In today’s modern world, we should not be surprised by the fact that tattoos are now considered a genuine form of self-expression. The days when a person with a tattoo on the arm was considered unemployable or also a shady character are now forever gone.
For those of you that think about getting a tattoo, here are the 18 things that you should know before you get a life-long mark on yourself:
- You should start small.
If you are new to the world of tattoos, you should not be ashamed to start small. You should give yourself the chance to learn the process, how your skin will take the ink, and how your body is going to heal. For your first tattoo, you can choose something small, and it will give you the needed time to get accustomed to a permanent feature on your body.
- You should not do it on a whim.
Know that the tattoo will be a permanent, well at least a semi-permanent feature of your body. You should decide in haste. So, if you think that getting the name of your loved one tattooed on the nape of your neck is an excellent idea, you should think twice.
- Know your pain tolerance.
There is nothing wrong with pushing yourself, but on your first tattoo, it is more than fine to respect the limits of your body. If you are too sensitive, you should avoid choosing ribs, backs of your knees, elbows, or groin areas for your first tattoo placement.
- Choose wisely.
Getting a face tattoo surely sounds cool. However, when Mike Tyson does it, it is cool, but when you do it, it is plain unfortunate. You should not get carried away by the latest fad. You should think about it and choose your tattoo wisely.
- Take timing into consideration.
Exposures to sun and submersions to water may damage a new tattoo, so you should avoid getting a new tattoo in the summer season. Spring and early autumn will be the most practical period. You will not burn, but you may even leave any arm or leg tattoo exposed instead of covering them up with irritating fabric while they are healing.
- Don’t do it on the cheap.
Usually, it is said that you cannot put a price on quality. Well, it actually turns out that you really can’t. Most tattoo artists consider their tattoos to be art. They often put a lot of hard work and heart into it. You should not demean their work by haggling. After all, your tattoo is an investment that you are going to keep for life.
- Prices usually vary.
When you get a tattoo, the price point is one important factor. So, you should be aware that prices for a tattoo may vary a lot. Depending upon the type of the tattoo, and its complexity, it may cost you as much as several thousand rupees to as low as a few hundred.
- Research your artist.
You should look into who are you trusting your body with. You should choose the artist at least a week in advance, and look over their portfolio before committing. Also, make sure that you are happy with their work, and that their style will fit yours. Shots of their work have to be available In the parlor or online.
- You should feel okay with adjustments.
Most of the time, it can be hard to translate your vision into reality. This can happen because of some different factors. The text might not be legible in a particular font, or the image might be too large for the body part you would like to tattoo. You should feel okay with every adjustment, as it is for the best.
- Sleep on it.
You should give yourself the time to be sure that you are happy with the choice you made – the placement, design, and the artist. Spontaneity is really good, but marking the body for life is a big decision. While it will be more than okay to choose something which is not the best of your existence, you should make sure that you are making the right decision in the right mind and for the right reasons.
- Get ready to ask questions.
You should not hesitate to ask questions if you have any reservations in regard to the location of the tattoo or the way in which it will look. You should share your thoughts with your tattoo artist.
- Don’t stress yourself.
There are numerous people that tend to cry and hyperventilate even before the needle went in. Panicking is only going to ruin your experience, which has to make a good memory instead. So, you should take a deep breath and get ready for a little pinch and a little scratch, and also know that it is not worse than that.
- You might even be allergic.
Yes, this can also happen. There are people that are allergic to the red pigment in the tattoo ink. Hence, before starting the process of tattooing, you should ask your tattoo artist to do spot-check in order to be sure.
- Take a friend with you.
If you feel nervous and stressed, you are not supposed to go alone. If you can, you should bring a friend that was already tattooed. Having someone to talk to and someone to trust to lead you through the tattooing process will work wonders. It is particularly helpful to have a friend if you get a tattoo on an area that you are not able to see, so he or she will keep you informed on the progress.
- Ask about care instructions.
You should remember to ask about care instructions beforehand so that you can be prepared later on. The aftercare of your tattoo is an extremely important process, particularly for those that have sensitive skin.
- Tip your artist.
When you finally get your tattoo done, and if you are satisfied with the result, you should show some gratitude. You can tip between 15 to 30% of the session, and take extenuating circumstances into account.
- Bring visual aids.
You should know that you have to bring a visual example of what you want. Even if you want an artist to customize a design for you, you should attend your appointment with inspiration. If you want some special text used, you should bring your chosen words together with the font. Print versions of your ideas will be ideal, as your artist may use it to create a stencil or transfer.
- You might need a touch-up.
Tattoos on hands or feet tend to fade over some times, particularly as our feet and hands are constantly in use. The skin in these places also gets exfoliated quite easily. So, you may need to get a touch-up, now and then.
