How to Survive an All-Day Tattooing Session

Getting any size tattoo is a commitment, but some large tattoos require an all-day session (or many!). The idea of staying in one place for a few hours of discomfort can be intimidating, even if you already have a tattoo. Learning how to prep for a large tattoo before your appointment can make all the difference in how your marathon of tattooing will go.

Our team at Eden Body Art pulled together this fun “survival guide” for any clients nervous about an all-day session. 

Take care of the placement area.

It’s very important the area to be tattooed is free of any fresh wounds or skin trauma. This includes sunburns! Tattooing over any damaged skin can be very painful or even impossible. Should anything happen to the placement area before your session, please let us know so we can plan for it.

Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize!

Healthy skin can help your body heal post-tattoo. Lotion your skin once or twice a day before your tattooing session. (You should already be using lotion anyway, but a tattoo is a great reminder to hydrate your skin!) This will help prepare your skin and keep it hydrated. 

Sleep the night before your tattoo session.

We get it; you’ve got jitters! Those are to be expected before big pieces. Please try and get shut-eye before your session. This will help you stay in a good mood, keep you alert if the artist needs to ask you a question while working and help you be in a positive headspace before the big day. 

Eat a good meal.

Nerves and food don’t always mix, but try to get a healthy meal in before sitting down. For many people, that’ll be a healthy breakfast. If you go in without eating, there’s a higher chance that nerves can lead to feelings of lightheadedness and increased anxiety. Also, eating before lowers your chances of becoming hangry in the chair. 

Stay hydrated. 

Make sure you’re drinking plenty of water in the days leading up to a full-day session. The more water you have in your system, the faster your body can heal and the more buoyant your skin will be. Sipping on water the morning of your session can also help calm your nerves about the process!

Bring snacks and drinks for the session. 

This part is all going to depend on the placement of the tattoo, the artist, and the ability to keep the workspace clean. However, there are sometimes opportunities for you to bring in a snack that 1) doesn’t get messy and 2) isn’t going to contaminate the space. You can also bring a water bottle with a straw or sipper extension to stay hydrated during the session. 

Headphones, please. 

Again, this tip is at the discretion of the artist. Sometimes your artist will be fine with you watching shows or movies to help kill time and keep you distracted from the pain. However, we ask that if that’s the case, bring headphones and be cognizant of how loud the volume is. Without headphones, you run the risk of disrupting other artists, your own artist, and annoying other customers who are also investing in permanent art. We want the experience to be enjoyable for everyone!

Prepare for hot or cold.

The temperature in the studio varies day to day so we recommend wearing layers in case you get hot or cold. Feel free to bring a blanket as well!

Maybe lay off (some of) the caffeine.

This tip differs depending on the client, but we’ve found some clients who elect to limit their caffeine intake the morning of the tattoo have an easier time managing the pain. Caffeine can also increase your anxiety, so if you’re going to do coffee before your session, maybe swap it out with decaf!

Consider trying CBD.

Some of our experienced clients have had great success taking CBD isolate gummies before and after the session. These gummies can manage your anxiety, help you sit better, and in the case of some clients, make your tattoo hurt less! We do NOT recommend taking anything with THC as most clients report that can actually make your tattoo hurt worse. If you’re confused on the difference, we do sell all-natural CBD isolate gummies right here in store available for purchase before your tattoo appointment

At Eden, we understand how important (and sometimes stressful) a full day of tattooing can be. We’re happy to talk through the process with any client and hear about their vision for a detailed piece of art. If you’re new to Eden, take a look at our incredible artist lineup. If you’re a returning reader, let’s get an appointment set up!