Before getting your tattoo, it is an excellent idea to consume Vitamin C-rich foods such as broccoli, kale, and citrus fruits such as oranges and lemons, or you may opt to take vitamin C pills. Proteins are a type of body-building nutrients that helps your body develop and repair muscle and skin tissues.
If you're wondering what to eat before you visit the tattoo studio, cook a meal that's protein-rich with plenty of eggs, fish or red meat. Protein helps with recovery, so it's a great way to prepare for the procedure ahead.
The bottom line. Tattoo artists recommend you eat one to two hours before your appointment and a meal full of protein and vegetables is a good choice. Beyond the nutritional benefits, it's unlikely that a healthy meal will overstuff you to the point of nausea — a bonus if you're especially squeamish around needles.
Eat about one hour before your appointment
Eat right before your appointment — your pain tolerance is highest, and you're calmer and less twitchy. After more than a couple of hours since eating, it hurts more, and you can get dizzy and sick during the tattoo.
Shower. This one might be obvious but we wanted to mention it just in case. You should be showering every day (hopefully), but please remember to do so before your appointment. You want to keep your skin as clean as possible since tattooing creates small cuts and opens the skin up.
It is advisable to avoid alcohol and caffeine 24 to 48 hours before your tattoo session. First and foremost, all of them will thin your blood, making the tattoo process more painful. You will bleed more as a result, and the tattoo will not heal correctly.
Foods to avoid include those that promote inflammation – red meats, foods high in sugar, salt and additives, as well as overly processed foods. These can interfere with the body's natural healing processes. The same is said to be true for an excessive amount of dairy.
Salt and Sugar
Whether you like things sweet or prefer things salty, both should be avoided before your tattoo. Salt causes bloating and this may add to the inflammation of your wound trauma. Sugar, on the other hand, can slow down wound healing so it shouldn't be your go-to before a session.
It is a good idea to drink lots of apple juice the day before and the day of your tattoo appointment. Apple juice is a natural blood coagulant and will help you to bleed less.
It is a likable snack and the absence of dairy and refined sugar, makes it an interesting choice for your tattoo session. Bananas improve your digestion and make the other ingredients more effective. They are also a good source of manganese and Vitamin C, aiding in the healing and restoration of your skin.
We advise that you don't drink coffee before getting a tattoo. Sure, drinking coffee, or any drink that contains caffeine, may calm your nerves, but this is a temporary effect and should be avoided. For one, caffeine is known to thin the blood, which can increase bleeding and reduce healing.
It is important to eat a good meal the night before your session and a slow energy releasing breakfast - this way, once your body works through all it's reserves it can feast on the additional calories from your previous meal(s). Without these additional calories you could become dizzy and worse case, pass out.
Barley, oats, brown rice, wholemeal bread and crackers all provide sustained release energy and are really suitable for most meal plans.
Anti-inflammatory foods are those rich in good fats, such as nuts, avocado, salmon, tuna, sardines, olive oil, peanuts, flaxseed, chia seeds, and sesame seeds. In addition, drinking 1 to 2 cups of anti-inflammatory teas can also help with the healing process, and you may use herbs like chamomile, ginger and rosemary.
Make sure to eat something a few hours before you come in. Getting tattooed on an empty stomach may cause you to feel faint, nauseated, or dizzy. Allow plenty of time for your visit. Your tattoo session will be most enjoyable if you have time to appreciate it.
Starting the night before your tattoo session, stay as well hydrated as possible. This will actually allow the skin to accept the ink more easily due to the hydration and allow the tattoo process to happen faster without thinning your blood.
Carbs are great but including loads of protein is even better for long term energy. Sugary drinks and sweets are good during the tattoo to give you a short-term sugar boost and get you through until lunch.
The short answer is yes, you can eat eggs after getting a tattoo.
Drink a lot of water during the week; avoid alcohol for at least 24 hours before getting tattooed. Please do not shave the area; we will do it for you at your appointment. Avoid aspirin or blood thinning medication at least 24 hours before your tattoo; ibuprofen, acetaminophen, & other NSAID pain relievers are OK.
Your first night sleeping, your artist might recommend you re-wrap the tattoo with plastic wrap (like Saran Wrap) to sleep without the tattoo sticking to your sheets. This is generally for larger or solid-color tattoos. If your artist did not recommend re-wrapping, just let the tattoo stay exposed to air overnight.