Can You Drink Alcohol After Getting a Tattoo?

How Long to Avoid Alcohol After (and Before) New Tattoos

Whether you're getting your first tattoo or your fifteenth, asking "when can I drink alcohol after getting my tattoo?" is a very common question. At Sacred Raven Tattoo Shop we love alcohol and we love tattoos, but they should be enjoyed separately--and we'll tell you why. We’re here to give you the ins and outs on how long you should wait to drink alcohol before or after a tattoo session, and we'll also answer all the most frequently asked questions about alcohol and tattoos.

By the time you're done reading you'll understand why alcohol and tattoos don't mix, and discover what you should drink and eat before and after a tattoo session in order to prepare your body to accept a new tattoo (and facilitate the self-healing process). Read on to discover why teetotaling helps your body prepare to get and heal a new tattoo safely and effectively.

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Can You Drink Alcohol After Getting A Tattoo?

No, do not drink alcohol for 48 hours after getting a tattoo. In fact, you shouldn’t drink for 24 hours before getting a tattoo either. Your new tattoo will be considered an open wound, and alcohol delays the body's healing process. Alcohol also thins the blood, which can cause excess bleeding and setback the natural clotting and scabbing necessary for recovery. Alcohol affects both the body and the mind, and also disrupts consciousness and emotions, as evidenced by the many tattoo artist horror stories where people pass out during their tattoo, cry uncontrollably, and throw up.

Keep reading to learn the medical explanation for why you should not drink alcohol before or after you get a tattoo.

When Can You Drink Alcohol After Getting a Tattoo?

Wait 48 hours to drink alcohol after getting your new tattoo. Alcohol reduces the antibodies available in your body inhibiting the natural healing process following your tattoo. To put it another way, we like alcohol and we love tattoos, but they should always be enjoyed separately.

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Why You Shouldn’t Drink Alcohol After Getting A Tattoo?

The combination of alcohol and getting a tattoo, is detrimental to your health. Prepare yourself for your new tattoo by abstaining from drinking alcohol for 24 hours. Then, after your new tattoo is complete, wait 48 hours to drink alcohol. Abstaining from alcohol for a 72 hour zone before, during, and after your tattoo will protect your body's ability to self-heal.

Though you probably want to celebrate before or after getting your new tattoo to dull the pain or take the edge off the soreness of your skin, be patient and self-controlled. Understand that your tattoo is like a medical procedure, where you’ll need to rest up and heal for a few days. It used to be a run-of-the-mill joke that people would wake up with no memory of tattoos that they got when they were drunk. However, this is no laughing matter, because it’s well-established that drinking after getting a tattoo is risky behavior for the following reasons:

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What are the Risks of Drinking Alcohol After a Tattoo?

1) Drinking Alcohol Thins Your Blood

Alcohol thins the blood, which disturbs the body’s natural clotting function. Our blood forms clots to protect us after wounds or injuries. Even though a tattoo is an artistic procedure, it is technically an injury at the same time--as far as the body is concerned. So how does thin blood cause complications during and after tattooing?

2) Drinking Alcohol Causes Excessive Bleeding During and After Tattoo

Drinking alcohol thins your blood and causes excessive bleeding during and after your tattoo. The increased bleeding inhibits your tattoo artist's visibility, as they ink your tattoo design. The last thing you want is a jacked up tattoo, but even worse, you're prolonging your recovery. The thinning of your blood prevents blood cells from clotting, inhibiting your body's natural ability to scab, and ultimately heal.

When seeping blood extends beyond 36 hours after a tattoo, one of the main reasons is that your body has not been able to clot--due to alcohol consumption. In fact, if your new tattoo is still seeping blood after 48 hours, this is an indication that you need to seek medical attention immediately. Bottom line: refrain from drinking alcohol after getting a tattoo so your body can clot, scab and heal the open wound.

3) Drinking Alcohol Can Disturb The Healing Process

A tattoo machine actually pierces the skin hundreds of times, depending on the size of your tattoo. The tattoo process forms an open wound that needs days to heal. Larger tattoos take even longer to recover--sometimes even months. Drinking alcohol makes it harder for the skin to complete the clotting and scabbing process, which is the body’s natural way of healing skin that has been broken. When alcohol depresses your immune system, you are more vulnerable to infections that your body would otherwise naturally fight.

4) Loss Of Self-Control

Let's face it, the reason we're covering this topic is because normal alcohol consumption allows us to relax, especially under stress or potentially painful situations. Though it is tempting to think that you can face the pain of a new tattoo by drinking alcohol, the actual effect is your brain's loss of self-control, which can lead to fainting, over-emotionalism, nausea, and even violence. Drinking lowers your inhibition, impairs judgement, and increases the risk of aggressive behaviors, endangering your health and your tattoo artist.

Note: learn also when to shower after getting a tattoo and can I get a tattoo after getting vaccinated?

Bottom Line: How Long After Getting A Tattoo Can You Drink Alcohol?

Wait 48 hours after leaving the tattoo shop before drinking alcohol again. This is the bare minimum. Alcohol causes clotting and bleeding issues because it suppresses your immune system, and you should avoid alcohol until your wound has begun healing i.e. 48+ hours after getting your tattoo.

Can You Get a Tattoo While Drunk?

If you're getting a tattoo at a reputable tattoo shop, you won't be able to get tattooed while you're drunk. Good tattoo artists and tattoo shop owners refuse to give you a tattoo if they suspect you are under the influence of alcohol because, legally, you cannot sign a liability form while you are intoxicated.

Before your tattoo, the best tattoo shops have you sign a consent form and liability waiver to indemnify your tattoo artist for any damages associated with your new tattoo. Legally speaking, a signed contract can become invalid if it is discovered that the signature was made by an intoxicated party. Which means, if it is discovered that you are drunk during your tattoo, your tattoo artist can be held liable for any damages caused by the tattoo process. Tattoo shop owners also have a responsibility to protect their stores and their clients from potential danger and complications caused by drunken behavior.

Can You Drink Alcohol Before Getting A Tattoo?

No, it's important to abstain from drinking alcohol for 24 hours before getting a tattoo. Alcohol consumption increases the body's bleeding rate due to blood thinning, and the excessive bleeding hinders the tattooing process. Alcohol also causes drunkenness and corresponding behavioral issues, making it extremely difficult to communicate and deliver an excellent tattoo.

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What are the Health Risks of Drinking 24 Hours Before Getting a Tattoo?

1) Blood Thinning

The body processes alcohol quite slowly, and the effects on the blood are not immediately obvious. Even if you feel okay, or just a bit hungover when you get your tattoo done, your blood may still be quite diluted for 36-48 hours i.e. the next day or two after drinking. If the blood is not clotting properly because it is too thin due to alcohol consumption, you’re going to have a greater risk of bleeding during and after the tattooing process.

As well as the risks to your health, it can affect the quality of the tattoo too.

2) Bad Tattoos and Infections

Drinking alcohol dilutes your blood and causes increased bleeding. Increase blood flow t becomes more difficult for the tattooist to accurately place ink and color during your tattoo. When the tattooist is inking your tat, your blood mixes with the ink because the needle on the tattooing machine pierces the skin. Drinking alcohol can contribute to Remember that if your blood is too thin, it will not be able to clot properly, and the blood may begin to pool in the area of the tattoo!

In addition to this, the actual colors of the tattoo may be watered down too much if the blood is overly thin. This means that the tattoo will lose its intensity.

3) Drinking Alcohol Can Disturb The Healing Process

A tattoo machine actually pierces the skin hundreds of times, depending on the size of your tattoo. The tattoo process forms an open wound that needs days to heal. Larger tattoos take even longer to recover--sometimes even months. Drinking alcohol makes it harder for the skin to complete the clotting and scabbing process, which is the body’s natural way of healing skin that has been broken. When alcohol depresses your immune system, you are more vulnerable to infections that your body would otherwise naturally fight.

4) Loss Of Self-Control

Let's face it, the reason we're covering this topic is because normal alcohol consumption allows us to relax, especially under stress or potentially painful situations. Though it is tempting to think that you can face the pain of a new tattoo by drinking alcohol, the actual effect is your brain's loss of self-control, which can lead to fainting, over-emotionalism, nausea, and even violence. Drinking lowers your inhibition, impairs judgement, and increases the risk of aggressive behaviors, endangering your health and your tattoo artist. 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.

Note: learn also the dangers of diy tattoos at home and do piercings hurt.

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Why You Should Not Drink Before Getting a Tattoo:

1) Thinning of the Blood and the Tattoo

Consuming alcohol before your tattoo causes your blood to thin, which means your skin does not clot. 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.

2) Impaired Judgement

Getting a tattoo is not a matter of just turning up with a picture. There are many questions that the tattoo artist will ask during your inking process. Sobriety helps you articulate what you want.

Placement, style, size, shading, color and design are just a handful of important decisions you'll need to articulate to your tattoo artist. What seemed like a great idea after a few drinks could end up as a tattoo that you have to look at every day for the rest of your life! Drinking impacts your ability to make good judgements, and you are more likely to make poor choices that you regret later.

3) Emotional Instability

Emotional instability is a dead giveaway that you've been drinking before your tattoo session. Drinking alcohol makes you difficult to work with and reputable reputable tattoo shops will not tattoo a drunk person. Some people get edgy and can’t sit or lie still. Others want to talk constantly and distract the tattooist. If you jump or move during the tattooing process, and distract the tattoo artist, you put your tattoo quality at risk. It can be even worse if you fall asleep during your tattoo, as your body shifts position without warning in your booze-fueled slumber.

4) Your Tattoo Artist Can Cancel Your Session

If the tattooist has concerns for your general health and safety, or that of others around you, they will ask you to leave. Instantly, you will lose your tattoo deposit, and more than likely, you will not be welcome back. Drunk people cannot legally give consent to participate in a tattoo session.

Reputable tattoo studios ask you to sign a consent form before they start work on your tattoo. Consent forms include medical questions to determine whether a tattoo is safe for you, and the form also sets out the terms and conditions of the tattooing process. When you sign the form, you sign away your right for damages. You're also required to certify that you are not under the influence of alcohol or drugs. If a reputable tattoo artist suspects you are drunk, they will not work with you because it places them in a precarious position in the eyes of the law.

5) The Negative Impact on the Tattoo Shop

If your behavior due to drinking causes other customers to feel uncomfortable, or your tattoo ends up less than ideal because of thin blood, this could harm the tattoo artist and the studio. Tattoo artists choose stable canvases to showcase their talents, avoiding drunks who might make their business or talent look bad.

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The Best Drinks And Food To Consume Before And After You Get A Tattoo

The science behind what to eat and drink before and after getting a tattoo is a growing field. Start by drinking lots of water, eating fresh produce, and avoiding foods and drinks that cause inflammation. Here are a selection of the best food and drinks to consume when you’re going through the tattooing process:

Oranges

Oranges contain Vitamin C, which is vital for collagen production and good for the connective tissue in your skin. Collagen gives skin healthy hydration and elasticity, which are skin qualities that make a great canvas for tattoos. Vitamin C also strengthens the immune system and contributes to your body's natural healing properties.

Chocolate

When we recommend chocolate, we are referring to the heavy-duty dark stuff and not the sugary milk chocolate. Dark chocolate, which is full of cocoa solids, is excellent in providing goodness from the inside out. This helps speed up the renewal process of your skin cells, and the end result is faster healing. Amazingly, chocolate also has some protective qualities against ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Note: obviously, you should still cover the affected area when you go outside, because you don’t want a sunburnt tattoo!

Broccoli

You probably already know that broccoli is a superfood full of antioxidants, but did you know that it is also up there in terms of Vitamin K levels? Broccoli contains a huge concentration of antioxidants, such as Vitamins C and K. These are protective for your skin in terms of softness and strength! Vitamin K also protects against blood thinning. As broccoli is a completely natural source of Vitamin K, the process is enough to help you but not enough to harm you. This means that you don’t have to worry about your blood becoming too sticky, so get eating your greens!

Blueberries

Blueberries are packed with antioxidants. Antioxidants are chemicals in some foods that fight free radicals (the baddies that can damage cells and cause disease). Blueberries are fantastic in terms of the benefits that they provide for your immune system and healing in general. Blueberries are credited with healing many skin complaints ranging from oily skin to wrinkles. Not only that, but they also act as a kind of intestinal broom that sweeps out impurities from the bowel to provide internal cleansing. All of this translates into youthful looking, resilient skin. It is best to simply eat fresh or frozen blueberries. You can serve them with any meal, and they’re wonderful in smoothies or on top or your breakfast cereal or porridge.

Pineapple

Like blueberries, pineapple works from the inside out. You can apply pineapple juice topically directly onto the skin, but after tattooing, we recommend drinking the pineapple juice. Due to their high Vitamin C content, pineapple makes your skin look young and hydrated. This is how it works: Pineapple has collagen in it as a result of its bromelain enzyme, which builds up the skin’s strength and elasticity. As an added bonus, pineapple is calming on the skin and this helps to prevent inflammation after tattooing.

Garlic

Garlic is really a wonder food that benefits almost all parts of the body. It is strongly associated with natural healing and with ridding the body of impurities. At the same time, it stimulates the immune system to aid healing and prevent infection.

Water

Drinking water is excellent, not only for hydration which nourishes the skin, but to some extent, it can counter problems you might have with excessive bleeding. Start thinking about your water intake early on. See if you can increase your water intake for a few days before getting your tattoo.

Tomatoes

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 lycopene content in tomatoes is another factor in the fight against the aging of the skin. This means that down the track, your tattoo will look fresh for a longer period of time and is less likely to need reworking or touching up.

Healthy carbs

Carbs often get a bad rap in fad diets and popular media, but they are not all equal! Healthy carbs stabilize the blood sugar levels and fill you up. This is exactly what you need before getting a tattoo, especially if you’re a bit squeamish with pain or needles. 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. Ideally, you should have a carb-based meal the night before your tattoo. Pasta, rice, and potatoes are all good carbs that will help you. Closer to the time of your appointment, you might want a hearty sandwich or porridge, depending on whether you have a morning or afternoon session.

Dark leafy greens

We have saved the best until last. Dark, leafy greens are some of the healthiest foods available! They have a range of antioxidant properties and are full of minerals and vitamins. Especially important is Vitamin K, which we’ve mentioned earlier as being able to play a crucial role in blood clotting. Of the leafy greens, spinach is the most readily available and cheap source- not to mention tasty!

Bottom Line: Alcohol and Tattoos Don't Mix

To sum up: we all want to celebrate a new tattoo, but do not drink for 24 hours before getting a tattoo or 48 hours after getting a tattoo. There are just too many things that can go wrong, and the consequences can be unpleasant or permanent if the best practice guidelines are not followed. Instead of going out on the town, you should try to fortify yourself with the above healthy foods and water. These will make you feel better, and will play a major role in healing!

If you have taken the time to choose a design and image for your tattoo, and paid good money to get it done, it makes sense to be patient and just hold off having drinks until you are fully healed.

After all, you have the rest of your life to enjoy your new tattoo (and a beverage or two)!

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