Your Ultimate Guide – Podcast Version
Hello Everyone! The episode of Simon Vadelma Podcast is out there. It is about how to prepare for Your next tattoo session! Very important topic. Check it out in the link below :
Your Ultimate Guide – Podcast Version
For those of You who want to read. As Always I have a text version. Here You go my friends!
” Welcome! My name is Simon Vadelma – I’m a tattoo artist and co-owner of Vadelma Tattoo in Amsterdam. In today’s episode, we’re going to talk about how you can prepare for a tattoo session in our studio. What are the best things you can do before the day of your tattoo, what should you avoid, and why listening to an engaging audiobook on your headphones during the session can help a lot! Please remember, the information shared in this episode is based on personal experience and is not intended as medical advice. If you have specific medical concerns or conditions, always consult with a healthcare professional before your tattoo session. To support us, visit our Art Print store at www.vadelmaprints.com, where you can find Natalie’s original artwork. Museum-quality art prints—in one size only – by design, like in the real paintings.
As the old saying goes: “If you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail.” It’s soo true! This simple principle can be applied in nearly all aspects of life.
In fact, it’s very easy to be well-prepared for a tattoo session—especially if you’ve done the work beforehand and chosen a professional studio. That’s more than half of the success. It’s also part of the reason why, as we discussed in a previous episode, we work by appointment only at Vadelma Tattoo. The time you spend with us before the session—writing and discussing your project—is irreplaceable. That’s probably the most important preparation of all! Now, let me share some tips that always work – to make sure your next tattoo session is as pleasant as possible. I’ll split them into three categories: What to do a few days before, the day before, and on the session’s day. Let’s go!
A Few Days Before the Session
First thing—stay properly hydrated if you’re not doing it already on a daily basis. Drink enough water to help throughout the tattooing process and with healing. Drinking water helps to hydrate the skin by maintaining optimal moisture levels in the body, as adequate hydration supports the skin’s functioning, preventing dryness and promoting its overall health and elasticity. It’s a healthy habit, so why not make it a lifestyle? On the other hand, try to avoid things that dehydrate your body. That’s why drinking alcohol is not recommended for at least 2-3 days before and 2-3 days after the session. A lot of people ask about coffee, and based on my experience, it’s perfectly fine to drink coffee even on the morning before the session. Maybe avoid going to extremes, but 1-2 cups of coffee a day shouldn’t negatively impact the tattooing process. Please also moisturize the area where you want the tattoo placed more often. If you have an evening skincare routine, maybe add a morning one just for the tattoo spot. However, do not apply lotion or any creams on the day of the session itself—you’ll want clean skin, free of products, when you arrive. The same applies to sunscreen. It’s also important to keep the tattoo placement out of the sun—specifically, keep it free from sunburns. I know – in the Netherlands, the problem with the sun is rather caused by lack of it, but people from all over the world come here to visit, and some of them are also getting tattoos, so please keep that in mind if you’re coming from LA or Sydney. 🙂
The Day/Night Before the Session
As much as possible, take it easy the night before. Don’t rush and try not to worry too much about the tattoo session. We tend to worry about things that never actually happen. So trust the process, and everything will be fine! I wouldn’t recommend doing any intense exercise that day—keep your body relaxed. Some light yoga, or a walk in the park is fine. As for people living in the Netherlands—don’t count cycling as exercise, here, it’s a lifestyle! If you can, try to go to bed earlier and aim for 8 hours of sleep.
Tattoo Session Day
After a good night’s sleep, you’ll certainly feel rested and ready. Take a shower, eat a balanced breakfast—something you enjoy and that will fuel you for the day ahead. Also, take your time—don’t rush anything. The more relaxed you are, the more enjoyable the experience will be! I highly recommend wearing comfortable clothes. A tattoo session could take a few hours, so you’ll want to be as comfortable as possible. Depending on where your tattoo will be placed, think about the clothing in advance. For example, if you’re getting a tattoo on your middle upper back, maybe a blouse with an open back would be a good option. This will give the tattoo artist easy access to that area, while keeping you comfortable during the process. If the tattoo is on your calf, maybe consider wearing loose, long sports trousers or jeans that can easily be rolled up. As a rule of thumb, plan your clothing for the session in advance. Also, don’t forget to bring some snacks—dark chocolate and sandwiches work well. You don’t need to prepare as much food as for a weekend trip, but it’s a good idea to eat something during the session, especially if it’s a long one.
Important: Avoid Painkillers
A crucial tip: don’t take painkillers before your session. Painkillers thin the blood, which can make the tattooing process harder and negatively affect the final outcome. Plus, pain is your body’s way of telling you something, so it’s not wise to suppress it. Tattooing usually isn’t as painful as people expect—especially if you’re well-prepared and relaxed. At Vadelma Tattoo, we also use a special technique that typically results in less pain. There’s still too much suffering in the world, so we try to reduce that as much as we can.
Audiobook/Podcast
Finally, the best thing you can do once you’re set up for your tattoo is to not focus too much on the tattooing process. One of the great abilities of our minds is that we can focus deeply only on one thing. Here’s where audiobooks or long, engaging podcasts come in handy. When you put your headphones on, press play, and dive into the story, two magical things will happen:
- You won’t feel the pain (or very little of it).
- Time will fly by!
It’s a little-known fact about tattooing, but it could actually be a form of meditation. I’ve experienced this many times and have seen it with Natalie’s clients too. When customers listen to a book and really focus on the story, they often tell us afterward that they hardly noticed any significant pain. It’s a simple trick, but it potentially could have huge positive effects. What do you think? Will you try it during your next tattoo session? Focusing on things like an audiobook during the session, has also one additional benefit, somehow it helps to stay still and not move too much. From a tattoo artist’s perspective, the more still you can stay, the better. Tattooing is a cooperative process between the artist and the client, and it’s in our mutual interests to create the most beautiful tattoo art possible!
That’s it for today! I hope these tips help you feel well-prepared for your next tattoo session. Applying these simple strategies can make your tattoo experience even more enjoyable.
Thank you! Have a good day and have fun!”
Hello Everyone! The episode of Simon Vadelma Podcast is out there. It is about how to prepare for Your next tattoo session! Very important topic. Check it out in the link below :
Your Ultimate Guide – Podcast Version
For those of You who want to read. As Always I have a text version. Here You go my friends!
” Welcome! My name is Simon Vadelma – I’m a tattoo artist and co-owner of Vadelma Tattoo in Amsterdam. In today’s episode, we’re going to talk about how you can prepare for a tattoo session in our studio. What are the best things you can do before the day of your tattoo, what should you avoid, and why listening to an engaging audiobook on your headphones during the session can help a lot! Please remember, the information shared in this episode is based on personal experience and is not intended as medical advice. If you have specific medical concerns or conditions, always consult with a healthcare professional before your tattoo session. To support us, visit our Art Print store at www.vadelmaprints.com, where you can find Natalie’s original artwork. Museum-quality art prints—in one size only – by design, like in the real paintings.
As the old saying goes: “If you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail.” It’s soo true! This simple principle can be applied in nearly all aspects of life.
In fact, it’s very easy to be well-prepared for a tattoo session—especially if you’ve done the work beforehand and chosen a professional studio. That’s more than half of the success. It’s also part of the reason why, as we discussed in a previous episode, we work by appointment only at Vadelma Tattoo. The time you spend with us before the session—writing and discussing your project—is irreplaceable. That’s probably the most important preparation of all! Now, let me share some tips that always work – to make sure your next tattoo session is as pleasant as possible. I’ll split them into three categories: What to do a few days before, the day before, and on the session’s day. Let’s go!
A Few Days Before the Session
First thing—stay properly hydrated if you’re not doing it already on a daily basis. Drink enough water to help throughout the tattooing process and with healing. Drinking water helps to hydrate the skin by maintaining optimal moisture levels in the body, as adequate hydration supports the skin’s functioning, preventing dryness and promoting its overall health and elasticity. It’s a healthy habit, so why not make it a lifestyle? On the other hand, try to avoid things that dehydrate your body. That’s why drinking alcohol is not recommended for at least 2-3 days before and 2-3 days after the session. A lot of people ask about coffee, and based on my experience, it’s perfectly fine to drink coffee even on the morning before the session. Maybe avoid going to extremes, but 1-2 cups of coffee a day shouldn’t negatively impact the tattooing process. Please also moisturize the area where you want the tattoo placed more often. If you have an evening skincare routine, maybe add a morning one just for the tattoo spot. However, do not apply lotion or any creams on the day of the session itself—you’ll want clean skin, free of products, when you arrive. The same applies to sunscreen. It’s also important to keep the tattoo placement out of the sun—specifically, keep it free from sunburns. I know – in the Netherlands, the problem with the sun is rather caused by lack of it, but people from all over the world come here to visit, and some of them are also getting tattoos, so please keep that in mind if you’re coming from LA or Sydney. 🙂
The Day/Night Before the Session
As much as possible, take it easy the night before. Don’t rush and try not to worry too much about the tattoo session. We tend to worry about things that never actually happen. So trust the process, and everything will be fine! I wouldn’t recommend doing any intense exercise that day—keep your body relaxed. Some light yoga, or a walk in the park is fine. As for people living in the Netherlands—don’t count cycling as exercise, here, it’s a lifestyle! If you can, try to go to bed earlier and aim for 8 hours of sleep.
Tattoo Session Day
After a good night’s sleep, you’ll certainly feel rested and ready. Take a shower, eat a balanced breakfast—something you enjoy and that will fuel you for the day ahead. Also, take your time—don’t rush anything. The more relaxed you are, the more enjoyable the experience will be! I highly recommend wearing comfortable clothes. A tattoo session could take a few hours, so you’ll want to be as comfortable as possible. Depending on where your tattoo will be placed, think about the clothing in advance. For example, if you’re getting a tattoo on your middle upper back, maybe a blouse with an open back would be a good option. This will give the tattoo artist easy access to that area, while keeping you comfortable during the process. If the tattoo is on your calf, maybe consider wearing loose, long sports trousers or jeans that can easily be rolled up. As a rule of thumb, plan your clothing for the session in advance. Also, don’t forget to bring some snacks—dark chocolate and sandwiches work well. You don’t need to prepare as much food as for a weekend trip, but it’s a good idea to eat something during the session, especially if it’s a long one.
Important: Avoid Painkillers
A crucial tip: don’t take painkillers before your session. Painkillers thin the blood, which can make the tattooing process harder and negatively affect the final outcome. Plus, pain is your body’s way of telling you something, so it’s not wise to suppress it. Tattooing usually isn’t as painful as people expect—especially if you’re well-prepared and relaxed. At Vadelma Tattoo, we also use a special technique that typically results in less pain. There’s still too much suffering in the world, so we try to reduce that as much as we can.
Audiobook/Podcast
Finally, the best thing you can do once you’re set up for your tattoo is to not focus too much on the tattooing process. One of the great abilities of our minds is that we can focus deeply only on one thing. Here’s where audiobooks or long, engaging podcasts come in handy. When you put your headphones on, press play, and dive into the story, two magical things will happen:
- You won’t feel the pain (or very little of it).
- Time will fly by!
It’s a little-known fact about tattooing, but it could actually be a form of meditation. I’ve experienced this many times and have seen it with Natalie’s clients too. When customers listen to a book and really focus on the story, they often tell us afterward that they hardly noticed any significant pain. It’s a simple trick, but it potentially could have huge positive effects. What do you think? Will you try it during your next tattoo session? Focusing on things like an audiobook during the session, has also one additional benefit, somehow it helps to stay still and not move too much. From a tattoo artist’s perspective, the more still you can stay, the better. Tattooing is a cooperative process between the artist and the client, and it’s in our mutual interests to create the most beautiful tattoo art possible!
That’s it for today! I hope these tips help you feel well-prepared for your next tattoo session. Applying these simple strategies can make your tattoo experience even more enjoyable.
Thank you! Have a good day and have fun!”
