Fine Line Tattoos General Info

The day of your tattoo:

• Eat a hearty, nutritious meal 1-3 hours before getting tattooed. This is important especially for larger pieces. For smaller tattoos, at least a nutritious snack will do. This will keep your body energized, blood sugar levels to stay stable, giving you more stamina for the session. Protein in particular helps your body heal.

• Bring snacks! As with sports, your body might experience both adrenaline rushes and fatigue. Having a snack and a drink during breaks will keep your body hydrated and replenish your energy. Water, juice, granola bars, and candy are great options.

• If you are sunburnt you should wait for your sunburn to heal prior to your tattoo.

• Do not drink excessive alcohol or caffeine 24 hours prior to your appointment. Being hungover for a tattoo can be a horrible experience, alcohol and caffeine and can thin the blood which causes the skin to be hypersensitive, and to bleed/bruise more easily.

• DO NOT shave the area. I will do this when you arrive. Shaving hours or days before a tattoo can result in razor burn or ingrown hairs. If any of these occur you may need to reschedule, as it can affect the stencil and tattoo application.

• If you plan to numb, I prefer that you do that on your own time prior to coming in if possible, otherwise please let me know so we book some extra time in for the numbing cream to sit. I recommend zensa brand for tattoos.

• Please Note: You may  more sensitive during your menstrual cycle

Q: Are fine line tattoos painful?

A: While there is, of course, some discomfort, it is minimal. This is because the lines made are thin
and smaller needles are used to do fine line tattooing. It is also because the designs we are
tattooing are relatively small in size and so even if there is some discomfort, it doesn’t last long and
is tolerable.

Q: What areas of the body are most painful?

A: Ribs, spine, forehead, neck, ankles, hands, fingers and feet are known to be the most painful
areas. The fleshier the area, the less it hurts.

Q: Is it easy to do fine line tattoos?

A: Fine line tattoos look relatively simple but, because the lines are so precise, there is very little
room for error. If your line is wobbly or your circle isn’t perfect there isn’t anyway to hide it. So it is
important to ensure you are using correct technique, and are practiced in your line work.

Q: Will my client bleed during the procedure?

A: It is not common to see blood when doing a fine line tattoo. When using correct technique, there
is very minimal trauma to the areas we are tattooing. However, there are some clients who may be 'bleeders'.

Q: Do fine line tattoos fade quickly?

A: Although tattoos are permanent, that doesn’t mean they won't need some upkeep. Both
traditional and fine line tattoos will fade and slightly blur over time. Proper technique by the artist
and proper after care by the client will help minimize the need for a touchup early on. Most tattoo
designs, including both traditional and fine line, will require a touch up at some point. This is partly
because the immune system in the body will, in time, slowly and minimally remove the ink placed
in the skin. Sun exposure/ tanning will also cause the fading of the tattoo. Encouraging your clients to use
sunscreen will give more life to the tattoo.

Q: Are there certain parts of the body where the tattoo will fade faster than other parts?

A: Yes. Feet, knees, fingers and elbows are all areas where tattoos fade faster. This is because of the
movement in these areas and also because the skin in these areas regenerates faster.

Q: Will I need a 6 week touchup?

A: Not necessarily. You will see your healed work. A 6-8 week touchup for is a great way to see your work healed and assessed. You may not always need a touchup, come back in for you to decide if it is needed can be so beneficial.

Q: Is it possible to be allergic to the ink?

A: Yes it is. Black ink is the least likely to cause an allergic reaction. When it comes to ink allergies,
Yellow and Red ink are the more problematic inks.

Q: Can you do detailed tattoos with this technique?

A: Doing the fine line technique can actually bring more detail to the tattoo. But if your client is
wanting a smaller tattoo they will need to be okay compromising how much detail they can have in
the tattoo. You as the artist will need to tell them what is and isn’t realistic.