If you have been thinking of getting a tattoo soon, these are things you need to take to heart before going for it.
A well-done tattoo is a beautiful thing. A cheap impulse tattoo?
these are the top 10 things you should know before getting your first
tattoo. Whether it’s choosing the right shop and artist,or picking the
right design, you’ll know just what to do, and what to expect for your
first tattoo experience.
1. Do Your Research
Alright, so you want a tattoo. Quite honestly, you’ve always wanted
a tattoo. So what do you do? Do you run out to the closest shop and get
inked up? No, you do your research. First things first, you need to
find the right shop and the right artist. When it comes to choosing the
right shop, you have to make sure it’s clean. You wouldn’t want to get
surgery in a scummy basement whose worst enemy is a black light, so why
get a tattoo there?
The cleaner the shop, the less risk you run of getting a skin
infection — or worse. Next up is your artist. Look at their portfolios,
and find a style that you like, and that fits your idea. Don’t settle on
the first one you see; do your research and check out different shops
until you find the artist who’s right for you.
2. Educate Yourself
You want a sweet infinity symbol on your arm, and Google Images
found the one you want… and the one millions of people have already
looked at and probably got tattooed already. Dig a little deeper when
trying to find the right design. Books are a great source, and tattoo
magazines are even better.
Only the most skilled artists get published in these mags, so
you’ll be seeing some of the most creative work out there. If you want
something original, you need to work a little harder to find your
design, but in the long run, that extra effort will result in a killer
piece of ink that nobody else has.
3. Going Too Small
Go big or go home. OK, not always the best advice, but when it
comes to tattoos, it’s not a bad idea. The bigger the tattoo, the more
details can clearly be inked in. When you get a small tattoo and try to
cram in as much detail as possible, it just looks bad. Fear-based
decisions are never sound, and you’ll be much happier with an intricate
and original piece.
Plus, small tattoos don’t age well. In time, the lines blend
together, colors run together, and the quality just straight-up
diminishes. The bigger the tattoo, the better the details will look over
time.
4. Fit And Flow
It’s all about matching the curves of the body. The fit and flow of
a tattoo is almost as important as the design itself. When the lines of
the tattoo match the curve of the muscle, the design looks smooth and
doesn’t fit awkwardly on the skin.
A great design can be ruined by poor placement on the body. Make
sure you look carefully at the placement; if it seems off, tell your
artist. It’s on you for the rest of your life, so make sure it’s in the
right place.
5. Go Timeless
If you ask your 13-year-old self what tattoo he wanted, chances are
it’s something that you would never permanently ink into your skin
today. So regardless of age, think long and hard about your design. Is
this something you’ll be happy to wear in five years? How about in 25?
A timeless design will stand the test of time much better than a
simple “Skate or Die.” Having to cover up your tattoo because you’re
embarrassed by it isn’t a good look — and it’s expensive. Choose
something that will always be relevant to you, and that you’ll always
cherish. Because, you know, it’s there forever.
6. The Job-Stoppers
You have two equally qualified potential employees. One of them is
wearing a suit and tie, the other is wearing a suit and tie,
complemented by a Venus flytrap neck tattoo. You have to hire one; who
do you choose?
Neck and hand tattoos are best reserved for rockstars and tattoo
artists. These tattoos are known as job-stoppers for a good reason.
Before you get “Live Life” inked on your knuckles, think long and hard
about your potential future jobs. The last thing you want is to be
turned down in the future because of a momentary lapse in judgment in
the present.
7. Keep An Open Mind
Your tattoo artist knows more about tattoos than you do. Their job
is to design works of art, and apply them to human skin. This is their
job, their craft, their field of expertise. If they suggest something
that could potentially enhance your work, it’s in your best interest to
listen to what they has to say.
If you don’t like the advice, don’t take it — but know that their
priority is to give you an awesome tattoo, not a bad one. If you come to
an impasse, you can always find another artist, but it’s never a bad
idea to consider what the pro has to say.
8. Price Shopping
Good work isn’t cheap, and cheap work isn’t good. Plain and simple.
If your artist is giving out nice tattoos, but charges much lower
prices than everyone else, chances are they’re cutting corners where you
can’t see it.
Proper cleaning equipment is expensive. Proper equipment is
expensive. You’re not buying a TV or a microwave or even a car; this is
one of the few things you’ll buy that will be there for the rest of your
life. If you want a tattoo, get it done right.
9. Take Your Time
Getting things on an impulse is almost never a good idea. The
difference between an impulse tattoo and everything else, though, is
that this is a permanent reminder of that time you didn’t think things
through. What’s a six-month wait time when you consider this tattoo will
be on you for the next 75 years, give or take?
Think about what you want, find the right shop and artist, and when
that’s done, stop and think. Is this something you really want? Take
the next few months and look at the design you want. Do you like it less
than you did yesterday? If so, maybe you should choose something else —
or maybe even hold off on the ink completely.
10. Be Prepared
Tattooing is a painful process, so make sure you’re ready for it
when you go to get one. Depending on the size of your piece, you might
be sitting in that chair for many hours, and the last thing you want is
to not have your mind right. Get yourself psychologically ready for it,
and you’ll come out on top.
Also, make sure you’re healthy. Being drunk or hungover or sunburnt
is never a good idea when getting inked. You want your skin to be in
tip-top shape before you start. Being hungover will just add to the
pain, and make the whole process that much more unpleasant. Make sure
you’re healthy, and it’ll be a much better experience.
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