Every tattoo hurts. A large piece hurts for four hours at a time, and how well someone takes it on a given day depends less on toughness than on how they arrive. Most of it is decided before you sit down.

The night before and the morning of

Sleep well. A tired body is a more sensitive one, and the fourth hour of a session shows it.

Have a good breakfast, with protein and fat. A body short of nutrients runs out of patience long before the session runs out of time. Drink enough water through the morning.

No alcohol and no other substances, before, during or after the appointment. Keep the area to be tattooed out of the sun in the days before: skin that has had sun is more sensitive and harder to work.

Nerves count

Nerves are not only in the head. Anxiety raises stress hormones, and a body running on them feels more and sits less still. The calmer you arrive, the easier the first hour goes, and the first hour sets the tone for the rest.

This is also why I ask clients not to bring friends or family to the appointment. An audience changes how a person sits: attention goes outward, conversation pulls at the body, and the session becomes harder for both of us.

No numbing cream, no painkillers

I do not work over topical anesthetics or any other pain killers, and I ask clients not to use them. No anesthetic lasts through a four-hour session. It also changes the skin, sometimes so much that it cannot be tattooed at all, and skin treated with it usually heals much worse.

Sugar is not your friend in the chair

I strongly advise against sweets during a session: candy, sugary drinks, anything that spikes and drops. In my experience it makes it harder to sit still and makes the skin bleed more. If you want a snack, bring something with protein or fat: nuts, cheese, jerky.

Comfort is part of preparation

Wear clean, comfortable clothing that leaves the area open and that you can sit in for hours. Feel free to bring your own slippers and a towel. Leave jewelry at home. Small discomforts add up over four hours, and they add up on top of the needle.

Breaks

Tell me the moment you need a break. The reason does not matter: we stop immediately. I also stop on my own for a minute or two every hour, almost always. A short pause is part of the rhythm of a long session, not a sign that something is wrong.

Staying present through the discomfort is its own discipline, and over a large project it becomes part of the work itself, as described in the long arc of a large tattoo.

Before your appointment: the checklist

1. No alcohol and no other substances before, during or after the appointment. No topical anesthetics and no other pain killers.

2. Keep the area to be tattooed out of the sun.

3. Sleep well.

4. Have a good breakfast.

5. Wear appropriate, clean clothing. Bring your own slippers and a towel if you like.

6. Bring your photo ID.

7. Wash your hands as soon as you arrive.

8. Do not wear jewelry during the session.

9. Come alone: no friends or family at the appointment.

If anything is unclear, ask before the day.