You may also be unable to articulate or remember medical concerns that the tattoo artist should be made aware of. Humans have been giving and receiving tattoos for over 5,000 years—some of can you get a tattoo while drunk the elaborate designs we see today wouldn’t have been possible then. The risk of infection was too high for most people to try anything body-wide.

Tattoo Blowouts: An Artist’s Worst Nightmare

During the healing phase, it’s best to hold back on the partying. The next party is sure to come and it will be even better than before with your new, well-healed tattoo. Your skin could also suffer from serious scars since alcohol dehydrates, and dry skin isn’t a good canvas.

Can you drink alcohol before a tattoo?

The additional blood flow during your tattoo is a distraction for your tattoo artist and compromises longevity and clarity of your tattoo. The ink may not properly settle into your skin and your tattoo will lose some of its intensity. While getting tattoo drunk might increase the pain threshold during the session, it’s more likely that you’ll bleed more. When the alcohol wears off, you might feel more pain than without a drink. I’ve already answered one half of, “can you drink alcohol before or after tattoo?

Alcohol reduces your ability to make decisions

It’s a matter of weighing the risks and benefits and making an informed decision that prioritizes your health and the longevity of your tattoo. The joy of a new tattoo lasts far longer than a night of drinking, and the potential risks simply aren’t worth it. This self-infliction makes your whole day at the studio a lot less of a positive experience, and can become a burden on your tattoo artist if you’re not completely coherent. Visibility – The thinner the blood, the easier it’s going to be for it to leak out of the tiny puncture wounds caused by a tattooing needle.

Personal Experiences with Drinking After Getting a Tattoo

Here are the reasons why you shouldn’t get tattooed while drunk. This is partially based on the legal principle that a minor cannot enter into a legal contract or otherwise render informed consent for a procedure. 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. If you’re truly worried about not being able to handle the pain while being tattooed, take a peek at our huge article about dealing with tattoo pain. Due to the rather important fact that ink is permanent, it would be advantageous that you remain in the clearest state of mind possible when choosing and getting your new tattoo.

Drinking and Tattoos 101: Before, During, and After Your Session

As true as it is that drinking alcohol too often leads to undesirable consequences, including addiction and death, it is also true that moderate use of alcohol can have certain benefits. Got a fresh tattoo and wondering if you can grab a drink to celebrate? I started this site to share my joy and experience throughout the journey of being a tattoo artist.

First, more of your blood can mix with the tattoo ink when your blood is thinner. Like mixing paint with water, the blood can dilute the ink and make your tattoo look faded. You expect good service from them, so don’t make their job harder by being a difficult customer. You can’t legally sign the release form if you’re drunk.4 But even if they will do the tattoo, you could end up with something you regret that could be expensive to remove. Another problem with going to the tattoo parlor under the influence is the potential for impaired judgment.

• Plus, drinking can increase your risk of infection and delay the healing process.
• If you’re getting a tattoo at a reputable tattoo shop, you won’t be able to get tattooed while you’re drunk.
• This can cause the tattoo to become ripped or torn, which will lengthen the healing process.
• You might choose a tattoo that seemed cool when you were drunk, but the next day, you might regret that fresh ink because it’s not the design you really wanted.

The Long-Term Effects of Alcohol on Tattoos

• Remember that you’ll also have to keep still for a lengthy amount of time when getting your tattoo, and won’t be able to raid the fridge for munchies.
• The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
• Alcohol dilutes your blood and reduces your ability to make decisions, and because alcohol is metabolised slowly by the body, it takes time to be eluted and absorbed.
• Dancing on top of the bar right after getting some fresh ink is not a good idea.
• All things considered, it’s probably not a great idea to make sure you either don’t get a tattoo during or after several cocktails.
• A highly visible tattoo that might be botched or have an ugly design will ruin your image.

Join the conversation and become a part of our empowering community! Share your stories, experiences, and insights to connect with other beauty, lifestyle, and health enthusiasts. Impaired judgment has a multi-faceted effect on your tattoo experience. To learn more about tattoo healing, please check out our Advice Hub article ‘The Healing Process of a Tattoo’.

Community Experiences

When you drink alcohol, it slows down your nervous system, making it harder for your brain to send messages to different parts of your body. This makes your muscles relax a lot, and you lose control over them (2). So, not only does alcohol affect your decision-making, but it also increases the chance of you not properly realizing the amount of pain you are in while getting a tattoo that may not look so great. Furthermore, a loss of control can also cause negligence in your tattoo aftercare. That can only go wrong because when you’re drunk you’re no longer in as good control as to when you’re sober. Imagine you get bouncy and while your tattoo artist is about to tattoo a nice straight line, you flinch away or move all at once.