What should I wear to a tattoo appointment?

By placement

Think about what has to move out of the way, and whether you can get home comfortably afterwards.

• Upper arm or shoulder · a loose vest, or a shirt you can take off entirely.
• Forearm or hand · anything with sleeves that push up past the elbow and stay there.
• Thigh or hip · loose shorts. Not the ones you would wear out.
• Back, ribs or chest · something that opens at the front rather than a top you have to pull over a fresh tattoo.
• Foot or ankle · shoes you can get off, and something loose to go home in.

The things people forget

Four small ones that make a long sitting easier.

• Dark colours. Ink and plasma mark fabric and it does not always come out.
• Layers. Sitting still lowers your temperature more than you expect, and shivering is not helpful for either of us.
• Nothing tight over the area for the journey home. A waistband across a fresh hip tattoo is a long drive.
• A jumper or coat you do not mind not wearing over the tattoo afterwards.

What else to bring

Snacks and something sugary for anything over a couple of hours, headphones, a charger, and your ID. Blood sugar dropping is the most common reason somebody feels faint in the chair, and it is easily prevented.