What Your First Tattoo Should Be

eight things you need to know earlier getting your beginning tattoo

orange is the new black tattoo — It'south going to injure.

Firsts are always memorable, and your first tattoo is no different. Recollect about your beginning piercing or the commencement time you had a professional practice your hair/nails/makeup. It'due south kind of like that, only times one,000 because information technology's ordinarily pretty permanent.

That'south why doing your homework to brand certain you're prepared for the occasion is so important. Remember, you're putting a piece of fine art on your body that's going to exist with yous for a long time. That'due south worth more a few minutes of serious thought.

INSIDER rounded up all of the things yous need to know earlier getting your first piece of tattooed fine art.

Don't make whatsoever tattoo decisions lightly.

Information technology's best to retrieve long and hard most what design you lot desire to go before you sit in that chair. A beautiful design can bring y'all joy forever, but you'd meliorate be extremely certain about putting whatsoever person's name on your body.

Yous'll probably dearest your mom and your kids forever but recall twice about inking the proper noun of anyone else. Cover-up tattoos are a thing for a reason. Tattoo removal can be done as well — simply information technology can as well be expensive and painful.

Wouldn't yous rather take the fourth dimension at present to advisedly make up one's mind on a design that you know will delight y'all for years to come up?

Enquiry, research, research.

Inquire your friend with the ink you dearest who their artist is and how to contact them. Or try scoping out tattoo artists whose piece of work truly moves you on Instagram to get a experience for what you desire.

Tattoo creative person Horitomo of State of Grace Tattoo in San Jose, CA told INSIDER that people should always come armed with a few basic questions:

" Is the style of the artist and the tattoo compatible with each other? Significant, is that something the creative person is willing to take on? How does he/she work? Are there whatsoever deposits required? What is the cancellation policy?"

In-need artists will be booked for months, so the sooner you figure out who you'd similar to ink you, the better.

A talented tattoo artist will listen to your description of what you lot want, then advise a pattern earlier setting your engagement(due south). Practise plenty inquiry beforehand that you know you love that creative person'due south interpretations. Both you and your tattoo artist will be happy, and your pattern volition be exactly what you want.

Please note: Elaborate and/or very large designs will probable take more than than 1 session, so plan accordingly.

Make sure both your tattoo creative person and the shop have your rubber in listen.

Unlike states have different requirements for tattoo artists. Some crave individual artists to take licenses, while others only require that shops be licensed by the local health department . States may or may not require that tattoo artists laissez passer a bloodborne pathogens training certification, also. Some cities, such as New York C ity, might have requirements of their own — on top of any country requirements.

Besides checking that any shop you're considering complies with local laws, yous should also take a expert expect at the facilities themselves. Are they sparkling clean and total of non-porous surfaces? You desire a place with good sanitation, where your artist unwraps new, single-use needles in front of yous and prepares fresh ink that hasn't been used before. Recollect, a new tattoo is essentially a very beautiful open wound.

" A porous surface, like rock and marble, would non exist something that your tattoo station should be fabricated of. It should be stainless steel, or [another] sterilizable material," celebrity tattoo creative person Blindside Bang McCurdy told Seventeen .

Don't haggle. Likewise, be prepare to tip.

Remember about your pilus. When you become to a salon, you lot want the best. You've researched, you lot know what you lot're getting, and you're set to pay. Why would you treat the artist who's going to put a slice of fine art on your skin for years — maybe even a lifetime — any differently?

Don't be inexpensive, and don't haggle. Every bit in whatsoever other field, a great tattoo artist has earned the correct to charge what they charge. Also: Tattoo artistry is a field where tips are always appreciated.

Come up to the shop prepared on the day of your appointment.

" Get a good night's sleep the night earlier. Mentally prepare yourself besides. Getting a tattoo can be a mental game as much as information technology's a concrete game," Horitomo told INSIDER.

"Swallow a solid meal that 24-hour interval before your date and bring some snacks with you if yous want. You don't want to get low blood sugar during the procedure."

Yeah, it will hurt, only bully art can be worth the pain.

Anybody's pain tolerance is different, then we can't tell you lot exactly how much it will injure.

Some general rules of thumb:

Getting tattooed directly over bone tends to be more painful.
The sides of your torso, your rib-cage, the undersides of your arms (recollect armbands), and your inner thighs are besides very sensitive.
Having your caput tattooed is its own special kind of hurting .

Be ready, willing, and able to practice all the aftercare steps your tattoo creative person suggests.

A new tattoo takes nigh two weeks to heal. From the time you go out your creative person'south chair until it's fully healed, your new piece of skin fine art is an open up wound that y'all'll need to tend very carefully, both to protect the art and to avoid infection. It's in your best interest to listen to your proficient tattoo creative person about aftercare and follow their rules rigorously and to the letter.

Your tattoo artist will most likely suggest using something like A + D ointment or Aquaphor over your new ink. Slather that stuff on religiously. Also: Don't programme to go swimming or soaking in a tub during the time that it's healing. You can shower (please, please go on the surface area clean), but definitely pat the newly tattooed area dry when you're washed. Don't even remember about rubbing it.

Finally, keep that area out of the sun while information technology's healing, and don't wear any habiliment that's probable to stick to it.

You'll probably need touch-ups in the futurity.

Areas of your body where skin cells plow over more than ofttimes (such as hands and feet) volition definitely need touch-ups . Whatsoever role of your tattoo that'due south regularly exposed to lord's day or soaking in water will probably need touching up, equally well. In fact, over time, nigh tattoos will need touch-up work to continue looking their best.

About tattoo artists guarantee their piece of work and will do bear upon-ups either for free or a nominal charge. Bank check with your tattoo creative person for their specific policies, and this can't be said enough: Don't forget to tip!

Sign up here to become INSIDER's favorite stories directly to your inbox.

Keep reading

More: Features Tattoos Tattoo artist Tattoo trends