5 Things to Consider Before Getting Your First Tattoo
Posted on December 06 2018
Tattoos are beautiful pieces of body art and a person’s personal story depicted by stunning colors, shades, and shapes. Getting a tattoo though requires a whole lot of guts. As the famous adage goes – No guts, no glory!
If you’re on the verge of getting your first tattoo – whether it’s an inch on your wrist or a series of different designs on your entire back – everything shouldn’t be done on impulse. Getting a tattoo should be planned down to the last detail. We’ve encapsulated the top 5 things to consider before getting your first tattoo.
1. Can You Handle the Pain?
It goes without saying that tattoos don’t just magically appear on your skin pain-free. If they say they didn’t feel an ounce of pain, they probably only had a small tattoo on their outer arm or calf. As you know, tattoos on meatier parts of the body are the least painful while tattoos, where the bones are closer to the surface of the skin like the ankle, knee, ribs, or foot, are the most painful. If you’re planning on a full-sleeve tattoo, ask yourself if you can handle the pain. You of all people know your pain tolerance. It’s going to hurt a LOT so if you have a low tolerance for pain, maybe getting a tattoo isn’t for you.
2. Where Do I Want the Tattoo?
This is vital when deciding to get a tattoo. As you know, tattoos are permanent. Although there are several tattoo removal methods out there, they come with a hefty price and you’ll have to think about the possibilities of scarring. So choose your tattoo placement wisely. First and foremost, decide whether you’re getting a private tattoo so your friends and family can’t barrage you with questions or if you want to publicly flaunt your tattoo. Another factor you’ll have to consider regarding placement is your career. If you’re a person with a high authority at work, donning a new full-sleeve tattoo might compromise credibility. Sad but true. It’s a stereotype tattooed people have come to terms with for years.
3. What is the Meaning behind the Design?
We know getting a tattoo can get you giddy and excited but hold your horses because choosing the design carefully should be given a lot of thought. You might be tempted to pick a design from the internet or from the artist’s portfolio – DON’T. The great thing about tattoos is that they represent a person’s life stories and beliefs. Getting unique and meaningful tattoos are more appealing and momentous. In addition, people will almost always ask you what your
tattoos symbolize. Would you rather say, “Oh I just got this design from the web” or “I got this design because it symbolizes how I got through a difficult time in my life.” I think the latter sounds more significant.
4. Is the Artist Excellent with Great Sanitation Practices?
You can’t just choose the first well-known artist you find on Google. Always check the artist’s portfolio online or onsite. Try to ask for recommendations if necessary. Pictures might look better than the real thing so if possible, try to look at a healed tattoo done by that artist so you can anticipate how it’ll look like on you. Furthermore, always research the shop and equipment’s sanitation through online reviews or crowd-sourcing. The last thing you want is to get hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV or tetanus from contaminated tattoo needles.
5. Can I Afford Getting a Tattoo?
Suffice to say, tattoos aren’t cheap at all. The smallest tattoos can range from $20 to $40 depending on how good the artist is. Don’t choose a cheap artist because as they say, “You get what you pay for.” And because tattoos are permanent, you want to make sure the artist uses high-quality inks and has years of experience for a superior outcome.
Try to sit down and evaluate these top 5 tips before getting inked to avoid regretting your tattoos right after. Last but not the least - enjoy!
Author Bio: Kerry Brooks, an ardent blogger and gallivanter, loves to write about little-known facts and fun stuff about the art of tattooing and everything related to tattoos. She is currently working for Fresh Start Laser Clinic, one of the leading premier laser tattoo removal clinics in Austin & San Antonio, TX.
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