Since a tattoo is permanent and expensive, I assume you’re going to want it to look as good as it possibly can. That all comes down to how you take care of your body and tattoo before your appointment, on the day of, and after, even after it’s done healing.
Here are a few checklists of things to remember when you’ve got a tattoo appointment coming up.
Self-care Checklist the Day Before
1. Sleep.
Get at least 7 or 8 hours of sleep. According to Scientific American, sleep deprivation can lead to your body producing significantly higher levels of the stress-response hormone, cortisol. In turn, according to a study about the connection between the brain and skin, cortisol triggers inflammation/swelling.
Swollen skin is not only harder to tattoo, but also does not hold onto ink as well as it normally would. So by the time it heals, it may look more faded than normal.
Also, everyone is different, but some people may find it more difficult to tolerate the pain of getting a tattoo, especially if it’s a long session.
2. No alcohol.
Many cheap options that you should NOT take advantage of right before or after getting tattooed. (Picture taken at CU)
Even if you only have a couple of drinks and drink lots of water, those drinks will still affect your body the next day.
All alcohol contains histamine, a chemical messenger normally released by white blood cells when the body is exposed to an allergen. Histamines cause your blood vessels to dilate, which increases blood flow and decreases your blood pressure.
Although, at excessively high levels, alcohol can actually cause blood vessels to constrict and increase blood pressure, but for now, let’s assume you just had a couple of drinks.
On top of that, alcohol reduces your vasopressin levels, an antidiuretic hormone that causes your body to retain water. This is why alcohol dehydrates you.
Additionally, alcohol thins your blood by preventing clotting, so you bleed a lot more easily.
All of this combined could potentially lead to a rough tattoo session where you may not be able to tolerate the pain as well and you bleed more than usual — making it more challenging to tattoo you.
Not going to lie, I made this mistake once. I had a couple of drinks the night before my tattoo appointment because I didn’t make the connection about the days. Since I had seen this tattoo artist before, she immediately knew something was wrong while tattooing me.
So from personal experience, the tattoo was more painful than usual even though I had been tattooed around the area before. And it faded more than it otherwise would have once it healed (I got a free touch-up later, so it was fine).
3. Hydrate.
Lots of different sizes available at a very cheap price at convenience stores. (Picture taken at CU)
Prepare your body the night before by drinking plenty of water. It’ll make your skin easier to tattoo and help you endure longer tattoo sessions.
4. Shave?
Ask your tattoo artist if they want you to shave. Some prefer if you do so that the actual tattooing can start sooner. Others prefer if you don’t so that you don’t cut yourself.
5. Check your route.
Screenshots of Naver Map, KakaoMap, and KakaoMetro.
If you’re not familiar with the subway and bus system in your city, I recommend downloading Naver Map or KakaoMap (these will give you subway and bus combination routes), as well as KakaoMetro (this only covers the subway system, but it gives more accurate arrival times in my experience).
Assume that you might miss a train or a bus, so give yourself some wiggle room when you plan to leave.
Download Naver Map from the Google Play Store or Apple Store here.
Download KakaoMap from the Google Play Store or Apple Store here.
Download KakaoMetro from the Google Play Store or Apple Store here.
6. Exfoliate and moisturize.
This will make your skin easier to tattoo.
Self-care and Preparation Checklist the Day Of
1. Mask up.
You can buy a mask at any convenience store, such as this CU.
This might be outdated by the time you read this, but as of the end of August 2022, it is mandated to wear a mask indoors in South Korea.
2. Be ready to pay in cash or bank transfer.
Because it’s illegal to tattoo in Korea without a medical license, almost all tattoo artists do not accept cards. Bring plenty of cash (plus a little extra, just in case) or be ready to do a bank transfer on your phone.
You don’t need to worry about giving a tip as tipping culture does not exist in Korea unless you go to a very American-style restaurant in Itaewon. (However, even then, it’s not a requirement.)
If you really want to express gratitude by giving something, then bring a gift! Maybe you can bring a box of really nice cookies or rice cakes. I’ve honestly never brought a gift, but when in doubt, I give food as a gift in Korea.
3. Wear an appropriate outfit.
Make sure you wear something loose and dark that’ll be easy to roll up if necessary and is okay to get ink on. Also, wear or bring something that you can conceal your tattoo with when you leave, such as a sweater.
I once got a tattoo in the middle of summer, so I wore a tank top and I got a ton of blatant stares on the way home.
I don’t mind getting stared at, to clarify. The wrapping made it really obvious that the tattoo was new. In hindsight, displaying an obviously brand new tattoo in a country where tattooing is illegal was probably a dumb move. I should’ve brought a thin jacket or worn a T-shirt that would cover the tattoo.
I didn’t get stopped by anyone, and I think it’s highly unlikely anyone would, but I think it’s still better to keep this kind of thing low-key.
4. Eat a good meal before your appointment.
My eel and rice bowl!
You don’t want to get a tattoo with low blood pressure since there’s a possibility that you will be very lightheaded or even faint while receiving your tattoo, so make sure to eat something before arriving at your appointment. You can bring some snacks too and eat during breaks if you’ve got a longer session.
5. Hydrate.
I know I said hydrate before, but it’s so important to stay hydrated for your appointment.
6. Bring something to do.
For example, you can bring a book or read something off your phone.
You’re welcome to do other things during the session as long as you don’t move. Some tattoo artists prefer to not talk while they work, so they can concentrate.
So feel free to bring a book or a portable charger for your phone. I read Demon Slayer during one of my tattoo sessions and it was no problem! Also, don’t be afraid to ask for the Wi-fi password.
7. Do NOT moisturize before your appointment.
While it’s advisable to moisturize the day prior to your appointment, you should avoid doing so the day of. The fresh layer of moisturizer will make it harder to tattoo you.
8. No alcohol, caffeine, or painkillers.
These substances thin your blood, so you will bleed more and it will be harder to tattoo you.
9. Come alone.
If you really need to bring someone, ask your tattoo artist for permission. They may find it distracting to hear you and your friend chatting the whole time. These days, the studio may have a policy that no one can come besides the client, because of Covid.
10. Don't rush the artist.
Make sure your schedule is open and flexible. I find that, often, my tattoo sessions go over the predicted time. So, I never schedule anything after my tattoo appointment unless my appointment is in the early afternoon and my plans are at night. If you ask the tattoo artist to hurry up, even if you’re being polite, it will put pressure on the artist.
11. Don't move.
If you need to sneeze, cough, or adjust your position, warn the tattoo artist. Another optional thing to consider is to try to not fall asleep since you won’t be in control of your motions.
For example, I know I tend to shift or twitch in my sleep, so I absolutely cannot allow myself to fall asleep.
Self-care Checklist After the Appointment
Every artist has slightly different aftercare instructions, such as the ointment you should use or how long you should cover your fresh tattoo. Listen to your artist! I’ve done something slightly different for every single tattoo.
For example, sometimes I got a small container or packet of ointment from the shop (like A&D ointment), other times I bought unscented lotion (I’ve bought Cetaphil or Vaseline-branded lotions), or the tattoo artist gave me aloe.
Artists may also vary in what they cover your fresh tattoo with. Some will cover it with a normal plastic wrap and tell you to not uncover it for a few hours. Others will tell you to not cover it at all, just let it breathe. And in Korea, I often got an adhesive plastic wrapping called Saniderm, which I couldn’t remove for about three to five days.
Some artists may tell you different time periods that you should keep it on, so listen to your artist. Some may even tell you to take it off after just one day.
I find that when I get the Saniderm wrapping, the tattoo heals a lot faster. If you do get the Saniderm wrapping, don’t worry when you see pockets of fluid, and do not poke holes to drain it. A tattoo artist that uses Saniderm told me that she had a client poke holes in his Saniderm wrapping and he got a really nasty infection…
After your three days are up, you can slowly and gently peel it off in the shower.
There are some aftercare instructions that almost all artists follow and you will want to follow them for about two weeks.
1. Wash your hands before touching your tattoo.
Image by Fran Jacquier via Unsplash
If you touch it with dirty hands, you will put yourself at risk of an infection. If you feel a burning sensation, have swelling even after a few days have passed, or see green or yellow puss, contact your artist right away and go to a doctor.
Of course, don’t let anyone touch your tattoo. Beware, there are people who will try to touch your tattoos without your consent. I’ve had quite a few people suddenly touch and try to rub off my tattoos without asking. I’ve even had one person lick their finger and try to rub off my tattoo as a joke.
2. Use unscented antibacterial soap and ointment/lotion
Scented soap, ointment, or lotion will irritate your skin, so opt for something gentle and antibacterial.
3. Don't scratch, peel, or rub your tattoo.
You will risk reopening a wound, delaying the healing process, or making the ink not stay as well. It will itch a lot, and you will see it scab and peel on its own. Don’t purposefully peel the scabs off, but rather let them fall off naturally.
After a shower, pat your tattoo dry with a clean towel or paper towel. Don’t rub it.
4. Moisturize.
How often you should wash and apply your ointment or lotion will depend on the artist’s instructions, so just follow what they say. It’s usually just a few times per day. Or if your tattoo is looking really dry, I think it’s fine to apply your ointment or lotion as needed.
5. Don't submerge your tattoo in water.
Wakeboarding in Gapyeong.
I’ve had tattoo artists tell me to avoid pools, ocean/lake water, baths, and saunas for a month. Lots of nasty things in these places can cause an infection, even after the initial two-week healing period.
6. Avoid strenuous exercise for a few days to a week.
My local gym, Spoany (a chain).
Ask your tattoo artist how long you should wait before you can exercise again. Generally, you should avoid exercising after getting tattooed as it can affect the healing process, especially if you sweat a lot.
Self-care Checklist After Healing
Aftercare is a lifetime commitment, but it’s not any trouble. These are just a few things to keep in mind even after your tattoo has completely healed.
1. Protect your tattoo from the sun.
Sunscreens and sun creams at Olive Young.
Cover your tattoo or use sunscreen, especially in the summer. Don’t forget to reapply sunscreen every few hours. Excessive exposure to direct sunlight will cause your tattoos to fade.
2. Be aware of the types of clothes you wear.
Note that if you wear tight-fitting clothing, which will rub against your tattoos a lot, then your tattoos will likely fade relatively faster.
3. You'll need to get touch-ups done
You will eventually need a touch-up as fading is inevitable. Touch-ups are usually free or a very low fee. It depends on the artist and how much they need to restore your tattoo.
That pretty much sums up all of the important things that you need to prepare for before, during, and after getting your tattoo. If you have any questions, comment below or shoot an email to tigerinked.kr@gmail.com!
