ABOUT KITTY KATTOO

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No one under the age of 18 may be tattooed in the state of Wisconsin, regardless of parental consent.

• Bring your ID, or the tattoo can not be done.
• Eat a meal at least 1 hour before coming into your appointment. 
• Drink lots of water, hydrate.
• Shower before.
• Dress for your session. Think about the area in which you are getting Tattooed. Wear clean & loose fitting clothing you wouldn’t mind possibly getting stained with ink.
• Do not show up intoxicated.
• Feel free to bring headphones, a book, snacks. (Especially for long sessions)
• Ask before applying your own numbing cream.

It’s easy to ruin or fade a new tattoo if you do not care for it properly. Even worse, your tattoo could become infected. Luckily, proper tattoo care is not difficult. 

• You’ll leave the studio with a "fake skin" wrap over your tattoo.
• Once the bandage comes off, use fragrance-free, antibacterial soap to wash the area with lukewarm water and pat it dry. Do not scrub the skin. 
• Apply a thin layer of non-scented lotion 2–3 times a day as needed.
• Do not pick at, scratch, or irritate the tattoo. Your tattoo may peel or start scabbing, this is normal. 
• Apply non-scented lotion as needed for the first 2–4 weeks.
• If there is swelling, apply ice and/or use pain relievers such as ibuprofen.
• Keep your tattoo away from animals.
• Avoid swimming, hot-tubbing or submerging your tattoo in water for 2–3 weeks.
• Avoid sun exposure or tanning for at least 4 weeks.
• Wear clean, soft clothing and avoid tight garments. 
• If your skin hurts while exercising, refrain from working out until it has healed. (Be aware of unclean gym equipment to protect yourself from infection)

Getting a tattoo when your immune system isn't at 100% isn't a good idea. You're going to need your strength and your white blood cells to heal your tattoo, something your body won't be able to do if it's already battling against virus‘ and bacteria. Not to mention, it's very inconsiderate to bring your illness into the studio and risk passing the germs onto others. If you have an appointment, call and reschedule for when you're feeling well again.

Since everyone experiences pain differently, tattoo pain levels are tricky to measure. For that reason, there's no straight up scientific answer for how much tattoos hurt. After an artist works on the same area of your body for a while, though not the most intense pain, you can definitely feel the burn. Getting a tattoo is often compared to a cat repeatedly scratching you. When the needle buzzes, revs, and pricks your skin, your body produces stress hormones like adrenaline to counter the pain. According to researchers, this can dull the sensation for the first couple of hours. Chatting with your artist, listening to music, just distracting your mind may cause the pain to fade into the background. 

Listen to your body!! Do not be afraid to ask to take a break when you’re struggling. Larger tattoos are often broken up into several sessions.