If you’ve spent some time in the tattoo chair, you may have noticed by the end, you feel like you’ve been hit by a truck.

I’ve had many of you noted confusion, since you “didn’t do anything all day, but sit”. But, your body has been working!

Your body has this funky thing called, neuroendometabolic stress response (NEM). It’s basically your body’s fight or flight response, that’s usually activated in stressful situations.

Maybe you aren’t feeling stressed while getting tattooed, but the process of being stabbed by a needle for a couple hours, is pretty stressful and usually unnatural for the body.

Your body basically secretes an anti-stress hormone, cortisol. This can overburden your adrenals which leads to adrenaline fatigue. Sometimes you may even feel dizziness and nauseous.

There’s also this other fun thing called, “tattoo flu”. Sometimes your NEM might also trigger your body to respond to the whole process as it would with an infection. You can experience other symptoms that are common in other ailments like:

• Fever
• Chills
• Fatigue
• Headaches
• Nausea
• Muscle aches
• Swelling/redness around the tattoo

The best thing to do is rest up and stay hydrated. If you need, see a doctor or pharmacist for pain relief, fever reduction and persisting symptoms.

My tips for before and during your appointment are always:

• Have a big sleep and a good feed the night before.
• Bring lots of water, your favourite snacks and lunch if we’ve got a big day ahead. Even for small appointment, I recommend bringing a bit of sugar to keep your sugar levels up.
• Make sure to eat breakfast! It gives your body the extra energy and calories to work through during your appointment. Without a decent meal, you may become dizzy, and can pass out.

Your body needs fuel and stable blood sugar levels. Hydration is generally helpful for skin health during and after the tattoo.

Look after yourselves, and also shout out if you need a break or cut a session early!