What to bring:

• Any necessary food & drink to last the duration of your session. You’re welcome to store something in the fridge as well.

• Any necessary medication

• The studio may get a bit chilly during winter months, so if you’re prone to getting cold please bring whatever you need to stay warm.

What TO do:

• Increase your water intake the week of, and day before your tattoo. Well hydrated skin is mandatory for giving the best tattoo possible. This will also help your body & skin heal properly, making your tattoo look great for years.

• Rest well prior to your appointment.

What NOT to do:

• Please don’t drink alcohol or show up hungover. Alcohol is a blood thinner that will make the tattoo application process more difficult for me to perform. Upon contact from the needle, the body will flush an excessive amount of blood to the area and will make the tattoo at least 15% more difficult to administer. For the best possible tattoo (which I hope you want, as I do) please avoid alcohol or anything else that will thin your blood.

• Don’t take aspirin or Ibuprofen (or any other anticoagulant) the day before or the day of your tattoo. For the same reason stated above, aspirin is a blood thinner and will make the tattoo process worse for both of us. The perceived pain mitigation from aspirin is negligible anyways.

Optional but helpful:

• Carefully moisturize your skin the week of your tattoo. As stated above, well hydrated skin is crucial for optimal performance. You may apply a THIN layer of skin moisturizer to the area during the week prior to your tattoo. Please avoid clogging your pores and causing pimples on the area. If you're applying too much moisturizer and causing pimples prior to being tattooed, stop immediately.

• Wear neutral colored clothing for photography purposes. Blacks/grays/whites are best. Bright, busy, patterned clothing is very difficult to work with in this regard, so please avoid wearing them if possible. Upon completion of the tattoo, the photography is intended to present your new artwork in the strongest possible way, making your tattoo the focal point of the composition. This helps me to build my portfolio and grow as an artist & also provides you an opportunity to proudly show off your new tattoo to friends and family.

• Pre-purchase your tattoo aftercare product. I recommend either: unscented Lubriderm (cheapest), Hustle Butter, or similar tattoo specific aftercare product (slightly more expensive). Further aftercare instruction will be provided upon completion of the tattoo. But you may also get a head start and read up on my recommended aftercare instructions here.

If your tattoo is in an intimate area:

• Please wear or bring the necessary coverings for your comfort during the tattoo process &

• For the tattoo photography that may be shared online.