Do you know what design you are going to get tattooed on your skin for the rest of your life? Getting a tattoo for the first time can be exciting, but it can also bring up a lot of questions. Will it hurt? Will I regret the design I choose? How do I know if the tattoo artist is legitimate? All of these questions are normal and you should definitely be asking them – tattoos are permanent, after all. Plus, depending on how visible they are, a tattoo may change the way people perceive you in public. Not only that, but when you go to apply for a job, having visible tattoos may be a hindrance in some corporate cultures. Here are some first timer tattoo do’s and don’ts.
First and foremost, you want to think about the design you want to get. You certainly don’t want to think of an idea and then spontaneously visit the first tattoo shop you see on the side of the road. Because tattoos last forever, you want to really love the design you choose. You also want to think of different designs.
There are many ways to choose a tattoo design. What you don’t want to do is steal a design you see on the Internet. You want your tattoo to be unique, especially because it will end up being such a close part who you are. You can also look for inspiration in publications, like Inked Mag. You can actually visit InkedShop.com to order a subscription. What you want to do is get ideas for designs – something that a tattoo artist can work with as a reference point. Moreover, you may also want to research tattoo genres and find one that you like the best – each era has its own genre.
Next, you want to find a reputable tattoo artist. For every town or city, there is usually one or two reputable tattoo shops and about twenty tattoo shops that you should never enter. There are many reasons why you want to go to a tattoo shop you can trust. For one, an esteemed tattoo shop will have more talented artists. The best tattoos shops usually attract the best artists from around the world. Also, a well reviewed tattoo shop will be clean, which means that you don’t need to worry about an infection spreading after you get your tattoo.
Lastly, once you have your very first tattoo, you need to learn how to care for it while it heals. Essentially – as pretty as your new tattoo may be – your new ink is an open wound just waiting for bacteria to fester. Usually, a artist will wrap your tattoo area in cellophane or a bandage – and you will be told to wear the bandage for a few hours after getting inked. Indeed, you should take the gauze off when told, because you want your tattoo to have plenty of fresh air to heal properly. After that, you want to wash the area with unscented bacterial soap. After patting the tattoo dry, you can place some unscented lotion to prevent cracking. At the end of the day, the better you take care of your tattoo, the more beautiful and vibrant it will look.