First tattoo: everything you need to know before sitting in the tattoo chair

Getting your first tattoo? Here's what actually happens in the chair, how to pick an artist, how much it hurts, and how to heal it right.

Everyone has an opinion about your first tattoo - your friends, your coworkers, your uncle  joe and even your grandma whose peeling anchor is an eternal reminder of his first and, apparently, most painful tattoo. Tune most of them out - a first tattoo is a well-earned one if you prepared for it, and poorly-earned if you didn't. But preparing is easy!

What to know about choosing your design versus your artist: the latter is significantly more important than the former

Most first-timers who come to me have spent ages agonizing over their design and a couple of minutes finding an artist. But a great artist can make even an average design great, and a bad one can turn your best into something that will haunt you for the rest of your life. Study their portfolios!

All good artists post their work on social media, and on their pages, you should look not at the fresh tattoos, but at the healed ones: these will show whether lines are crisp and colors are vivid. Another thing to consider is the style: an artist who does black and gray fine line is unlikely to be good at your beloved traditional tattoo, no matter how beautiful it supposedly is. Do not shop by price, shop your tattoo artist by skill, we cannot stress how important this.Having a design on your body should be the best, as you deserve the best!

What happens at the tattoo parlor: documents, stencil, and the tattoo itself

You'll be asked to sign a few papers and show your ID upon arrival: a responsible tattoo parlor will always ask for both. You'll also be asked about the stencil during your consultation, so use the parlor's mirror to examine the desired placement. Ask the artist to shift the stencil around, move it up and down, and experiment with the size and rotation until you find the perfect spot. Once they start tattooing, no more adjustments will be possible, so you can ask to reposition as many times before the process as you feel necessary. During the tattoo, you must focus on keeping your muscles completely relaxed: this is the main way to reduce pain, and the artist will appreciate your cooperation.

Don't forget to remind them if there is a need for a break. It takes approximately 30-60 minutes to tattoo a small piece and up to several hours per large tattoo, depending on the detail. Pay some attention to the parlor's hygiene during the process to be on the safe side: new needles, which you should see being unrolled right before your tattooing begins, protective masks, gloves, and closed tattoo ink capsules. You may leave if you feel uncomfortable at any point: some people do, and although it's not common, it's understandable.

The good news: it doesn't hurt as much as you think

A hot pinch, a persistent irritation - it's more annoying than anything, if anything at all.How ever this depends where on the body you are getting your tattoo.I had one on the back of my neck, right on the spinal bone, it hurt, it really did.The next I had was on my innner arm, i really didnt feel much.

So here are the area with notable pain, not to influence your choice, just food for though"

Less Painful Areas

• Upper Outer Arm
• Forearm
• Thigh
• Calf
• Shoulder
• Upper Back

More Painful Areas

• Ribs
• Spine
• Feet
• Hands
• Ankles
• Neck

The same goes for places where the needle hits the bone, so ask your artist for their opinion on this. You can always return to more "difficult" spots for your next tattoo - they are guaranteed to be there in ten years.

Another obvious but good tip is to prepare properly beforehand

Eat something heavy an hour or two before the procedure , high protein is best, eggs, nuts stay away from carbs, beacuse a significant drop in blood sugar is one of the main reasons people faint.

You need to drink a lot of water the day before and the day of your tattoo; do not drink alcohol for 24 hours before the tattoo session starts because it thins the blood, causing both more bleeding and slower ink absorption. Most importantly, sleep! Your body will not react well to any stress if you have not gotten enough rest the day before.

 

Tips on tipping the artist

Tipping is the standard practice in the tattoo industry, and it's essential to tip well - 15-20% is a standard tip, and 20-25% or more is expected if the artist did the custom design work. Cash is always welcome, although some parlors will have a minimum tip or no cash tips at all, so inquire beforehand. If there is a minimum and you got a small tattoo, base the tip on the cost of the tattoo itself.

Everything you need to know about tattoo care after getting it

First of all, your tattoo is fresh, which means that you should treat it as an open wound. The first two weeks are the most important for your new ink and proper care will determine whether your tattoo heals cleanly and beautifully or develops a patchy, dull appearance.

In the first few days, wash your tattoo with mild soap (avoid bar soaps) as instructed by your artist. A special foaming tattoo wash is a great option. Pat it dry with paper towels, never rubbing the tattoo.

A few days after the tattoo, it will begin to scab and peel off like a sunburn. It is important not to pick at it -, do not touch it except to cleanse or use aftercare,you will simply remove the ink, leaving unsightly light spots that cannot be corrected with any creams.

Use avery small thin layer of Urban's Edge after care cream to help the tattoo heal smoothly. Thin is the key word here: a thicker consistency will block the skin, causing pimples and additional stress to the tattoo.

Another quality is alcohol-free: alcohol dehydrates the skin, which is the opposite of what is needed. The tattoo will heal on the surface within the first two weeks, and it will continue to heal deeper for the next month or so. Do not expose it to excessive sunlight, chlorine, and saltwater, and avoid wearing tight clothes that rub against the tattoo. Skip the gym for a few days too - workouts stretch the healing skin, and sweat and gym equipment introduce bacteria to what is still an open wound.

A tattoo needs to be cared for on a regular basis even after it has healed to last for decades. Sunscreen is your best friend in this case - mineral sunscreen is less abrasive to the tattoo, so it keeps its bright colors for as long as possible. Needless to say, the sun is the enemy of any tattoo.

The most common first tattoo mistakes

The biggest mistake is to get something impulsive while you are on vacation or drunk - most regretful first tattoos originated from these situations. Getting too small but detailed, on the other hand, is the second most common mistake because small details are lost over time. If your artist says the design is too detailed for the size, believe them - their experience is vital in such cases.

Another common mistake is choosing the tattoo based on the price (again, discussed earlier), as well as not following the aftercare instructions. The number of ruined tattoos due to insufficient aftercare is truly staggering. Finally, ask questions, and lots of them - most artists are only too happy to help you prepare for your tattoo and walk you through the necessary aftercare steps.

Finally, this is about the tattoo you'll have in ten years, not the one being inked today

While the artist's work will heal beautifully in a few weeks, it will only look as beautiful as you took care of it in the following months. Aftercare is what determines whether the tattoo will continue to look amazing for decades. Everything else, from choosing the artist to selecting the spot to asking questions, sets the stage for the tattoo healing properly.