You:

Get a good night's sleep and eat a substantial breakfast: being well-rested improves pain tolerance. Bring some food too, and don't drink alcohol the day before. For a longer session, bring something to pass the time, such as a book or a film on your phone with headphones. The studio provides coffee, tea, sweets and a blanket.

Your skin:

It would be great to exfoliate a few days beforehand (but not the day before!) to remove dead skin. Keep your skin moisturised, but don't apply products on the day of the session. Avoid tanning for at least two weeks beforehand: this means a strong tan; lightly sun-kissed skin isn't a problem. If you're confident shaving the area, please do; if you're worried about cuts, leave it to me.

Clothing:

• Wear comfortable, dark clothes: light-coloured clothing can easily get stained with ink or stencil transfer.
• Choose loose clothing that gives easy access to the tattoo area, as I'll need some room around it.
• If we're tattooing your upper body, such as your arm, back, stomach or ribs, a zip-up hoodie is a great choice. For a back tattoo, you can wear it backwards so I have easy access while you stay warm and don't have to sit in just your bra.
• If we're tattooing your legs, bring loose shorts.

No, because the immune system is weakened during pregnancy, increasing susceptibility to complications. There is also a lack of research into how ink ingredients affect foetal development. It is definitely safer to wait until after pregnancy and breastfeeding.