How to Prep for Your Brow Tattoo Appointment (And What NOT to Do the Night Before)

By Ira Bale

Founder, Ira Bale Brows – South Yarra & Toorak Village, Melbourne

If you're about to get your brows tattooed — congrats. You're about to gain hours back every week, stop chasing symmetry in your bathroom mirror, and finally ditch the pencil that never lasted past lunch.

But here’s the deal:

What you do before your appointment matters just as much as what we do in the chair.

Poor prep can lead to:

• More bleeding

• Patchy healing

• Pigment that won’t hold

• Delayed healing time

• And ultimately… not getting the result you paid for

At Ira Bale Brows, we do everything possible to ensure your brow tattooing is safe, precise, and beautiful. But if you show up with a compromised canvas, there’s only so much we can do.

So here’s how to show up ready — and what to absolutely avoid the night before.

Transformative microblading results by Ira Bale at Ira Bale Brows, South Yarra, showcasing enhanced eyebrow definition and fullness.

48 Hours Before: Start the Reset

1. Cut the caffeine

Caffeine increases blood flow and makes you bleed more during the procedure. More bleeding = more pigment pushed out.Switch to herbal tea or water for two days prior. Your brows will thank you.

2. Avoid alcohol

Same issue. Alcohol thins your blood and also dehydrates the skin. If you want crisp, clean healed strokes or ombré gradients, skip the wine.

3. Step away from the actives

No retinol, AHAs, BHAs, or exfoliating treatments on or around your brows for at least 3 days — 7 if you’re using prescription strength.These thin the skin and make it more sensitive to trauma.

4. Don’t book anything “fun” the night before

No spray tans. No facials. No heavy gym sessions. No beach days.We want calm, rested, non-irritated skin for tattoo day.

24 Hours Before: Time to Calm Down (Literally)

1. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate

Drink 1.5–2L of water the day before. Hydrated skin = better pigment uptake.

2. Eat a full meal before your appointment

Low blood sugar during a tattoo session can make you lightheaded, jittery, and more sensitive to pain. Don’t show up on an empty stomach.

3. Get some real sleep

Stress and poor sleep increase inflammation in the body. This can affect how your skin reacts during tattooing — and how it heals. Rest isn’t optional — it’s prep.

What NOT to Do the Night Before

Let’s make this clear:

• No waxing, threading, or tweezing. You might think you’re helping, but you’re actually removing skin and increasing inflammation. We’ll shape the brows on the day, professionally.

• No hard exfoliation or dermaplaning. These compromise the surface of the skin, making it more prone to scabbing and poor pigment retention.

• No strong skincare or topical medications. This includes acne treatments, steroid creams, or anything with benzoyl peroxide.

• No saunas, hot yoga, or steam facials. They dehydrate the skin and open pores — not ideal before a tattoo.

Day Of: What to Know

• Arrive with clean skin. No makeup on or around the brow area. If you’re coming from work, we can cleanse for you, but less is more.

• Wear comfy clothes. You’ll be lying down for up to 2 hours.

• Bring your brow inspo if you have any. But remember — we design based on your face, not someone else’s.

Client Story: P., 30, South Yarra

P. showed up to her appointment after a night out. She’d had three glasses of wine, waxed her brows the day before, and used her “usual night serum” — which turned out to be a retinol-laced brightening complex.

What happened?

• Her skin was too thin — we had to reduce the depth of the pass.

• She bled excessively — pigment was visibly pushing out during application.

• The shape held, but retention was patchy — especially at the tails.

We gave her a strict healing plan and rebooked her touch-up early — but it could have been avoided.

She was lucky. Not everyone gets a second chance.

Our Promise at Ira Bale Brows

Every tattoo appointment with us includes:

• Full pre-draw and mapping based on bone structure

• Numbing cream and calming prep

• Top-grade pigments and tools

• Post-care pack and instructions

• A complimentary touch-up session

But we need you to do your part before you arrive. Great results start with great prep.

Final Thought

Your brows aren’t just “getting done.” They’re getting tattooed.

Show up prepared — physically and mentally — and you’ll heal better, faster, and more evenly.

And in a few weeks when you’re walking out the door without reaching for your brow pencil, you’ll know it was worth every ounce of prep.