What Everybody Ought to Know Before Getting Your First Tattoo

You want a tattoo. You really want a tattoo. You've been wanting one since the eighth grade when the class bully showed up with a skull and crossbones across his arm. You never did figure out how he got it, but he was a little more hip in your eyes ever since that day. Your mother is pleading with you to not do it but you're dead set on getting this thing and you want it done now. Well hold on there for one minute, you've waited eighteen years surely you can wait five more minutes. There are some very specific things you need to know before getting your first tattoo. So before you run out the door and straight to the nearest tattoo parlor take that five minutes and read this. You'll thank me in the long run.

What's the most important thing when you are considering getting a tattoo? Most people would say cleanliness and hygiene and while those are definitely important you actually need to get to that step before its an issue. You are going to need some artwork first. Now this is so important, especially when you are getting your first tattoo. One, the design is going to be on you for a very long time. When I say very long time I mean the rest of your life, choose it carefully. I'm still sporting faded stars due to a bad decision in a Kentucky tattoo parlor when I was nineteen. Pick something you can live with. Number two, you've never had a tattoo before, you have no idea what it feels like. Unless you have a very high pain tolerance I would not pick anything extremely elaborate. Start small and build up. Remember this is just cautionary and you have every right to ignore everything I say. But please don't come crying to me when you have a Playboy bunny on your shoulder and no matter how hard you try it just doesn't match your wedding dress, get the picture? Use good judgment, I assure you, you know what that is.

Now a mistake that tattoo virgins often make is where they choose to get their tattoos done. Often times they end up in cheap shops with bad reputations just because they want it done fast and cheap. Nothing good comes fast and cheap, at least nothing I can talk about in this article. Do your research, it will pay off in the long run. Once again using myself as an example, you don't want to have to redo a tattoo a couple of years from now. Get it done right the first time. Are you still with me? Good, now your next step is to make sure you are comfortable with the artist after all they are going to be plunging into your skin with a needle at very high speeds. You might want to make sure their hands are steady and clean. Hygiene is very, very important. I cannot stress that enough. If cleanliness is Godliness make sure the shop and artist are nothing short of that. This is so important I can't even joke about it. Make sure every instrument comes out of a sealed bag and your skin is properly prepped and cleaned. If it's not, hightail it out there and don't look back. Do not risk your health simply for a tattoo.

If you've made it all this way you must be really serious about getting this tattoo. Well, when it's all said and done you are going to have to care for your new "ink." Sure you are going to want to show it off to your friends right away, but hold off. Leave the protective wrap in place for at least two hours. When it comes off wash the tattoo with soap and water and make sure everything you use is clean as infection can occur if there is any bacteria. I'm not kidding, you really don't want to mess around with this, keep it clean. There's one more thing you are going to need (you didn't know this was going to be such a process did you?) medicated ointment, lotion or Tattoo Goo. All three work as an ointment which you place on your tattoo as it heals. Since this is your first tattoo you may not know that it is going to dry out, a lot. It is going to be as dry as the Sahara Desert and I'm not kidding you it really will be. You are going to really need that ointment. Depending on where you placed the tattoo it may make life difficult for a week or so. I had trouble walking when I had one done on my ankle, it may be something to think about before you go ahead and take the plunge.

Well, we've reached the end of our little journey. I hope that I have opened your eyes and taught you what you need to know before getting your first tattoo. The process can be wonderful and scary at the same time, but you'll live through it, I promise. Now that you know what you have to do what are you waiting for? Get out there and get ready to do some serious research so you will be ready when the times comes. One more thing, tattoos are a tad bit addicting, once you've had one it's very hard to stop. You may soon find yourself bitten by the bug. I know I was, with three under my belt I'm not ready to quit yet. You might not want to tell your mother though, it may just upset her more. Tattoos can be a bit taboo to some people, so if you find your not getting any Christmas presents next year don't say I didn't warn you. My last bit of advice, choose wisely, do your research, and invest the time to take care of yourself. If you follow this you should have no problems. If you do you didn't hear any of this from me.