What to Know Before You Get Your 1st Tattoo

Take time to seriously think about your design or idea.  If at all possible talk to others about it and encourage them to ask you questions.  You are going have this image on your body for the rest of your life and you want to ensure that there aren’t any misleading meanings associated with it or anything else unintended that you didn’t think of.  The last thing you want is for your tattoo to closely resemble the symbol or logo of some undesirable group or association.  If you are getting something written in a language you don’t read or understand yourself like Chinese or Japanese, make double sure that you have checked the meaning of the symbols with multiple sources and that you aren’t getting something written on you that is not exactly what you want.

When deciding on your 1st tattoo parlor find out how long it has been in business.  Check with their past clients so that you can see a sample of the quality and find out the reputation of the company.  Check to see if there any complaints with the Better Business Bureau.

When  talking with a potential tattoo artist, inquire about his or her qualifications.  Experience is key here as is a commitment to cleanliness.  Infections and deadly diseases can be easily contracted if the equipment is not sterilized.  Remember it is not just the answers to your questions that is important, but also how they answer them.  You want to get your 1st tattoo from somebody that makes you feel comfortable.

Find out if the tattoo studio guarantees their work.  Should you not be satisfied with the results of the tattooing, you will naturally want it to be corrected.  The best studios will offer to resolve this free of charge.  Refund policies are important as well, especially if you do not like the quality of your tattoo.

Price and cost are also very important.  When I got my 1st tattoo I was shocked at how expensive even the smallest tattoos were and the larger ones can be very costly.  If you are on a budget, find out how much does a tattoo costs in your city very early on.  You can save much time and avoid any surprises by knowing early on.

Most of remember that asking questions is never a bad thing or something to feel embarrassed about, especially when you are getting your first one.  Tattoo artists are professionals and they are used to it.  If your potential tattoo artist hesitates when you ask questions or brushes you off then you should definitely leave and find another.  This is too important to be dealing with someone who is anything less than top notch.

Choosing 1st Tattoo Design

I read that tattoos are very common with nearly one in four people having at least one.  They are an art form and allow you to express yourself.  They are with you for life so you want to make sure to take your time so that you can eliminate any chance of regret later.  Those that end up regretting their decision often didn’t take the time to thing about the design and choose the best tattoo for them.  While is is possible to get a tattoo removed, the ordeal is very expensive and painful.  You are not getting tattoo just to have it removed later so take your time and find the perfect tattoo for you the first time.

Do not try to save a little money by choosing a tattoo studio or artist because they are cheaper than the competition.  Cheaper salons are normally like that because their work lacks quality.  The lower demand for their services forces them to charge lower prices.  Make your decision based on reputation and quality alone.  It may be more expensive, but it will be worth it in the long run.

For some, your ideal design may be to honor or commemorate a person close to you who has passed away.  You can use a drawing or symbol that means something to you and reminds you of them or you can use their face or name.  Truly talented artists can work magic with likenesses of people and provide you with a design that you are proud to wear in honor of your deceased loved one.

Sometimes it can be difficult to choose the perfect design for you.  If you have an idea, but are not positive of exactly what you want, you should take a look at some of the best membership galleries online.  Here you can browse art and look at other peoples tattoos to get some inspiration for your own.  You can also hook up with some gifted artists and work with them to flush out something truly unique and special just for you.  The more tattoos and designs you look at the more information you have to incorporate into your own.  You can also get ideas from books and magazines.

If you have a portion of an idea in mind then you can always have that done and then add to it later.  For some, their 1st tattoo design is never finished and they repeatedly go back to it and add to it and make it bigger and better.

The longest part of the process of getting your first tattoo should be in the planning stage.  Do this part right and you will not regret your decision later.

1st Tattoo Safety

Tattooing consists of needles moving very quickly to pierce the outer layers of the skin.  The needle going through the skin injects a dot of ink in the third layer and creates the image in the skin.  When you get your first tattoo, use your head an a little precaution will go a long way.

The HIV virus is the most common fear when getting a tattoo, but it is just one of many that can be contracted from unclean tattoo needles and guns.  Staph, syphilis, tuberculosis and hepatitis are all diseases to be weary of.  Tattoo artists are to adhere to strict safety codes to ensure their patrons are not susceptible to the deadly health hazards.  Professional artists sterilize their equipment after each use.  They use steam pressure autoclaves when disinfecting.  Bleach and alcohol alone will not do the trick, but they may be used to prepare the equipment for autoclaving.

The bottom line here is that the work area should be as hygienic as what you would expect from a hospital.

Choosing Your 1st Tattoo Parlor

We’ve touched on it a bit above, but just to recap, make sure you do your research to find a studio that is reputable and qualified.  There are hundreds to choose from out there and some are better than others.  If you go for a cheap parlor or one that is not clean you may end up with a serious disease or an imperfect tattoo that you are not happy with.

The best tattoo parlor in will be friendly, professional and prepared to answer any questions you may have and make you feel as comfortable as possible.  They will respect your wishes and your concerns.  They may share with you their opinions based on their experience, but they should never pressure you to do something that you don’t’ want to do.  Don’t accept anything less.

Caring for Your 1st Tattoo

Good tattoo artists will clean and apply antiseptic ointment to your tattoo as they create it.  Once it is finished, the artists wipe it down, clean it and apply another coat of antiseptic ointment.  Finally a piece of cellophane or soft tissue is applied over the tattoo.

The tattoo artist should tell you how to take care of your new tattoo.  You might be given a detailed sheet containing all the information you need.

When you get home with your 1st tattoo, you should keep it dry the first few days, but also clean it every few hours.  Before touching it or cleaning it, make sure your hands are clean.  This will minimize the risk of infection.

After five to six days you can stop using ointment and switch to an unscented lotion.  With in two weeks the tattoo should have healed.  Do not pick at any scabs that form, just leave them alone.

Getting your 1st tattoo can be a rewarding experience that you can remember for the rest of your life.  Looking after it now will keep it healthy and infection free.