Another problem with going to the tattoo parlor under the influence is the alcohol and tattoos potential for impaired judgment. A tattoo is permanent, so you want to be sure you have a clear head when you get inked. If you do decide to drink before or after getting a tattoo, there are some best practices you can follow to minimize the risks and ensure the best possible outcome for your tattoo. However, even just one beer or cocktail affects your blood’s ability to clot. Your favorite whiskey, beer, or margarita may help you feel less nervous, but it reduces the platelets in your bloodstream.
To Drink or Not to Drink: Can you get a tattoo after a drink? What about after?
- Remember, alcohol is a dehydrator, and over time, dehydrated skin loses elasticity.
- However, as a seasoned tattoo enthusiast, I strongly advise against it.
- Then there’s Sarah, a tattoo enthusiast who thought a glass of wine with dinner wouldn’t hurt a few days after getting a delicate floral design on her shoulder.
- Not only does it get messy, but the excess bleeding could push ink out of our tattoo before it has settled properly, resulting in a faded look.
Since alcohol slows down the body’s nerve function due to delays in sending messages to various parts of your body, your muscles end up relaxing so much that you don’t have much control over them. So, not only does it inhibit your decision-making abilities but puts you at risk of possibly rocking a sketchy-looking tattoo. Listen to your body, follow your artist’s aftercare instructions diligently, and prioritize hydration. Trust me, that first sip will be even sweeter when you’re toasting to a perfectly healed masterpiece. One of the biggest concerns after getting a tattoo is getting an infection.
What Should You Do to Aid the Healing Process?
As well as the risks to your health, it can affect the quality of the tattoo too. FDA also has the authority to regulate the pigments in tattoo inks as “color additives,” by requiring manufacturers receive approval from FDA before inks go on the market. Especially if you’re new to tattooing, scoping out artists can instill confidence and help you get comfortable with the process. Drinking alcohol can also lead to infection based on your actions. You or people around you might forget to disinfect their hands before touching your tattoo.
- Since you are investing your time, money, and skin into the decision to get tattooed, view the process from a responsible and proactive mindset.
- Whether it’s spontaneous or long-planned, getting a tattoo is an exhilarating moment.
- You may be wondering why and the answer isn’t as complex as you might assume.
- Consultation with a dermatologist or oncologist is recommended before getting inked.
- Even if the artist tries to warn you, you might not be in a state of mind to listen.
- For one, alcohol can impair your judgment and communication, which can lead to future regret or misunderstandings between you and your artist.
Illustration: Can You Drink After Getting A Tattoo?
Persistent allergic responses can cause chronic inflammation, which is a known risk factor for cancer development. Black and red inks are the most common culprits for severe allergic reactions. Tattoo pigments are absorbed into the lymphatic system and may cause long-term health issues. Pigments accumulating in alcoholism lymph nodes can lead to swelling and impair immune function. Research has shown that nanoparticles from tattoos migrate to lymph nodes, potentially leading to inflammation.
What Happens if You’re Drunk Before Getting Tattooed?
Remember that you are about to make a decision that will keep with you for eternity. Any subsequent continuous/heavy bleeding could also potentially flush recently tattooed ink back out of the area, making your tattoo look patchy and faded once healed. Ink Dilution – Excess blood being pumped to the tattooed area can cause more blood to mix with the ink. This process can thin/dilute the ink, which in turn can result in your tattoo looking faded and washed out.
Impaired judgment has a multi-faceted effect on your tattoo experience. You’re in good hands with your tattoo artist and our numbing cream and gel — no brewskis necessary. Even if they can complete the tattoo, it can take longer and look less accurate than expected. Save you and your tattoo artist the headache, and skip the sip before your sesh. Not only can this excess blood-thinning and leakage lead to having to contend with more blood-stained clothing and bedsheets – but it can also amount to bigger problems.
- You risk a tattoo refusal when you show up at a tattoo studio while intoxicated.
- Research has shown that nanoparticles from tattoos migrate to lymph nodes, potentially leading to inflammation.
- You’ve probably watched “The Hangover”, it’s a movie where a bunch of friends binge drink and do all sorts of crazy stuff.
- So, let’s talk about why reaching for a drink might not be the best idea during this time.
- Excessive bleeding will delay scabbing which will lead to slow healing.
Finally, you will need to ensure you’re able to listen fully to any aftercare instructions your artist may give you at the end of the process. It’s a scientific fact (source) that alcohol consumption leads to temporary blood-thinning (much like how blood thinners work). Here’s what you need to know about mixing alcohol and tattoos before you toast your new ink. Tomatoes are another great source of Vitamin C. They pack a double-punch in that they also have Vitamin A, which preserves the skin from future damage. They are also thought to have some protective properties against sun damage and they allow the skin to breathe.
The Best Practices for Drinking Before and After a Tattoo
Remember, what think is a good idea for a tattoo when you are drunk, may not seem very funny to you when you sober up. When you’ve been drinking, you’re not as good at deciding whether the design your tattoo artist has created for you is really what you want. A tattoo is always a joint project that you undertake with the artist.
General Mood When Being Tattooed
Even if you don’t move, you’ll break the artist’s focus because they’ll be more concerned about your health. Some people don’t feel a change, and a rare few even feel less pain when drunk. But if you want to test what happens, you don’t want to sit through hours of potential torment and find out.
The bottom line is that consuming alcohol after a tattoo may not only affect its quality, but can put us at a greater risk for infection and delay the overall healing process. While it’s recommended to avoid alcohol for at least 48 hours after getting a tattoo, it might be wise to wait a full week to ensure there is no risk of blood thinning or excess bleeding. Plus, by the end of a week, a tattoo starts to form scabs and dry skin, which means it’s healing properly. Alcohol thins the blood, which can increase bleeding during the tattooing process. Increased bleeding can make it more difficult for the tattoo artist to work, leading to a lower-quality tattoo.