Let's Talk About Tattoo Etiquette 

Leave your tattoo etiquette this below and help out a fellow evolve community member 🤙🏻

Be well rested, Shower, clean breath, clean clothing, eat foods that do not promote gas.

I usually eat a good healthy and super big meal a couple of hours before the tattoo sesion. In the session itself I usually bring a couple of protein bars, a Gatorade, super comfortable clothes and music to listen.

I've had multiple artists tell me not to shave and to let them do it because they don't want me to potentially cut the area they are working on.

Don't eat stuff makes your stomach upset. This way, you don't fart during an appointment.

My tattoo artist doesn't like talking when doing lines, but if she's filling in the spaces, all's game for chatting. Sometimes artists don't like to talk when doing their craft. That's one thing to consider. So, I would say have some movies or books or something on your phone to entertain yourself. Just in case.

Drink plenty of water the day before and the day of the appointment, eat a medium/big meal, get a good nights rest, make sure you clean yourself up before you go to the appointment, be on time, and don’t try to convince the artist on getting a discount

I definitely agree with being nice and clean and wearing deodorant, but please be mindful of strong perfumes, they can be overpowering when your artist will be close to your body for hours.

Artists always seem to appreciate when I grab them a coffee or a snack on my way in!

1:39 my tattoo artist always offers snacks or a drink (free of charge) before and halfway through just to make sure everyone's comfortable.

You hit it pretty good thank you for educating people on proper tattoo etiquette! I have had some clients that stank so bad I actually had to cancel the appointment because I told them any dirt on your skin could possibly be going into your skin so to prevent infection and an overall terrible experience please shower and eat before!

The only time I don’t tip is a touch up session,but one thing you don’t want to do is over talk because a lot of times it can be a distraction to your artist while doing your piece depending upon how good or not said artist is

Being comfy and wearing comfy clothing cannot be stressed enough. Sessions can be rough as they are and being positioned in weird contorted body positions for a long time can as mentioned be worse than the actual tattoo application so comfort is so important. Also just be nice to your artist dont rush them or micro manage their work instead try to have a good time and enjoy the ride.

This is a little more than an etiquette thing but I would say don't force your artist and do your research on them. For example, don't micromanage them and try to tell them how to do their job. (I have seen a surprising amount of people do this when I am getting tattooed) Sometimes you will want something exactly how you show them and that's understandable when you explain, like when you give them a reference and you dont want anything added/subtracted to the design. If they're not about it, move on. Dont argue with them and try to force them. Also, they are not on Ink Master, so if they have doubts about a certain style and they don't wanna do it, why would you want to force them to tattoo you? Move on, or even better (What I did with one of my designs), ask them if they recommend someone to check out. If you see their portfolio is mostly black and grey designs, then they may not like color tats or aren't too good at them. Ask and see what they say. I had a design I wanted to get in black and I saw an artist whose style I fell in love with. They're showing you their style in their portfolio, so pay attention and ask. The design I wanted was pretty different from his style but I wanted to know if he would be down to try it in his style. Sent him a message, he was all about it and very accommodating. He gave me suggestions, sketched them out real quick just to give me an idea of how the design would change. I told him I came to him because of his style, so give me your style. There were some small changes I wanted and he took care of them but kept the design perfectly in his style and I fell in love. If you dont like the design, then you CAN SAY NO. Yeah, it sucks about your deposit but at least you wont be stuck with something you dont like. Sorry for novel lol

I always shower, shave, and moisturize before every session. I also bring my own gloves, second skin, and aquaphor so my artist can save his supplies! The most important thing though....ALWAYS TIP YOUR ARTIST😊😊😊

If you’re going to have to take your shoes off, take you new or newer shoes and wear new socks. They’re cheap and you jniw you’re going to need them anyways so just buy new socks.

I totally agree with the clients and tattoo artists!

Getting amped up for my first piece. Definitely eating early, but they have snacks in shop too

Treat them like you are going tobthe doctor. Clean, comfortable dress, well reated, full stomach (if it is more than one hour), brush your teeth, no drugs or alcohol, communicate, know why you are there, and be there 15 minutes before your appointment.

I really agree with you you said some really good words of how to be prepared for a tattoo session 🎉😀👍🤝

A helpful dietary hint. Eat a big ribeye steak and a few eggs beforehand. Your stomach will feel full for hours, much longer than if you loaded up on pancakes/toast/potatoes/donuts, so you won't need sugary snacks or drinks later. Think of a campfire. Sugar and carbs are like kindling. They burn hot and fast, but you have to keep adding to them or the fire dies. Fat is like the big log that burns slow & steady all night long.

My artist said he hates it when clients shave before a session because often the skin is cut or irritated. He prefers to do it himself

My tattoo artist etiquette is to take a bump or getting high before the session

The thing I like to do is find a picture of the tattoo I want and I tell him or her i want something like that but do your thing and make it one of a kind! I guess I am saying if you can't trust your tattoo artist you need to find a new one!

Make sure you moisturize and exfoliate before you go. I had to reschedule a session because my skin was too dry. Dead skin cells can get stuck in the machine.

A lot of people don't know etiquette with regards to life in general.

I always show up without eating to my tattoo sessions, as it‘s impossible for me to eat in the morning. So I bring some snickers, chocolate milk or sth else with a lot of calories which easy to eat without interrupting the session. Always worked for me and the artist.

I’m getting my first tattoo in about 2 weeks and in one of the emails I was told no eating or drinking in the studio. I was looking forward to snacking whilst watching movies lol

The only thing I do additionally to what you mentioned is I always bring a sugary drink to help boost me back up once the adrenaline wears off.

Be a good sit. Don't ask for a lot of breaks. Keep the whining to an absolute minimum. You asked, even paid for the abuse, so take it. Talk to your artist for sure, but don't trauma dump. It's not a therapy session. Be present for your tattoo. Don't be talking on your phone, ignoring your artist entirely. It's a ritual - respect it. Tip generously. Bring snacks for the shop.

I don’t think I will ever tattoo my legs. My legs are hairy and I hate shaving.

I usually bring a box of cereal bars or protein bars, and a few juice cartons with me, and make sure I’ve eaten a proper meal before I go too. I do share the bars out with the artists too, and last time ended up giving two to another client who was having a large chest tattoo done. My artist has commented on how easy it is to tattoo my skin, because I always keep it moisturised. But the place where I want my next one I have keratosis pilaris, so I’m working on reducing that as far as possible beforehand. Hopefully won’t have to change placement!

Lol, tell that to my homie with a head tat who can't leave his current job. Bro wants to quit, but no one with decent liveable pay is hiring some dude with a shaved head and tats all over the back/sides of his skull. And this is in Chicago, btw

See, my regular artist told me not to shave and to let him do the shaving because the clients don’t know how to shave without nicking or cutting.

I do all of these 😁

All Of the Above MOstly for me ... Shower , Def eating A good Meal, I had a 6 1/2 session in Feb , ate a kinda small Breakfast was Dying by the end , Always Bring Earbuds Music or Netflix on my phone or iPad .... mints ... That about covers it for me Never Thought of shaving myself Before hand

I eat my first meal within my tattoo session, since i have full day sessions at the moment and as soon as i would eat in the morning before my tattoo session, i would get an stomach ache so i don't eat before my sessions in the morning and eat in within my session in the break

Yes I agree

Hi new here, got tatted this morning half sleeve with chest peace , my TA told me to leave my tattoo too air breath no cling wrap on i am in bed now open tattoo getting really cold but will not cover tattoo

I shave the area ahead of time. He might touch it up a little but it saves him time. I bring snacks and water.

I’ve got a question, I know you said not to annoy a tattoo artist, and follow what it says in their bio on IG (email, website, etc.) when it comes to booking, but for some of the artists I reached out to I just want to know the pricing of how much they charge (hourly or full day pricing) and some do have a website but don’t have their price shown on it. I’ve asked them through either dm or email and nothing comes back, What should i do?

How long did it take to get each sleeve?

Hello, can you please do a video on engraving/etching style tattoos?

How to shave wihout a razor?

When we gonna hear about your next tattoo Mike?

I thought showing up showered is common sense I mean the artist must sit hours next to you . The shaving tipp is great did this last saturday and my artist was happy he could start right away putting on the stencil. The you always should give a Tip thing tough might be an American thing , I asked many tattooed friends and some artists one said I watch to much american tattoo content XD only two tipped there artist cause they know them long and are friends with them .

Nice eyes

I put deodorant on my feet because I'd be horrified if the artist had to smell my feet for a few hours while getting my leg blasted.

I don’t think that you should come in drunk 😊

Never shave your areas. Just buzz it off. Artist don’t like when you go shaved