5 Things You Should Avoid Wearing While Getting A Tattoo

There are many things you can do to help your next (or first!) tattoo go more smoothly. For example, it can help to avoid alcohol, moderate your caffeine intake, and get some beauty sleep the night before your ink appointment. On the day of your session, skip the gym, stay well hydrated, and eat a decent meal before sitting for your tattoo. From the inside out, these steps will help ensure that your body is well-prepared to handle the physical strain of getting a tattoo. But have you put any thought into how you dress for your appointment?

Deciding what to wear may not be your number-one concern when going in for new ink, but the fit of your 'fit can actually make a huge difference to your comfort level — and even the healing process. For more details on this oft-overlooked consideration, Glam spoke exclusively to Brooklyn-based hand-poked tattoo artist Rosa Bluestone Perr.

First and foremost, Perr says there are no hard rules or dress codes for getting a tattoo. "As an artist, I see clients privately, and my studio is a safe space so you can wear whatever you want," Perr tells Glam. "This is totally up to the client!" Still, the artist has some recommendations for ideal tattooing outfits, including things to avoid — like tight bodycon silhouettes or snow-white garments, which could ultimately be uncomfortable or impractical during your appointment.

Tattoos have become overwhelmingly popular in recent years, but for many people, the actual process of getting the tattoo isn't the fun part. Depending on the placement of your design — different body parts offer more or less painful tattoos — the experience of getting inked can range anywhere from uncomfortable to straight-up agonizing. Who'd have guessed that getting repeatedly stabbed with needles could hurt?

That's why it's so important to dress with comfort in mind. "When getting a tattoo, I recommend wearing something comfortable and loose," Rosa Bluestone Perr exclusively tells Glam. This will put less unnecessary strain or friction on other parts of your body, minimizing your overall discomfort. For instance, do you really want to sit in the same position for six hours while also squeezed into a boned corset? Instead, think about the type of clothes you probably like to sleep in — soft, baggy, and lightweight items will all help put your body at ease. Breathability also helps — not only are fabrics like cotton and linen more comfortable to the touch, but they can also help keep your skin cool and dry throughout your appointment.

Also, consider how you'll be positioned during the tattoo itself. For example, Perr says, "I like to have my clients lay down fully horizontal for the tattoo for a more relaxing experience." Some tattoo placements may require slightly awkward positioning, so choose garments that are both flexible and will cover any bits you don't want to put unexpectedly on display.

Comfort is obviously important during your tattoo session, but even your coziest, stretchiest clothes won't fit the bill if they get in your artist's way. When putting together your tattoo-day ensemble, consider which items can be moved, removed, or skipped altogether to give your artist full access to their canvas.

"The placement of the tattoo, as well as the client's comfortability with disrobing, will affect what clothes make sense to wear," Rosa Bluestone Perr exclusively tells Glam. Apparently, some clients are happy to strip down to their skivvies for the sake of their new ink, but Perr implies that this isn't a requirement or expectation — unless your design is going in a really intimate spot.

For everyone else, a little foresight and common sense can make all the difference. Getting an arm tattoo? Opt for something sleeveless. Getting a calf or thigh tattoo? Shorts — or perhaps short shorts — might be the way forward. Ribs, lower back, or underboob? Crop tops, bandeaus, or even pasties are all steps you can take to preserve a little modesty while keeping the area clear and accessible. Button-up tops are also a handy option for many different torso tattoo placements, as they can be opened easily, pulled on and off without going over your head, and even worn backward to keep your front covered during a back tattoo. 

Tattoo artists are professionals who know how to keep a clean workstation. That said, getting tattooed involves a lot of smear-able substances — not only the ink itself but also blood, sweat, numbing creams, and moisturizing gels can all be present in a typical session. In short: Don't wear anything precious, expensive, or irreplaceable.

With the ever-present risk of staining, it can also help to choose dark-colored clothing for your tattoo appointment. You'll notice that a lot of tattoo artists wear black while they work, and this isn't just a style choice, though it does look cool. It's also a practical defense against constant staining. Black or dark-colored garments are less likely to show any errant flicks of ink and other messiness inherent to the tattooing process, meaning they're also less likely to end up unkempt or even ruined. Sure, there are ways to get pesky ink stains out of your clothing, but don't put all your eggs in that basket — tattoo ink isn't formulated the same as normal pen ink and may not come out the same, either.

Like certain clothing items, jewelry and accessories can sometimes get in the way while your artist is trying to work. So, don't be surprised if you need to take them off for your appointment. "If you want a finger tattoo or a wrist tattoo and you wear rings or watches/bracelets, be prepared to remove the jewelry," Rosa Bluestone Perr exclusively tells Glam.

Of course, not all jewelry is straightforward to take off. Do yourself a favor and remove any tricky accessories before you get to your appointment. For one thing, this will save you time and annoyance in the shop. And if you're paying by the hour, every bit of prep you can do at home might also save you money. For another thing, removing any precious jewelry at home — say, that heirloom ring that usually never leaves your finger — lessens your chance of accidentally leaving it behind or losing it.

The one exception to this rule? If you have an especially hard-to-remove piercing in the way of your tattoo, there may be a piercer at the shop who can help you out. Just be sure to ask ahead of time rather than assuming someone will be on-call to assist. Otherwise, you might try your hand at getting it out yourself — you can remove pretty much any type of piercing at home with a little bit of care and patience.

Narrowing your tattoo outfit options down to one that will be comfortable, accessible, and stain-resistant during your session while still being appropriate to the weather outside can be tricky. Thankfully, changing at the studio is always an option. "Some clients strip down to their underwear," Rosa Bluestone Perr reveals, adding that many others simply opt to bring a more revealing outfit to wear while getting inked. "You can always bring a change of clothes for the appointment. For example, if you plan to get a tattoo on your leg but it's winter and you want to wear pants, you may want to bring a pair of shorts to change into."

But remember: You'll also have to get that fresh ink home again, so think pragmatically about aftercare. Returning to Perr's example, it's easy enough to doff your trousers during the tattoo appointment, but can you put them back on to face the winter chill on your return commute? Tight jeans or even leggings might not be the best choice here — consider loose but cozy sweatpants to keep yourself warm without putting pressure on your new tattoo.

The same theory holds true for any tattoo placement. From undies to hoodies, make sure that any layers of clothing going back on after your tattoo session will be loose, comfortable, and breathable over your fresh ink. You'll most likely be bandaged and/or wrapped but also tender, so go easy on yourself with the season's most relaxed clothing options.