I've gotten two tattoos in the past year and luckily, I've had plenty of people around me to give me great advice before I got them. But not everyone is as lucky and not everything goes as well as they had hoped. After initially getting the actual tattoo you're in the clear but until you actually go through it, the process can be stressful. Try following some of these tips in order to make your tattooing experience as easy breezy as possible.
1. It's either going to hurt a little or it'll hurt a lot.
The tattoo needle feels like getting stung by a bee every time it punctures the skin. It hurts even more when the tattoo is over a bone because the area is even more sensitive.
2. Your tattoo artist won't judge you for what you want to get.
Last time I was at the tattoo parlor, I talked to the artist doing my tattoo about the weirdest tattoos he has done. His response was that he didn't consider anyones tattoos weird but unique. Not only that but it's not their job to judge, just to give you the tattoo and send you on your way.
3. Tattoos aren't cheap.
My first tattoo was a tiny fish on my foot and it costs $60 despite it taking only 15 seconds to complete. Don't be scared off by the bill, if it's something you want bad enough then the cost doesn't matter.
4. And they really do last forever.
Unless you want to pay thousands to get is lasered off, that tattoo isn't going anymore. Getting a tattoo is the most permanent thing you can do to your body.
5. You have to properly take care of the tattoo in order to prevent an infection.
After getting the tattoo, the skin has to have time to heal; ask your tattoo artist how to properly take care of the tattoo.
6. If you don't like the sketch that the tattoo artist draws on you then you must speak up.
That thing is permanent and you shouldn't let the artist start until you think it's absolutely perfect.
7. It doesn't matter what other people think, your tattoo is yours.
It's only on your body so it doesn't matter what other people think about it. If you want to get a butterfly on the small of your back, do it. If you want to get Chinese lettering that might not mean what you think, do it. It's all yours. Own it.
8. You're going to want more.
After getting one tattoo I started seeing so many more things that I would tattoo on myself. It's really weird but you forget about the pain of getting the tattoo and you start thinking about what and where you would get your next tattoo. Most of the time that want doesn't go away and that's why you see so many people covered in tats.
