No, you generally should avoid drugs (including alcohol, cannabis, and some pain relievers like NSAIDs) after a tattoo because they can thin your blood, increase bleeding, cause swelling, delay healing, and raise the risk of infection, potentially ruining your new ink. Stick to your artist's aftercare instructions, stay hydrated, and only take medications like acetaminophen (Tylenol) for pain if absolutely necessary, avoiding aspirin/ibuprofen (Advil/Motrin) that thin blood, and consult your doctor for guidance on any prescribed drugs.
Yes, Advil, Ibuprofen, and other anti-inflamatory medicines are fine and can help prevent swelling around your fresh tattoo.
After getting a tattoo, avoid scratching/picking, submerging in water (baths, pools, hot tubs), direct sun exposure, tight clothing, and harsh soaps or petroleum jelly; instead, keep it clean with mild soap, moisturize lightly with artist-recommended lotion, and let it heal undisturbed to prevent infection and preserve the ink. Always follow your tattoo artist's specific aftercare instructions for best results.
Avoid the following medications and foods, as their consumption causes an increased likelihood of bleeding problems: Steroids, anti-inflammatories, aspirin, ibuprofen, or any medicines containing aspirin or ibuprofen (i.e. Motrin, Advil, Aleve, Excedrin, Midol).
Smoking negatively affects tattoo quality and healing. Best practice is to abstain for at least 24--72 hours before and 72 hours (preferably longer) after getting tattooed; longer abstinence yields better outcomes. If abstinence is impossible, minimize smoking and follow stringent aftercare to reduce complications.
For a $500 tattoo, a standard tip is $75 to $100 (15-20%), but you can tip more, even $125 or higher (25%+), for exceptional work, a long session, or custom design, with factors like artist's expertise and your satisfaction influencing the amount. Tipping 20% ($100) is generally considered great service, but tipping less is also okay if you're on a tight budget, while tipping more shows extra appreciation.
No, $200 an hour is generally not considered a lot for a professional, experienced tattoo artist in 2025-2026, often falling into the standard or even lower-mid range, especially in major cities or for specialized styles like realism or fine-line work, though rates vary significantly by location, artist demand, and expertise. While some talented artists charge around $100-$150/hour, high-demand or highly specialized artists can easily charge $250-$300+ per hour.
A $500 tattoo is typically a medium-sized piece, often around palm-sized or slightly larger (roughly 4-6 inches), but the actual size heavily depends on the artist's hourly rate (usually $100-$200/hour), design complexity, color, and location, allowing for 2-5 hours of work, potentially resulting in a detailed forearm piece or a smaller chest/back design, rather than a full sleeve.
You can start using CBD pre-tattoo-session to soothe and nourish your skin before your tattoo appointment. You can use CBD while your tattoo is healing to support the healing process. Keep using it after your tattoo heals for a bright, vibrant tattoo and softer skin.
With that said, don't take painkillers before getting a tattoo either. Painkillers like Advil and Ibuprofen also thin the blood, which will lead to similar issues that alcohol has. Acetaminophen may potentially be fine to take, but should be discussed with the artist beforehand.
Yes, a $50 tip on a $300 tattoo is a good tip, landing around 16-17%, which is well within the standard 15-20% range for good service, but if you absolutely loved the work or it was a custom piece, tipping $60-$75 (20-25%) would be even better, showing extra appreciation for exceptional quality and effort.
Here's a handful of bad habits that are top of the list of things tattoo artists hate.
A $2000 tattoo can range from a detailed half-sleeve to a large, intricate thigh or chest piece, or even the beginning of a full back or sleeve, often taking multiple sessions and significant artist hours (8+ hours) for complex designs, but it depends heavily on the artist's skill, location, and the design's intricacy.
After getting a tattoo, avoid scratching/picking, submerging in water (baths, pools, hot tubs), direct sun exposure, tight clothing, and harsh soaps or petroleum jelly; instead, keep it clean with mild soap, moisturize lightly with artist-recommended lotion, and let it heal undisturbed to prevent infection and preserve the ink. Always follow your tattoo artist's specific aftercare instructions for best results.
Among the rest of the Stories & Ink team, the most painful places to get a tattoo include:
Because most anti-inflammatories and pain relievers contain blood thinning agents, these medications should be avoided. The exception is Tylenol (acetaminophen) For pain control, Tylenol is a safe alternative that can be taken at any time before surgery.
Skip Over-the-Counter Blood Thinners:
Similar to alcohol, over-the-counter blood thinners like aspirin or ibuprofen can increase bleeding during the tattooing process. These medications may hinder the tattoo artist's ability to work efficiently while achieving vibrant colors.
So, if you have the question, when you can smoke or take edibles, the best time is after your tattoo session, if you are a steady user. As you may know, Cannabis has lots of components that influence the body. Some of the effects are faster healing, anti-inflammatory effect and anti-microbial benefit.
This is normal for larger tattoos. If some swelling/redness is present the day after your tattoo, and it is uncomfortable or bothering you, it is appropriate to use ice (20 minutes) and/or an NSAID (ibuprofen, Advil, aleve, naproxen) to help bring the swelling down.
A 3-hour tattoo is typically a medium-sized piece, roughly 2 to 4 inches across, covering areas like the forearm, bicep, or shoulder cap, but size depends heavily on complexity, detail, color, and artist; expect a design with significant shading or color to take longer than a sparse linework piece of the same dimensions.
The Standard Tipping Rate:
While there isn't a strict rule for how much to tip your tattoo artist, a standard practice is to tip between 10% to 20% of the total cost of your tattoo. However, if you're exceptionally pleased with the outcome or received exceptional service, feel free to tip more generously.
Style Suitability: Intricate styles like realism or fine-line work benefit from stable, spacious areas like the upper arm. Simpler, bolder styles such as American Traditional or geometric patterns are well-suited for more dynamic areas like the forearm.
Color vs.
Color tattoos often cost more than black and grey because they typically require additional passes and materials. The difference ultimately comes down to the time involved, the intricacy, and the technique.
Tattoo costs in Australia vary significantly but generally start around $100–$200 for small designs, with hourly rates around $150–$300+, and larger custom pieces (like sleeves or back pieces) costing anywhere from $1,000 to over $5,000, depending on the artist's reputation, design complexity, color, and location.