I've always been afraid of pain, and I've always been afraid of needles. I never envisioned myself being brave enough to get a tattoo; however, this past week I went under the needle and came out with my first tattoo. It was a bit of a process, so here are some dos and don'ts of your first tattoo based on my experience.

1. DO trust your gut.

I had an appointment at a different tattoo parlor first, but I didn't love the vibe I was getting from the place or the artists. The place had great reviews online and a lot of my friends had gotten tattoos there, but it just didn't feel like the place for me. When the day came to get my tattoo, I found out they hadn't scheduled my appointment. So, I went to another parlor that I had researched and thought seemed really cool. From the second I walked in, I felt comfortable and respected. So definitely trust the vibes a place gives you! (Shoutout to Tattoo Archive in Winston-Salem!)

2. DON'T be afraid to speak up.

I am definitely anxious when it comes to voicing my opinion on certain things, especially in front of people who are experts. However, this is a permanent decision, so do not be afraid to tell the artist exactly what you want. Be respectful of course, though.

3. DO research parlors before hand.

There are a lot of things that can go wrong while getting a tattoo: infections, allergic reactions, etc. Make sure other people have had good experiences at this parlor, and most artists will have examples of their work online or in the shop. Also, make sure the parlor uses sterile equipment, specifically single-use needles and ink. If your artist isn't wearing gloves, that's not a good sign.

4. DON'T be afraid of the pain.

This is a little hypocritical of me because I am terrified of pain; however, I knew I wanted my tattoo on my ribs, even though that is one of the most painful places to get a tattoo. Don't get a tattoo in a place you don't necessarily want it just because it will hurt less. Tattoos are not something to settle for.

5. DO bring a friend with you.

It's always nice to have a hand to hold and someone to distract you. Also, it's a second pair of eyes to make sure that the tattoo is shaping up to be the way you want it.

6. DON'T bring an entourage with you.

There is no reason to have four or five people watching you get a tattoo, especially if they're not getting tattoos themselves. It'll probably be really cramped and uncomfortable and is just not good tattoo etiquette.

7. DO expect to pay a pretty penny.

A tattoo is not something to skimp on. A good quality tattoo will be expensive, like 50 dollars minimum. A cheap tattoo is probably a bad tattoo, and this is something you have to live with for the rest of your life; be prepared to invest in it.

8. DON'T let others tell you what to do with your body.

A tattoo is not on your mom's body, or your friend's body, or your grandmother's body: it is on your body. Your tattoo should be what you want and what you think is beautiful. Having a tattoo also doesn't change who you are as a person or make you a degenerate FYI.

9. DO take aftercare seriously.

There is no better way to destroy a tattoo than not taking care of it. Your artist will tell you what to do and how to best preserve your new art. LISTEN to them!

10. DON'T be afraid to show off your new ink!

Now that you're a piece of living art, don't be afraid to flaunt it! Congratulations!