A tattoo is a lifelong commitment. There is a list of things you should know before getting one. This includes the selection of a design, the selection of your tattoo maker, and the cost of your tattoo or its aftercare, but this is not enough. If you are planning to get a tattoo, you should also know what to eat before andย after a tattoo.
Many people skip food before getting a tattoo, but thatโs not a great idea. If you want your skin healthy and perfect, be aware of what to eat before getting a tattoo instead of skipping meals1.
1. What to Eat Before a Tattoo?
Since tattoos will slightly affect your skin, you will not want to keep your skin dehydrated before. Here are some healthy foods rich in vitamins, protein and minerals to eat before getting a tattoo.
1.1. Protein Intake
Proteins help your body improve and modify your skin and muscles. They are essential for building and repairing your body, adding to your skin because they are body-repairing nutrition. Therefore, protein-rich foods like seafood or chicken are highly recommended before a tattoo appointment. Eggs, almonds, tofu, plain Greek yoghurt, and walnuts are also suggested for healthy skin.
Protein intake plays a crucial role in modifying skin tissue. Eating a decent amount of protein makes your skin look healthy and glowing.
Protein intake not only helps in the wound-healing process but also raises energy levels in the body. This is effective for the pain your body will experience and will also help your skin recover faster.
1.2. Vitamin C Intake
You might have noticed that most skin products contain vitamins. Dermatologists also prove that vitamin C plays a crucial role in healing your skin. Therefore, when you get a tattoo, consume vitamin C meals to repair your skin faster.
It is highly advised to eat foods rich in vitamin C, such as broccoli, bananas, and citrus fruits like sweet oranges, Mandarin oranges, and grapefruit. Moreover, you can also add red meat to your meals, which is rich in vitamin A and will keep your skin healthy.
The vitamin enables your body to manufacture collagen, which can be effective in healing the wound created by the tattoo needle. It also contains antioxidants that can help enhance skin.
1.3. Zinc Intake
Eating zinc supplements is beneficial for our bodies in many ways. Zinc is an essential mineral found in foods like whole-grain breakfast, mushrooms, blueberries, beans, and dry fruits like almonds. These are positive supplements to eat before your tattoo appointment. In addition, dark chocolate intake before those long sessions of tattoos is also helpful for healthy skin.
1.4. Water
Drink plenty of water to keep your body and your skin hydrated to fight the painful effect of the tattoo ink needle. Fluids play a crucial role in giving energy to your body. Naturally, the tattoo ink needle will cause excessive bleeding to your skin but if you are well hydrated with proper fluid levels, your blood will not flow much.
For almost every treatment of your body, whenever you think, โWill your body heal?โ Then water is like a best friend for your body. It is recommended for almost every type of treatment.
You can also keep yourself hydrated with some natural vegetable or fruit juice. Lime water is also highly recommended for keeping your skin hydrated before the appointment. There is a probability of mild trauma from the blood flow. Therefore, to stay hydrated, drink a lot of water.
2. What to Eat at the Tattoo Session?: Snacks
Generally, tattoo artists allow you to bring snacks to the parlour, but morally, you should still get permission from your artist to decide whether it is okay to bring snacks.
So here is a guide for what healthy snacks to eat at the appointment and to divert your mind from the blood flow.
- Low-fat bars
- Chocolates and nuts with low sugar
- Vitamin C fruits like oranges and grapefruit
- Lemonade or natural fruit juice
3. What to Eat After a Tattoo Session?
A lifelong commitment and this body modification tattoo is a choice, but your health should be your priority. Tattoo aftercare is critical after getting a tattoo. This also includes your proper diet plan, which should be maintained for at least a month. You should know what to eat before and after a tattoo.
You should include a guide in your diet after a tattoo appointment. Similar to the guide of what to eat before a tattoo appointment, you should include vitamin C-rich food and sufficient protein in your list.
- Tomatoes are high in vitamin C, which will help your blood-wounded skin heal fast.
- Berries like blueberries or strawberries are also rich in vitamin C. They also help when your skin shrinks. Your skin will heal and glow fast.
- Citrus fruits like oranges or grapefruit are always recommended for skin health. They help your skin look young and help heal the wound created by the tattoo needle unexpectedly.
- Dark, leafy green vegetables are highly recommended for your skin. They will help your skin heal faster. Broccoli has vitamins and minerals that are good for damaged skin. It will heal the wound faster.
- Dermatologists have proven that consuming avocados regularly will make your skin look soft and smooth. This means that the roughness of your wounded skin from the tattoo needle will heal faster and become softer. Moreover, avocados contain vitamins A, D, and E and protectย your skin from sun damage.
4. What to Not Eat Before a Tattoo Appointment?
Tattoo commitment is not easy, so be aware of what you should avoid eating before your tattoo appointment. You should always avoid food that is high in sugar or rich in fats. Here are some unhealthy foods that you should not eat during the healing process of your tattoo.
Avoid alcohol, coffee, and energy drinks because they can affect your blood sugar level. Therefore, you should avoid coffee or energy drinks on the morning of the tattoo session. Also, avoid alcohol consumption at least two days before your session and have a good nightโs sleep. These drinks will not only make you uncomfortable but also cause your blood to flow excessively during the tattoo process.
Fruit juice is highly recommended before your tattoo process, but not the one that contains high sugar. Dairy products can make you feel bloated and make your skin fat and heavy. Therefore, avoid consuming dairy products if you donโt want your tattoo to get changed or spoiled.
Soda and foods like instant noodles contain lots of fat and salt, so avoid consuming them before your tattoo appointment. Too much salt can dry your skin, so avoid eating foods with excessive salt.
Final Words
In this article, you must know what to eat before a tattoo. So, fill your stomach with healthy foods as recommended, and make sure you are eating healthy foods for the healing process.
Here is a bonus tip, since direct exposure to the sun can damage your skin, so in the tattooing process, it will be difficult for the tattoo artist to use a needle on your skin. Therefore, use sunscreen two to three days before your session if you go outdoors.
FAQs
Q1. What to know before getting a tattoo?
There are a few steps to keep in mind before getting a tattoo
Step 1: Tattoos are not cheap.
The fee for your tattoo depends on its size. The more your tattoo uses ink, the more expensive it will be. Make sure to get a tattoo that is affordable to your pocket.
Step 2: Place where you are getting a tattoo.
Some people love having a tattoo, and some are neither comfortable getting it nor watching it. So, ensure you are OK with getting a tattoo anywhere because tattoos are life commitments. There are complications with tattoo removal.
Step 3: A meaningful tattoo
If you are planning to get a tattoo, get a meaningful design because covering a tattoo might not always be possible.
Step 4: Tattoo artist research
To avoid coming home with a wound, make sure the artist you are going to have your tattooing experience with is experienced. Get reviews of your artist from people who have gotten tattoos from the same artist. Your health should be your priority.
Q2. What type of clothes should we wear after getting a tattoo?
Wear loose clothes after and during the tattoo session. Tight clothes can change your design, and your wound will not heal faster. Once your tattoo heals, you can return to your normal routine and wear whatever you want.
Q3. How long will your tattoo take to heal?
Upper skin, where you have designed, takes about three weeks, whereas inner layers take about three to four months.
- Pendergast, Felicity J., et al. โCorrelates of meal skipping in young adults: a systematic review.โย International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activityย 13 (2016): 1-15. โฉ๏ธ
Last Updated on by Namrata
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