What to eat, what to bring, and how to get through 8–10 hours in the chair without tapping out — the practical side of a full day sitting.
Let’s be real: sitting in a chair for 8 to 10 hours while needles are driven into your skin is an endurance sport. It’s not a walk in the park.
I’ve spent 18 years in construction, working long days on sites where you just had to grit your teeth and get the job done. Tattooing—specifically large-scale black and grey realism—requires that same mentality. If you’re booked in for a full sleeve in one day or a major portrait piece at my studio in Chapeltown, you need to treat your body like a machine. If you don't fuel it, it will break down.
Here is how to prepare so you can handle the session like a pro.
Don't stay up until 2 AM binging Netflix or worrying about the pain. If you come in tired, your pain tolerance will be through the floor before I’ve even put the stencil on. You need to be well-rested. Treat this like a work day.
Drinking a pint of water five minutes before you walk through my door won’t cut it. You need to be hydrating 24 hours beforehand. Well-hydrated skin takes ink better, bleeds less, and heals faster. Plus, it stops you from getting a headache three hours in.
This is non-negotiable. Do not go out drinking the night before.
I don't care if you're "not a breakfast person." On tattoo day, you eat breakfast. You need slow-release energy—porridge, eggs, toast. Your body burns a huge amount of calories dealing with the trauma of the tattoo. If your blood sugar drops, you’ll pass out. It’s that simple.
This isn't a fashion show. We are in a private studio, just you and me. Wear loose, comfortable clothing that you don't mind getting a bit of ink or stencil fluid on (it happens).
We take a proper lunch break around 1:30 PM, so bring something substantial. But you also need to graze throughout the day to keep your sugar levels up.
Mental preparation is half the battle. There will be moments where it hurts. There will be moments where you’re bored. That’s why I have the "Wild" playlist and the TV setup. Distract yourself.
Trust the process. I work efficiently to get the most amount of detail into your skin in the time we have. If you’ve prepped right, you’ll sit better, the art will look better, and the healing will be smoother.
Got a project in mind? If you think you can handle the day, check my availability and let's get you booked in.