raw trying to remove it, and sometimes that means we can’t tattoo the skin anymore. Come with clean, bare skin and you’ll walk out that door with a smile on your face.

• No fresh wounds, scratches, or bruises. If you booked a forearm tattoo two weeks ago and your cat just mauled it the day before, unfortunately we will have to rebook you. Please give your artist the heads-up if something happens!

• No heavy acne. A breakout here and there is workable, but if you’re struggling with bacne and dying to get that spine piece, unfortunately you’ll have to ride it out in the meantime. DISCLOSURE: It is SUPER important to not get tattooed while using Accutane or other strong acne products like heavy retinoids (we’ll be covering this topic in a separate post).

  
  

Tip #5: Your Hygiene Is Up Close and Personal

I’m going to hold your hand when I say this, but we know when someone skips their deodorant. We know when you just came fresh from the gym. It happens, and we get it, but please think of your artist! The last thing we want to do is embarrass anybody by having an awkward conversation that goes along the lines of “Hey, I hate to do this, but unfortunately we have to reschedule because you stink and I can’t work in these conditions.” Just don’t be that person, and don’t blame your artist for having to reschedule if you are that person.

Shower. Brush your teeth. Put on that deo and a fresh pair of pants. A clean client is a happy client, and an even happier artist.

Tip #6: We Shave You, But You Can Too

Shaving ahead of time is not required — but it definitely earns you some brownie points. Especially for my hairier folks out there: trimming or shaving saves tons of time and your artist the agony of unclogging their razor every five seconds.

If you do shave:

• Shave the night before or the morning of

• Week-old stubble is better than 30 years worth of leg hair

• Be careful not to nick or irritate your skin

• Do NOT use Nair or hair removal creams right before your appointment

  
  

Your artist will appreciate it more than you know!

Tip #7: Support Systems Are Great, But Keep the Entourage Small

Tattoo shops are not stadium venues. Whether you’re walking into a solo studio or see eight artists packing their chairs, space fills up friends. We love a good hype square, but we don’t love the five-person crowds giving you mixed opinions for twenty minutes and stressing out your artist. Most artists will prefer if you only bring one other person along with you to keep you company, two if you’re really feeling it. But sadly, you’ll need to leave the posse at home for a smoother appointment and send pics to the group chat instead.

Tip #8: If You’re Booking With Them, Trust Them

We want you to have the best tattoo possible, period. And you should want that too! So if we tell you something doesn’t work, it is not to hurt your feelings, it may be because that half inch script tattoo won’t age well in five years and you’ll come back for a coverup, or that color that looks great in the bottle might look muted and dull with your skin tone, or the overall composition of the tattoo just doesn’t make for the best piece of art.

Some things that look amazing on paper don’t exactly translate onto the skin. Let us guide you in the right direction and be open to feedback! That’s part of what you’re paying for.

Tip #9: Your Artists are People Too

We’re human behind the desk and behind these machines. Life happens. Schedules get tight.

Things pop up.

If we don’t respond immediately or need to adjust an appointment because our kid is throwing up or we just popped a tire, please extend the same patience you would expect from us.

And a big one: Please don’t give out our phone numbers like candy.

We have messaging channels for a reason. Hand out our social, our business cards, even the shop number. While we appreciate your intentions, most people don’t want their personal cell phone line being handed out to strangers, and your tattoo artist is no different. If they need our info, send that Instagram handle or website link. And if for some reason they absolutely have to have that number, just ask us first!

Tip #10: Come Back!

We love love love seeing return clients. Building relationships is one of the best parts of this job. Some artists even form long-term friendships with their clients! Spend enough time in our chairs and you’ll know a thing or two about us. If you loved your piece the first time, chances are you’ll love the next one even more. The more we get to know you, the easier (and more exciting) it is to create the perfect vision.

In Summary…

At the end of the day preparing for your tattoo appointment isn’t just about making things easier for your artist; it’s about setting yourself up for the best experience you can have. When you show up informed, clean, rested, and ready, everything runs smoother, your tattoo looks better, and the session is much more enjoyable for both parties. Our goal is to have you walk out of the shop loving your piece and feeling proud of telling people where you got it!

So take these tips, come prepared, trust the process, and your artist will handle the rest. Who knows? Maybe you’ll be your artist’s next favorite client!