Creating exceptional tattoos is a partnership.

Here’s everything you need to know before your appointment so we can create the best work together.

We are all excited for the big day(s), a bit of nervousness is to be expected. - I assure you, this is going to be an amazing project. Getting a tattoo is more than just showing up for your appointment; it’s a collaboration between you and your artist.

The steps you take before your session can have a significant impact on your comfort, how well your skin accepts the tattoo, and how rich the pigments heal. Whether you’re getting your first tattoo or preparing for a large-scale, multi-day project, proper tattoo preparation helps ensure the best possible results.

We put together this guide that covers everything you need to know before your tattoo appointment, including how to prepare your body and skin, what to eat, what to bring, what to avoid, and what to expect during your session.

By arriving prepared, you’ll help create the ideal conditions for a smooth experience and a tattoo you’ll be proud to wear for the rest of your life.

Your Tattoo Begins Before You Arrive

A great tattoo starts long before the first drop of ink touches your skin.

The days leading up to your appointment have a direct impact on your comfort, the quality of your tattoo, and how well you heal afterward. Healthy, hydrated skin accepts ink more consistently, and a well-rested body is better prepared for long tattoo sessions.

Creating exceptional work is a partnership. I invest countless hours designing and preparing your project, and by taking a few simple steps beforehand, you’re helping us achieve the best possible result.

Preparing Your Body

Please arrive healthy, rested, and well hydrated.

During the week leading up to your appointment:

• Drink plenty of water every day.

• Eat nutritious meals.

• Get a full night’s sleep.

• Keep your immune system healthy.

• Consider taking Vitamin C or your normal immune-support supplements if they’re already part of your routine.

If you begin feeling sick, develop a fever, or believe you may be coming down with an illness, please contact me as soon as possible. Tattooing places stress on your immune system, and even a minor illness can affect both your comfort and your healing.

If you have any medical conditions, recent surgeries, medications, or concerns that may affect your appointment, please let me know beforehand. Open communication allows us to make the best decisions together.

Things to Avoid

For the best tattooing experience, please avoid:

• Alcohol for at least 48 hours before your appointment.

• Recreational drugs before or during your session.

• Aspirin or other blood-thinning medications unless prescribed by your physician. (ibuprofen is recommended on days 2 and 3)

• Excessive caffeine if it tends to make you anxious or jittery.

• Staying up late the night before your appointment.

These can increase bleeding, reduce comfort, and make the tattooing process more difficult.

Preparing Your Skin

Healthy skin creates better tattoos.

For the week leading up to your appointment:

• Moisturize the tattoo area daily.

• Stay well hydrated.

• Avoid excessive sun exposure and tanning.

• Do not exfoliate aggressively or use chemical peels.

• Avoid new skincare products that may irritate your skin.

Please do not arrive with:

• Sunburn

• Rashes

• Razor burn

• Fresh cuts or scrapes

• Burns

• Skin infections

If you have eczema, psoriasis, acne, or another chronic skin condition, please let me know so we can discuss the best approach before your appointment.

Fuel Your Body

Most Ancient Marks projects involve full-day tattoo sessions that span into 2 and even 3 day session blocks.

Your body performs best when it’s properly fueled.

Before arriving:

• Eat a substantial breakfast with protein and complex carbohydrates.

• Continue drinking water throughout the morning.

• Bring snacks that are easy to eat during breaks.

• Bring lunch if we’re planning an all-day session.

• Electrolyte drinks are encouraged.

Low blood sugar is one of the most common reasons clients begin feeling off, or lightheaded during long tattoo sessions.

Dress for Comfort

Please wear comfortable clothing that allows easy access to the area being tattooed.

Keep in mind:

• Wear clothing you don’t mind getting ink on.

• Dark-colored clothing is recommended.

• Bring a hoodie or light jacket if you tend to get cold.

• Warm socks are highly recommended during long sessions.

• Feel free to bring a small blanket if it helps you stay comfortable.

The more comfortable you are, the easier it is to relax and sit still throughout the day.

What to Bring

You’re welcome to bring anything that helps make your session more enjoyable.

Some things we think you should bring:

• Water or electrolyte drinks

• Snacks

• Lunch for longer sessions

• Headphones

• Phone charger

• Tablet or Kindle

• Downloaded movies, podcasts, or music

• A book

We have water, coconut water, healthy snacks,, music, and the occasional great conversation available  as well.

Your Mindset

Large-scale tattoos are a marathon, not a sprint.

There will be moments that are challenging, and there will be moments when you’ll completely forget you’re being tattooed, and moments of being a bit anxious. Its all perfectly natural.

The best approach is simple:

• Relax.

• Breathe.

• Stay present.

• Take breaks when needed.

• Trust the process.

Every minute, every hour brings us one step closer to creating something you’ll wear for the rest of your life.

When We May Need to Reschedule

For your safety, I cannot tattoo if you:

• Have a fever or contagious illness.

• Are under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

• Have significant sunburn or damaged skin in the tattoo area.

• Are recovering from surgery that may interfere with healing.

• Are pregnant or breastfeeding.

• Have a medical condition that makes tattooing unsafe without physician approval.

If your situation changes before your appointment, please contact me as soon as possible.

Appointments require significant planning and preparation. Whenever possible, advance notice allows us to reschedule your appointment while respecting the time reserved for your project. We will do the same on our end. - We have the same goal in mind.

During Your Session

Expect a relaxed, private, and focused environment.

We’ll take breaks throughout the day for food, stretching, and rest whenever needed. My goal is never simply to finish your tattoo; it’s to create the highest quality work possible while making the experience as enjoyable as possible from beginning to end.

After Your Session

Your tattoo isn’t finished when you leave the studio at the end of each session day, and at the end of the session block.

Proper healing is an essential part of the process and has a direct impact on the final appearance of your tattoo.

Before you leave, you’ll receive detailed aftercare instructions, and my team and I are always available if questions come up during the healing process.

Following your aftercare carefully protects your investment and helps ensure your tattoo heals as beautifully as it was intended.

One Final Thought

Every tattoo tells a story. The tattoo process is just one part of that story.

My job is to create artwork that will last a lifetime. Your role is to arrive prepared so your body and your skin are ready for the journey.

Together, we’ll create something extraordinary. Feel free to call or text us with questions.

I look forward to working with you.

— Jon Poulson
‍ ‍Ancient Marks