It's hard to relax right before the tattoo artist starts drawing, but if you can, your experience will be easier. Try taking a few deep breaths, talking to your friend or family member, or even chatting with the tattoo artist. These things will help you relax and quit focusing on what's about to happen. If you're very worried going into your appointment, call ahead of time and ask whether you might be allowed to bring items that help you relax. For instance, you might try bringing an MP3 player to listen to your favorite relaxing tunes during your appointment. Many parlors will give you a good deal of freedom as long as your items don't interfere with the tattoo artist's job. Depending on the size and detail level of your tattoo, you may be in the parlor for up to a few hours. While you'll get breaks to get up and move around, a little bit of preparation can make your appointment much more comfortable. Below are a just a few things you may want to consider:  Have a meal before your appointment. Have a glass or two of water to avoid dehydration and reduce the possibility of fainting. Wear loose, comfortable clothing you won't mind sitting in for a long time. Bring anything you'll need to entertain yourself during your appointment (music player, reading material, etc.) Go to the bathroom before your appointment starts. Tensing your muscles in an area you aren't getting tattooed by squeezing something in your hand or biting down on something can actually reduce pain significantly. In fact, it's a technique that's use to reduce pain for women during labor — and it works quite well. Many tattoo parlors will have something for you to use, but if yours doesn't, consider bringing one of the following:  Stress ball Grip exerciser Protective mouthpiece Gum Soft candy Towel, wooden spoon, etc. Don't bite down if there's nothing soft in your mouth. Simply gritting your teeth can cause dental damage. Even something as simple as controlling your breathing can make getting a tattoo more bearable. Try to exhale when you feel...

TL;DR in Vietnamese:
Giữ bản thân bình tĩnh. Làm bản thân cảm thấy càng thoải mái càng tốt. Siết chặt hoặc nhai thứ gì đó để xoa dịu sự đau đớn. Tập thở ra đều đặn đặc biệt là trong suốt giai đoạn đau buốt. Càng ít di chuyển càng tốt. Đừng ngại nghỉ giải lao giữa chừng. Dùng thuốc giảm đau không kê đơn (nhưng không phải là loại có chứa chất làm loãng máu). Không nên làm giảm cơn đau bằng cách uống say. Lắng nghe hướng dẫn chăm sóc hình xăm của từ nghệ nhân.