When I woke up on June 2nd, 2018, I had no idea that I would end the day with an inked up wrist. I had always thought that tattoos were something to be carefully planned out; something with meaning and scheduled months in advance.
Just like all of my schoolmates, I had been pinning tattoo ideas on Pinterest long before I turned eighteen. It wasn't until I was legally allowed to get one that I realized the anxiety that came with not having an excuse to wait any longer. Every time I came into my father's tattoo shop, customers would joke that I was next in line.
The day I decided to go through with getting my tattoo, I knew exactly what I wanted. I had some worries about minor details that the image on my phone had, but he went about finding similar images based off of my concerns and freehanded the stencil until it exactly matched what I had in mind.
I was excited to see the outline on my wrist, but the time had come when the gloves went on and the ink was poured into their little cups. My heart started to pound and he asked me if I had been drinking water that day. Drinking water the day of the tattoo is extremely important. Being properly hydrated can speed up the healing process and keep you from passing out in the chair.
The artist should then clean and shave the area, regardless of the area. This is about the point in which I started to think about the needle. I didn't realize it at the time, but when the machine starts to buzz, people tend to hold their breath in anticipation.
This is never the best way to approach it. Instead, take a deep breath and tell them to start while exhaling. This allows the airflow to remain stable and keeps you from becoming lightheaded. Never be afraid to request something, unless it's drastic and would require major changes.
I asked to use the restroom and he actually said that I could go at any time, all I have to do is ask. I also requested that he start with a little line so that I could sample the intensity of the pain. This put me at ease enough that I could relax and let him work.
I'm not going to lie, it did hurt and more so the closer he was to the bone, but the sheer joy of seeing it come together in one piece at a time makes it all worthwhile.
The artist will then bandage you up and instruct that it stay on for two hours. Over the next couple of days, you can never apply too much lotion. It will go from feeling like a sunburn to itching, to peeling all in a week. Once the peeling is done, you are fully healed and can enjoy your new tattoo.
