When I first went to get my tattoo colored, I had no clue what to expect. All I knew was what my tattoo artist had told me at my previous appointment; that it would be "more brutal" than getting a black-ink-only tattoo. I was nervous, and a few of the scares and not-so-good experiences I had while starting to color my tattoo could have been avoided had I known some simple tips and tricks.
So, as a sort of part two to my previous tattoo post, here are five tips to anyone who wants to get a colored tattoo!
1. It’s a different psychological experience than getting a black-ink tattoo.
Honestly, getting my tattoo colored in felt like someone was using a high-powered, construction-type drill on my body– it was a constant drum of pressure, sending a foreign substance into my skin. This (as well as my blood sugar drop, which I discuss in part 2) was enough to make me extremely nauseated.
Be prepared for this: Your mind and body are going to have a visceral reaction against the needle, a perceived threat to your body. This is more acute with colored ink than it is with black ink. The process will become infinitely less physically painful if you can get past your primitive psychological reaction to the tattooing process.
2. Blood sugar drops are normal…but still scary.
According to my tattoo artist, it’s not uncommon for many people to faint when first getting their tattoo colored. It’s a shock to the body that causes blood sugar levels to fluctuate wildly, leading to this kind of reaction! While I personally didn’t faint, I did become extremely lightheaded and nauseated, so much so that we needed to take a break barely ten minutes into the session!
The trick to getting through a color tattoo session? Quick sugar fixes! My artist gave me a lollypop to suck on and my state rapidly improved. After the lollypop, she gave me a few pieces of gum to chew on throughout the session. I highly recommend both as ways to help your body adjust to the tattooing process.
3. Don’t be afraid to ask for a break!
Getting a colored tattoo will be more time-consuming, more painful experience than your black-ink tattoo. Even if you (like me) were able to sit for an hour with no breaks while getting your tattoo outlined…you may need one or several breaks during the coloring process.
Your artist has worked with many people of many different pain tolerances and body types— I promise, they won’t be annoyed or offended, even if you need frequent breaks. You know what’s best for your body, and if you feel that the tattooing is becoming too much, it’s because your body needs a break. Respect that!
4. The healing process for a colored tattoo is different than that of a black-ink tattoo.
My black and white tattoos both healed like a dream. Very little pain/stickiness, and no peeling. My color tattoo, while clean, healthy, and normal, did not have as easy a healing process! For the first few days, my tattoo leaked clear fluid that, upon researching, I learned was blood plasma. It is completely normal, especially if your tattoo is over-moisturized (thanks, coconut oil!).
NOTE: If the fluid is NOT clear (often a yellow color instead), if you are experiencing intense swelling, or if your tattoo smells…it may be infected, and you’d need to take medical steps to treat it.
The best advice I can give for someone dealing with a leaky tattoo, is to keep it wrapped, take a night off from moisturizing it, and be patient. In the future, try to be a little less generous with your moisturizer of choice, and the fluid will reduce by itself! My tattoo stopped leaking about two to three days after the session.
After the leaking phase, your tattoo is going to peel— again, totally normal. Keep moisturizing, and still be gentle and careful with who and what touches your ink. Keep your tattoo moisturized, and try to apply your moisturizer at least twice a day. Let your skin do its thing, and your reward will be a healthy tattoo!
[My work-in-progress...slowly but surely, it'll be colored in!]
5. There are tips and tricks I can use to make this process easier!
Here’s a summary of some helpful tips (many of which have been mentioned earlier in the article) you should take advantage of when getting your tattoo:
- Distract yourself— music, a movie, your phone…something to take your mind off of it. Talking to your tattoo artist can be very fun and interesting as well!
- Eat before your session, and drink plenty of fluids…
- …But also bring some candy with you in case your blood sugar plummets.
- Ask for breaks— don’t try to be “tough”.
- Trust your body, and don’t feel bad if your tattoo takes more sessions than you thought.
- Touch your tattoo with clean hands ONLY. Keep it healthy, clean, and beautiful!
- If you suspect an infection, see a medical professional to get appropriate treatment. And remember, better safe than sorry!
- Wrap your tattoo at night for the first few nights after the appointment, especially if it’s leaking.
- If your tattoo becomes unwrapped and sticks to the bed, use warm water to gently separate the bedsheets from your tattoo.
- Moisturize your tattoo daily, but don’t over-moisturize! Use just enough oil to keep your tattoo shiny.
- Be patient with peeling— It happens to all healthy tattoos.
- Enjoy! The beautiful result is worth the arduous process.
