A good session starts the day before. None of this is complicated, but each point makes the tattoo easier to sit through and easier to heal.
The night before
- Sleep. Tiredness lowers your tolerance and makes long sittings miserable.
- No alcohol. It thins the blood, which means more bleeding, a harder job for the artist and a tattoo that can heal patchier.
- Skip blood thinners. The studio asks that you avoid aspirin and other blood-thinning medication for at least 24 hours before. Ordinary pain relievers are fine. If you take prescribed medication, do not stop it; mention it when you book.
- Hydrate. Well-hydrated skin takes ink better and you will feel better in the chair.
The morning of
- Eat a real meal an hour or two before. Low blood sugar is the usual reason people feel faint.
- Shower, and shave the area if you are comfortable doing so. Soulraven will shave and prep the skin as part of the appointment if you would rather leave it.
- No lotion, oil or sunscreen on the area that morning.
- Bring photo ID. You must be 18 or older.
What to wear
Loose, comfortable, dark clothing that leaves the placement easy to reach. Shorts for legs, a vest or loose top for arms and shoulders, something that opens at the back for back pieces. Fresh ink and ointment can mark fabric, so nothing you would hate to stain.
What to bring
Your ID, your deposit balance, bottled water (the only drink allowed in the studio), headphones if you like to zone out, and a snack for longer sessions. Leave the entourage at home: the studio asks that only the client attends, with one companion allowed by prior notice, and no children.
Arrive on time
There is a 30-minute grace period; beyond an hour without notice, the deposit is forfeited and the slot goes to someone else. Kingston traffic is not an excuse the schedule can absorb, so leave early.
If you are unwell
Do not sit for a tattoo with flu-like symptoms. Tell the front desk and reschedule; healing a tattoo while your body is fighting something else is a bad idea for both of you.
Questions before the day? Message the studio. Everything else you need is in the FAQ.
Keep reading
Getting your first tattoo in Jamaica: what to know
Choosing an artist, what a consultation is for, how deposits work and what the day itself feels like, from a Kingston studio that has walked hundreds of people through their first piece.
Tattoo aftercare in Jamaica’s climate
Heat, sweat, sun and the sea are the four things that spoil a new tattoo here. How to manage each of them through the first month.
Planning a large tattoo or sleeve
Concept, flow, sessions, budget and patience: how a sleeve, back piece or chest piece is actually planned and built over months.
Kingston, Jamaica
Have something in mind?
Let’s talk about it. Tell Soulraven the idea, the placement and the size, and send your references in WhatsApp.